The San Francisco call., 1896-07-04
Residents Have Decorated Streets
and Dwellings for the Three
Days Fete.
VISITORS BEGIN TO ARRIVE.
Find a Varied Entertainment Await
ing Them on the Stamping
Grounds of Sloat.

MONTEREY, CAL, July SIN every
bodY's mouth, even in the strangers,
whose presence seems an obtrusion upon
the dreary life of Monterey, is the Spanish
word, "manana." 1t is a word of peculiar
significance to the Spanish people, this
"manana," and, indeed, to the Americans
who understand it, for it means ''to-mor-
row."
And this is the eve of a celebration
which for absolute uniqueness stands
alone, out and above all the festivities OF
the year in California; for tomorrow
marks the beginning of the wonderful
commemoration of Calitornia's jubilee
her golden jubilee of that day
fifty years ago when she came under
the protection OF the United States of
America, and the stars and stripes was
first her flag. The celebration is to last
for three days. Perhaps this is after
the good old Spanish custom of
making merry at fiestas for days
and nights at a time; anyhow, the
calendar itself has conspired toward this
end, for July comes opportunely after
fifty years to open festivities that will run
without intermission until the night of
the 7th.
That nothing may be left undone this
evening in the way of preparation there
are on all sides evidences of activity-a
strange and disturbing hustle, be it said,
for this town of manana, and the old people
look on in something akin to astonlsh-
ment at the hurry of decorators, painters,
carpenters, street-repalrers and the ladies
themselves, who are busy over hundred
and one things.
The spirit of Sloat and his patriotic band
who hoisted the Stars and Stripes half a
century ago where the flag of Spain used
to float possesses the people to-day, and
the result is a remarkable change in the
appearance of Monterey.
Bunting and wreaths and flowers sprang
up like magic. The principal streets are
bedecked in tri-color streamers and green
garlands so profusely that they give the
idea OF riot of colors, futtering mass
of brilliant hues.
Among the chief features of to-day's
additional decorations were two arches
now in course of construction. One of
these will span Alvarado street at Pearl
and another will stand at the corner of
Franklin and Scott streets.
Each consists OF two stately pillars about
twenty feet high, supporting cross beam
that is elegantly draped and festooned.
Flags surmount each column and an
abundance of wreaths complete the effect
iveness of the whole.
Cotton Hall, in which was held the first
Legislature of California, was decorated
very appropriately with the National
colors, which gave it stately grandeur
in its old age.
Several of the historic adobe buildings
have been clad in colors that perhaps they
never saw before, and the odd stones on
Alvarado street, that had not before been
dressed in honor OF the jubilee, were gayly
decorated.
1t may be said that now, from the old
Mexican Jail at the plaza to the Mexican
Custom-house on the bay, Monterey is lit
orally red, white and blue, with back
ground of dark adobe and gray dust.
The town began to receive visitors to-
day in generous numbers. They roamed
over its streets and plazas and among the
quaint adobe buildings.
Many visited Pacific Grove during the
day. All found amusement and instruc-
ton here, for to whom is this historic spot,
made famous by Sloat, not of interest?