The herald., 1896-04-05
PARALYl|NG MONSTER
CHINESE DRAGON IN ORIENTAL SPLHND0R
AND ASIATIc BEAUTY
4 Fantastic Spectacle to Be Seen In the Fiesta
Fsstivlties-A Sacred Religious Object 500
Feet In Length to Be Gagged Upon but Once
YssrIy-Oniy One In California

After many weeks OF hard labor the
executive committee of La Fiesta has
Gucceeded in securing for the celebration
: feature that will bring thousands of
1he fantastic spectacle. The Chinese
merchants have agreed to introduce in
their procession the immense dragon in
all it, Oriental splendor and Asiatic
beauty. The dragon, such as will be
oeon In the streets of Los Angeles during
The Fiesta, is regarded in China as one
ct the most sacred religious objects, and,
sven In their native country, the Celes-
tiAls view the dragon only once year
n their religious celebration. Many OBJ
o1nCloa were therefore encountered before
The Chinese merchants would consent
- allow II to be carried in the procession
The dragon now reposes in a Joss house
ln Nsrysville, and it is the only one in Cal
fogniA. A special messenger of great in
ZuenCe was dispatched to that place yes
torday to make the necessary arrange
monto for it's safe transportation to this
city. To form an idea of the grand spec
tacle to be presented it is only necessary
- state that the dragon will measure in
lenRth fully 500 feet, and covers nearly
The length Of two blocks. 1t is operated by
$50 Chinese. who are invisible except the
1oot, that are made to represent the AMI.
male claws. Its crested head is bedecked
With Jewels, and it's body is covered with
- resplendent colors. The part that rep.
resents the body is gorgeously embroidered
with the richest of gold laces and studded
With precious stones.
In it, march through the streets the Chi
nese will 90 operate the dragon that it rep
resents the animal in the wild and fero-
eious mood that nature has endowed it
with, according to the fables. In it's mon
otrous beauty and rich trimmings this part
Of the Chinese procession will attract more
attention and will provide greater novelty
. than any feature that the Chinese have
previously introduced in their parades.
The executive committee considers it.
oelf very fortunate in having secured an
attraction that has never before been seen
IN Southern California and only two or
three times in San Francisco within the
precincts of Chinatown.
Her majesty, the queen of floral day.
Miss Elizabeth Wood, has announced her
selection Of maids of honor, who will add
lustre to her surroundings and by their
beautiful scene. The young misses who
Ill share the honors with their older sisters
at the close of the Fiesta are Kate Van
Nuys, Ada Lucille Tedford, Fannie Car
penter, Ada Marie Norton, Viola Grace
Hamilton. Ada Smith. Lily Edwards,
Florence Perry Wood, Kathlene Spence,
Clara Smith, Dorothy French, Cecilia
Kays, Margaret Willard, Katherine john
son and Hope McMasters.
The floral queen will represent the Cali
4ornia poppy, and her dresses will there
fore be of the most artistic make and of
the brightest of yellow materials. Her
maids of honor will each impersonate
some particular California flower, and
they will be attired to depict most effec-
lively the flowers they represent
Henry j. Kramer has accepted the re-
quest to take charge of the arrangement
Of the floral queens float, and he will have
charge of the grouping of the little misses
In order to produce the most charming
effect
The executive committee yesterday de-
cided 10 pace the prices of the seats at the
tribunes at the most reasonable rate. II
was the unanimous desire to fix the price
Of the seats at rate that will secure only
= return of the expense incurred in the
construction of the tribunes aad of the
necessary repairs and fiXings.
The arrangement of the tribunes at the
'ock between sixth and Seventh, Hope
4 Flower streets, Is such that good
viz can be obtained of all the parades
from every seat. All professions will make
q tour of the lot, thus affording every
opportunity to see the pageants in all
their details. The grand hight pageant on
Thursday evening will pass the tribunes,
while the floral parade will make two
rounds of the lot. 4
At the request of her majesty. the queen,
Hon. T. F. Gibbon, vice president of the
Terminal railway, has accepted the ex-
alted position of prime. minister. The
gentleman has already entered upon the
discharge of his duties, and is holding
frequent consultations with her majesty
In connection with matters of importance
that will present themselves during her
reign.