The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-19
Such a Wealth of Beauty as
F.. Only California Can
g.. Produce.
IN DAINTY DESIGNS.
Climax of the Great Floral Carnival
!; In Magnificent BeWlldering
Procession.

~ world could have produced such
- a battle of flowers as took place
here to-day. 1t was the termina-
ton of the annual floral festival OF this
historic town and eeIipsed anything ever
seen here 1t was brilliant, gorgeous
like splendid fiesta of medieval Venice or
Florence, when the city of flowers laughed
through endless mirth and music. Such
riot of color and merriment, such sue
cession of happy faces, such wealth of
myriad flowers never before challenged
" criticism or extorted appreciation from
the veriest cynic. No shadow of lucre
rested upon it, 1t was Santa Barbara's
show of flowers, and represented just what
California can do as the Queen OF the earth
and the garden of the world.
AS the day of days dawned for the great
floral procession and blossom battle, anx-
ious eyes were turned to the sky and ocean,
but nature had determined to cooperate
with her children. the flowers, to crown
Santa Barbara with honor, and the result
of her care was a perfect day. Never was
there held q more entirely successful fete.
Weeks and even months of preparation
found their climax in the bewilderingly
beautiful procession of to-day.
Flowers and designs and costumes and
vehicles and horses and mules, and groups
have had to be arranged for with painful
minuteness. All the previous entertain
ments of the fete were as straw in the bal
ance compared with this vast outpouring
of the people OF the town and visitors from
the north and south to testify to the in
terest awakened by the battle of roses.
Stereotyped professions there have been
before, comprehending all schemes and
catchy devices, but a festival purely of
flowers comes closest to the heart of the
child of nature and is understood and
loved by every one. No exhibitor went to
a florists and ordered a set design so many
feet long and so many high at so much per
foot.
Every exhibitor put his OF her native
ingenuity to work and devised something
in all innocent rivalry that would surpass
his or her neighbOr. Patches of flowers
were carefully watered and watched, espe-
cially beautiful varieties became objects of
covetousness, and the very children learned
10 lisp the names OF rare botanical speci-
lnens and hold their fragile blossoms in
high honor. The glory of the town was at
stake and the pride of California. So no
pains were spared and nothing neglected
to insure a success.
The day opened with the usual crop of
demonstrations of disappointments. The
Pacific Ocean was obscured by light haze
and the croakers said there would be high
wind Or at least fog. There was report
that the steamer Santa Rosa from San
Francisco was hopelessly belated and that
the midday train from Los Angeles, laden
with the California editors and hundreds
of others, could not possibly arrive in time
for the crowds to witness the procession.
There were disquieting reports that entries
had been squeezed out by mistake and that
the long line would be marred, but they
were all canards.
Their only effect was to heighten the
anticipation and increase the pleasure of
the reaction, when it did come. From an
early hour the streets were in ferment.
The finishing touches we're being put to the
store decorations. many stores not hitherto
mentioned coming out in a surprisingly
strong way. Among these were Kearnsy
Brothers, A. Garland & Son, The Model
Pharmacy, Women's Exchange, Willis e.
Fuller. Santa Barbara Clothing Company
and others too numerous to specify.
Wagons laden with freshly cut flowers
ratified briskly along and the Floral Asso-
citation commit ees, with Secretary Lord,
were hard at work to the last minute ar
ranging for the issuance of tickets and
badges.
The town was alive with visitors. The
Half-million Club of San Francisco arrived
early. Some of the well-known members
are: Mr.. and Mrs. William f. Bunker,
Mr.. and Mrs. F. w. Dohrmann, Miss Dohr-
mann, /. H. Hellmann, H. ?. Sonntag, A.
Sbarboro, Albert z. Castle, Charles Bund-
schu. Stewart Menzies, Hugh Craig, ID. NJ.
Larman, George Volkman, J. +. Dayen-
port. E. E. Barlow, HI. E. Adams, A. II.
Morer, G. A Boes, D. K. Goddard, l. ii.
Applegate, ]. J. Hewenson, S. Ferguson,
Charles w. Wilson. g. +. Weeks, 3. Z.
Smith, S. N. Beal, A. P. Pillsbury, nj. q.
Zumwalt, A. r. Briggs, II. Sherwood, Mr..
Spencer, w. G. Bridge, J. F. Madden, ID.
n. Barstow, E. r. Pomeroy, P. E. Bowles,
w. G. Henshaw, V. II. Metcalf, Charles d.
Pierce, A. A Moore, L. b. Woodruff, K. f.
Fletcher, James Horsburgh Jr., Mrs. and
Miss Stubs, ]. S. Stubbs, A. B. Lennon,
J. w. Oates, Colonel NJ. L. Mcdonald, Con
Shea, Mayor f. f. Woodward, ]. W. Nor
gan, Emil Newman, Hon. William Beck
man, F. w. Pratt, r. J. Cohen. These
hailed from San Francisco, Stockton, Mer-
ced, bakersfield, Tulare, Fresno, Newcastle,
Napa, Oakland, Los Gatos, Menlo Park,
Santa Rosa, Auburn, Porterville and Sac
ramento.