The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26
THE FLORAL PAGEANT.
Fiesta Crotcds Witness The Prettiest O
CdrnirdG Features.

Fiesta Crotcds Witness the Prettiest of
CdrntrdL Features.
LOS ANGELES, CAL, April 25.-There
has evidently been an amicable under
standing between the clerk of the weather
and the street-sprinkler. There have been
light showers during the entire fiesta at
intervals, about twenty-four hours apart
Last night was no exception. The streets
were thoroughly washed with a lively
shower just before break of day, and the
lowering clouds looked anything but pro-
pitious until 10 o'clock, when they broke
into clumps and soon rolled mountain
ward, leaving all nature bright and beau
tiful. 1t was an ideal day for the floral
parade, among the loveliest ever seen in
this charming climate, where fine DAYS are
the rule instead of the exception.
And such an exhibition! It's like has
never been seen in Southern California,
There is probably no other section of the
earth which can supply anything in the
floral line that would surpass the pageant
witnessed here this afternoon. One was
instinctively reminded of the words of the
Master: "Behold the lilies of the field
they toll not, neither do they spin; and
yet say unto you that Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of these"
large number of equipages-greatly in
excess of those entered last year-ap-
cluded nearly every style of vehicle i'm
aginable - s1x-in-hands, four-in-hands,
tally-hos, dogcarts, phaetons, surreys,
bicycles. and in addition the equestrian
cavalcades. Horses and carriages were
beauti fully adorned with flowers. 1t was
Kaleidoscope mass of color, filing the
air with perfume, touched with the magic
of satin streamers and silken pennants
brilliant with wealth of Flora's gifts.
poured in reckless prodigality on vehicle
and prancing steed. The pennants and
flags that lined the approach to the
Queens throne futtered gayly in the
breeze and the scarlet and yellow canopy
shading the throne threw rose shadows on
the imperial dais and royal staircase.
The arrival of the ruler was the occasion
for tremendo usi fanfare of trumpets and
an ovation from the multitude. The pic
ture presented by the Queens retinue as
it filed into the inclosure and proceeded
down the Queens highway was beauti-
full one. Behind her favorite knight came
of honor.
All the decorations of the court retinue
and the carriage of the Queen and the
presidents had been conceived by Mrs.
Annie Bancroft, and her perfect taste was
shown to-day in the effective schemes Of
color and design in the court equipages.
The court carriages were all in harmony,
the Queens in sheen of white and silver,
and the four carriages of the maids of
honor in pink and silver, green and silver,
pray and silver and lavender and silver,
respectively.
The queens carriage was fitting in its
det ails for the rival of the rosebud it con-
tained. White fur rugs lined the floor.
The harness was covered with white satin,
the driver held white satin reins in his
gloved hands &nd white and silver ham
ner cloth cleaned in the sunlight. The
carriage was a mass of white roses and
splashing bows of white satin. All the
coachmen of the court carriages were in
Continental uniforms, with cooked hats
and wigs.
Queen Mildred wore her beautiful day
gown OF rich pink and green brocaded
silk; the emerald green velvet train and
royal ermine. the glitter OF Jewels, the