The San Francisco call., 1896-05-07
Civic Rule Ends and a Season
of Revelry Is Proclaimed
From the Throne.
MARvELs OF THE PAGEANT.
Fantastic Designs Displayed in a Pro.
cession Three Miles in
Length.

SAN JOSE, CAL, May eff there are
any ready to say that the Santa Clara
County Rose Carnival, opened at San Jose
to-day, is not the most spectacular festi-
val that California has ever given, they
must produce strong testimony. When it
is said that the festival is the product of
perfect organization by the strong men
and women of the county, who appreciate
the value of the resources at their COM
mand and the wisdom of utilizing them
to make known the resources and attrac-
tions of the county, one begins to dis
cover what intelligent cooperation may
attempt and accomplish. The great fea-
ture of to-day's display was the absolute
perfection of its mechanism. Those hav-
ing the arrangements in charge were men
and women of that fine order of intelli-
gence which realizes the value of harmony
in purpose and execution. Every con-
ceivable detail of the opening day had
been worked out beforehand with so per-
feet elaboration that the smallest error or
the slightest hitch was rendered impos-
sible.
Many months had been given to this
preparation. The local gardens, burdened
with their wealth of bloom, were spared
the invasion of the decorator, and in order
that the beautiful city might still bear its
name of Garden" over 100 acres were
planted in flowers for carnival uses. AS
consequence the home gardens retained
their glowing integrity, and the display of
flowers TOR decorative purposes surpassed
compre hension.
One must travel perilously far into the
millions to estimate the number of any of
the principal flowers used in the decora-
tions. such as callas, roses, marigolds
and carnations. In this procession OF
wonderful floats and private carriages
more blossoms were used than all the
Eastern and Middle States could produce
in dozen years. 1t was all riot of bloom,
dazzling and bewildering. Out of this
magnificent confusion of color was evolved
a marvellous order of arrangement and
effect. Every part of the gorgeous pro-
cessIon was finely adjusted to its fellows
and to the whole, and the effect of the gen.
eral scheme was an intelligent comprehen-
sion of much that has made the fame of
this wonderful valley.
1t is not easy to depict the pride and en-
thusiasm OF the residents or to estimate
the number of unaccustomed visitors.
How the many thousands of strangers
modations is question that the commit
tee charged with housing visitors is doubt
less able to answer with ease: for under
tie perfect system of management no one
needed to have gone without comfortable
he'd and board. This will be. the rule
throughout the week, from to-day's splen-
did parade to the masked procession and
ball of jolly and reckless King Cole Satur-
day evening. Almost every hour of each
day in the interim is set apart for some
special diversion.
Some of the conspicuous features of to-
days exercises were the cooperation of
all parts of the county and tie extraordi-
nary prominence of the public and pri-
vate schools. 1t was pleasant to see the
crowning of the gracious and beautiful
Queen and to hear the speeches accom-
panying that ceremonial. 1t was edifying
to inspect the great carnival building and
the numerous booths which various dis
tricts have decorated with uncomfortable
beauty. 1t was inspiring to observe the
many thousands who packed the streets
and observation stands and to take pleas.
ure out of the dainty summer fabrics
which the generous climate permitted
numberless girls and women to wear.
But above all these things appeared
something none the less pleasing and far
more instructive, and that was the interest
which the people take in their schools
From every part of the county came pu-
pills in distinguishing dress and with hand
some floats, depicting some ideal which
they cherish. From the training school
and brownies of the State Normal School
to the laborlously constructed float of a
remote district there was hearty emula-
tlon based on friendly rivalry to excel.
Even the wonderful float of the Santa
Clara County Floral Society, with its bank
OF clouds drawn by butterflies, and even
the splendid floral ship of the Women's
Club, failed TO eclipse the glory of the
Longfellow School, with its pretty young
Queen sitting under gilded dome, or the
artistic presentation made by the High
School.
How many thousands of school children
were in the procession tedious regard to
arithmetic would be required to say A
prettier sight than their white. pink, blue
or canary costumes, their dainty caps,
sashes and parasols of colored paper, and
the exquisite taste with which these
colors were combined and the precision
with which the pupils marched, could not
be imagined.
A special Providence seemed to guard
the weather conditions. One of those days
OF wide and glorious sunshine that lends
to San Jose its luxurious color was abroad
and regnant to-day, and all things having
life, color and fragrance partook of its
warmth and generosity.
A wonderful change of color came when
darkness fell. Where the splendid efforts
of the sunshine ceased human ingenuity
came into play. Uncountable electric
lights of all colors sprang forth from un-
expected corners, and many thousands of
Chinese lanterns blinked mildly every-
where. st. James Park was aglow with
these soft mystical lights from the Orient
The concert and dance in the evening had
their crowds.
There are other good things on the list
for tomorrow, and splendid fireworks for
the evening. But San Jose, it is feared.
will go wholly mad Saturday evening when