The morning call., 1895-02-26
1T WILL BE OPENED IN APRIL ON
AN UNUSUALLY GORGEOUS
SCALE.
A GRAND FLORAL PARADE.
FLOATS LADEN WITH THOUSANDS
OF Roses AND PINKs-DANc-
ING AND Music.

CANTA BARBARA, teD. Drive years ago
the floral carIvals of Southern California
were inaugurated by Santa Barbara in a
floral fete, given in honor of President
Harrison, during his tour on this coast.
This beautiful flower festival has been
annually repeated, until it has become a
feature of life in the lovely City of Roses,
and her citizens and the people
of all the country roundabout would as
soon think of foregoing this springtime
celebration as of dispensing with seed
time or harvest or neglecting the culture
of the charming gardens upon whose
bounty the festival depends. Afterwards
other Southern California towns followed
her example.
Santa Barbara's festival will be held on
the 18th, 18th and 18th of April. 1t viii be
opened with an exhibition of fruit and
flowers in the pavilion during the after
noon and evening, with music. On Thurs
day there viii be a grand floral procession
OF decorated floats, carriages, carts,
equestrians, etc., followed by the battle of
flowers and accompanied by music. That
evening grand concert will be given. On
Friday evening the grand flower festival
ball will be held at the pavilion.
The formal order of this programme
does not materially differ from that of
preceding years. 1t is in the development
Of details that new and bewitching novel
ties are promised. Already bright heads
are planning and artists hands tracing de-
signs for the floral procession, which will
eclipse all former exhibitions, as Dame
Nature herself, encouraged by the bounte-
Gus rainfall and sunny midwinter days,
promises to exceed her floral largesse of
former years.
An effort is being made to call into the
procession this year all of the more nota-
bic features OF preceding seasons, such as
the fower-sheathed monitor, with its tiny
midshipmen and its steampipe putting
volleys of rose petals at the tri-
bunes. the Gala lily bell, the white
Marguerite basket, the bicycle float,
the music float, the pinnace decorated
in white and golden flowers, the Ro-
man chariot, Robin Hood and his merry
men, the marigold nautilus and many
other exquisite designs which to see once
is 10 wish to have repeated. In fact it is
the prevailing opinion that by each year
perpetuating and repeating every design
that especially impresses spectators with
its beauty and originality the highest artis-
tic excellence will be achieved
This floral decoration is largely expert
mental, and as in all experiments ex-
perience teaches wisdom, failures must be
discarded and successes repeated. The
very manner of applying the flowers to
wheeled vehicle is a small art In itself, and
the scale ON which these decorations are
undertaken seems little less than appalling
to observers
Fifty thousand roses on a single float.
5000 marguerites, 5000 carnation pinks on
single saddle-horse! only gardens like
Santa Barbara's could meet such draft
upon their resources; and it is a notable
fact that strangers visiting the town dur
ing festival time are most impressed with
the wealth of bloom that remains nm
touched.
The grand ball. which is the fitting con-
clusion of Santa Barbaras springtime cell
ebration, is something unique, and while
interest centers upon the dances partici-
pated in by Santa Barbara's prettiest girls.
exquisitely costumed to represent different
flowers, the programme always presents
new and striking features.
This year it will be opened with stately
minuet, followed by dances in costume.
and will conclude with the flower dance.
after which the floor will be taken by spec
tators and guests. Probably no public
ball in California is quite as exclu sive and
aristocratic in character as this annual
grand ball of Santa Barbara S festival.
No one can obtain admission without an
invitation, and, although these invitations
go to every quarter of the globe, the con-
ditions under which they are sent out as
sures the select nature of the attendance.
On this occasion the Pavilion viii he
converted into a veritable fairy bower.
with upward of 1000 incandescent lights
sparkling like jewels amid hangings of
gray moss, sill1en draperies and artfully
disposed flowers and growing plants and
palms. The music for the festival will be
furnished by the American Concert Band
of San Francisco.
Santa Barbara was the city to inaugurate
these floral festivals and she has made
reputation that is all her own for beauti-
full, refined, original celebration
A number of notabilities from the East
and abroad have already signitied their
desire to be here. Among the distinguished
guests will be the Duchess of Leinster, who
has engaged rooms at the Arlington for
herself and her suite of twenty-one per-