The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12

and Oakland was very pIOuu WueH VIII
the cool evening there came calm hour
for reflection. Fair nature in her spring
time garlands of freshness and sunshine
fairly reveled in the beauty of perfect
day-a little warm, perhaps, but very
fiesta in itself-and full of inspiration for
the genius of festival presided in undis-
puted sway at the Oakland Trotting Park
Still that was not so much the cause of Oak
lands pride as the fact that never before
in the Athens of the Pacific was such an
event witnessed, and, besides, it was a
most unqualified success. The Fabiola
fete was triumph OF creative and artistic
talents, guided for the greater part by a
refined appreciation of rare effects in color
and contrasts in display of dame NATURES
fairest adornments.
All Oakland was agog with excitement
early in the morning, for great expectations
stirred the people. The cable and electric
streetcars were nearly all decorated with
flowers and garlands ofevergreens, vehicles
IN endless variety passed through the
streets wearing more or less of Flora garb,
and there were vehicles and horseback
riders in gay attire with touches of flowers
that told of what was about to take place
out in the broad sunshine at the racetrack.
Until long after u o'clock they wended
their way along San Pablo avenue, where
they mingled with buggies, wagons,
buses and thronged streetcars in the I'M
broken procession going out to the park.
And as they all came together at the gates
there was a crush, the like of which was
never known before across the bay.
81
till at last fully 10000 persons were within
the inclosure. A large force of police and
several aids to the grand marshal were re-
quired to preserve order. Undecorated
vehicles were quartered in the space inside
the track, and the bulk of the spectators
gathered along the fences on either side,
while thousands took seats in the tempo
rary grand stand in front and the per-
manent racing park stands. The decorated
equipages were stationed outside the track,
away from everybody, so that their appear
ance would have the desired effect upon
coming into full view at the proper time.
1t was still early in the day when the
ladies who had charge of the booths be-
gan to feel pressure they little expected.
Luncheon was served in great tent, for
the benefit OF the Fabiola Hospital, under
the direction of Mrs. Wallace Everson,
Mrs. E. 3. Sanborn, Mrs. Arthur Brown,
Mrs Charles Deering, Miss A. E. Stevens,
Mrs Booth, Mrs. W. Wilson, Mrs. S. T.
Alexander, Mrs. J. Scotchler, Mrs. W. S.
Shook, Mrs. Robt. McChesney, Mrs. A. W.
Burrell, Mrs. E. Jerome, Mrs. George w.
Cook, Mrs. f. D. Kinds, Mrs. P. n. Remil-
lard, Mrs. Eli Denison and Mrs. Kendall.
The candy and flower booth was over
taxed by enthusiastic patrons, who appre-
ciated the work of Mrs. T. G. Harrison,
Mrs. William Gruenhagen, Miss May
Burnham, Mrs. A A. Barton, Miss LenaVan
der Zwiep, Mrs. W. f. Pierce and Mrs. A.
W. Burrell, the ladies' who generously gave
their best energies to the cause. And then
the buffet booth, presided over by Mrs.
Remi Chabot, Mrs. R. w. Gorrill, Mrs.
Eyerson, Miss Lillian Everson and Mrs. P.
n. Remillard, was overwhelmed with de-
mands for refreshments long before the
fashionable part of the programme began.
So that extravagant as the arrangements
seemed at first, everything was swept away
before the crowd.
The programme opened at 10:30 A. NJ.
with gentlemen jockey races, which were
followed by trotting, speeding and pacing
contests that occupied the morning hours.
The dance of flowers, a decidedly novel
feature in festas, took place shortly after
the noon hour, with the sun blazing down
upon the assembling thousands. Late in
the day as it was crowds were still surging
through the gates of the racetrack park, and
now and again gleam of some wondrous
color in flowers would break through the
motley hues of summery dress of ladies
and somber black of the male portion of
the gathering, as gorgeous floral vehicle
would appear upon the scene, now growing
brighter and more inspiring if more op-
pressive IN numbers. Pretty as was the
dance it merely gave foretaste of all that
was to follow.
Escorted by the United States Infantry
band the dancers entered the track in front
of the grand stand. They were boys
hidden under white platforms draped with
white muslin that hid the little fellows
Each platform had a large basket of
flowers falling around in picturesque con-
fusion and each distinct variety. Roses
danced with lilies, nasturtiums bowed to
sweet peas, and so the flowers glided
through the may ugureS OF the IancerS TO
sweetened military music.
A long lu1l followed, but the hour was
lively enough with an occasional break
ing of fences beneath the pressure of
crowds to give little excitement. 1t was
long after all before the grand floral parade
took place. The United States Army band
played stirring march, when presently a
fanfare of trumpets broke upon the air in
unison it seemed with the exclamations,
"Ah, here they comep
In the lead Uncle Sans energetic
musicians marched to the time of their
own making. Grand Marshal W. R.
Thomas rode on horseback, distinguished
by his golden badge and poppy-colored
pampas plumes, and followed by his aids,
who wore blue plumes in their hats and
had their horses similarly ornamented
Governor Budd and his staff came next in
drags, the Governor being seated in
q ower-bedecked carriage with r. M. F1tz-
gerald, president of the fete, Colonel
Chadbourne, P. E. Bowles and I. G.
Coogan. The next carriage contained
members of the Governors staff.