The San Francisco call., 1897-04-24
La FieSta'S Floral Pro-
ceSSion Attacked by
Spectators.
Flowers Their Missiles anC
BoundleSS Praise Their
Slogans.
The Angelenos' Guests View a Mag
nificent Pageant on the
Water at Night.


themselves. amid the prodieal display of
these days. Beautiful and successful as
have been the festivals of the past, the
display of this year is as distinctly supe-
rior to them as was that of last year over
the inexperienced attempt with which the
annual holiday was first inaugurated.
The spectacle at the tribunes this after
noon was worth crossing the continent to
see. Imagine bank of hImanity-20,0 600
people-lined up on rising tiers of seats In
the form of an oval, with thousands Of
flags and pennants flying above the upper
tier. At the lower or closed end of the
oval is the Queens throne, higher than
the rest. dressed in rich colors and pro-
tected by wide-spreading yellow pavil-
ion, the royal party, in its bright and rich
costumes, occupying all the wide space
there reserved for it.
In this setting or framework of enthu-
siastic and cheering people lies an i'm
mense arena filled with a moving and
spirited panorama of floral color, decking
every description of vehicle, prancing
horses, uniformed drill corps on foot and
on horse, while the music of brass bands,
the bare of trumpet and throb OF drums
lend their spirit and charm.
That formed the body of the picture,
but the accessories, the features leading
up to it, the opening act of the play, were
as charming in their deicacy as the latter
spectacle was splendid in color and move
ment. The tribunes were entirely filled
the framework of expectant humanity
completed, before the big central gates
were thrown open and the Americus Club,
regiment of well-drilled men in uni
forms of white with yellow trimmings,
and with band in like uniform, entered at
open order and marched down the arena.
Every man carried, instead of gun, a
flag attached to long pole. A stiff breeze
was blowing. and these flags, as did every
flag and pennant about the place, snapped
merrily. They formed on both sides of a
white muslin pathway that extended 100
feet from the foot OF the steps TO the
throne.
The royal party. in its plume-covered
equipage, made the circle of the arena,
receiving the plaudits of the multitude,
the Queen responding graciously 10 the
ovation. Then the Queens carriage
stopped at the extremity of the white
pathway, the guard of honor presented
arms and, led by the prime minister. the
band playing march, the Queen made
her slow, dignified way toward the throne
and between the double tier of swapping
flags. Not until she was seated did the
| court ladies move.
Then they followed her, their groups of
pink and green and orange tinted silk
| dresses being very effective as they came
down between the white uniforms and
flags and courtesied at the foot of the
| throne.
The regiment in white then swung off.
/ ma fnrr oQd n1,rtfo
arena and formed again to receive the CAV
chariot of the little 5-year-old floral queen
| with her retinue, escorted by human
| bouquets. The little queen marched up
! the steps and was crowned and kissed by
Queen Francesca. She was then seated in
chair OF roses. surrounded by her own
| tiny court.
All being ready now the procession of
| flower-bedecked vehicles was released and
| began its riot OF color and action. In this
regard the display was not superior to
what has been seen here, the improve
ment being in the arrangements for wit
Messing ii.
The procession circled the arena twice
passing first close to the tribunes and the
throne. and, having completed the cir
cult, returned in the opposite direction on
an inner circle. This added greatly to the
genera. effect, filling the whole arena with
life and action and giving the spectators a
|
creations that struck the fancy.
During the whole procession a constant
and lively bombardment with flowers was
carried on between the people in the
tribunes and those in the vehicles, the
fragrant war being kept up tc the music
OF brass bands.
great many novelties were introduced
CHIEF OF which were the living bouquets,
escorting the floral Queen. Immense
bouquets OF cut flowers were arranged of
paper. within the paper handles of which
marched little urchins, who peeped
through holes provided for the purpose.
Ferd K. Rule, president of the Fiesta.
led the procession of vehicles. With his
wife he rode in two-horse vehicle that
was respiendent with marigold yellow.
Every part of the vehicle was hidden from
view. The harnesses of the horses were
covered with yellow satin and the stream
ers and rosettes were OF the same color.
Mr.. Rule wore white costume. Mrs.
Rule costume was in white and yellow.
They were applauded continuously over
the circuit and stormed with flowers.
Only the more conspicuous OF the euuip-
ages in the long line may be mentioned.
One OF these was the tallyho of the Jona-
than Club, upon which rode amoug a
merry party Mr.. Mildred Howell Lewis
Queen of the Fiesta of '96. The talIyho
was dressed in pink and white peas Can
tain Banning's Concord coach was the
vehicle employed to be the framework for
this ella boration.
The entire coach was completely covered
with delicate flL wers. 1t was drawn by
six white horses, and heir harnesses were
covered with pink ichu. The animals
were also o-namented with pink rib bons
and rosettes that harmonized perfe ctly
with the coloring on the coach.
Mrs. Lewis, who sat at the rear corner
was elaborately and becomingly cos
z nf
formed her party, were eowned m white
and carried pink parasols. Those on the
coach were: Misses Cora Goodrich. Ysi-
dora Scott, Olga Mark, Helen KIokke
Hattie Kim bali, Sarah Innes. Bessie BON,
sail, Ida Menefe, Leila Fairchiid, Harriet
Smith, Hortense Levy, Lillian Wellborn.
Bessie Bryan. Helen Fairchiid, Dorothy
Wellborn and Arthur Braly
The outrders rode white horses and
wore costumes of the time of Louis XVI
The horses brides and saddles were done
In pink satin and silver monograms The
outriders were: 7. E. Gibbon. DR.. Carl
Kurtz, w. L. Nicho son, Mr. Burt Walter
ChansIor. c. III. Wyman, d. Sale, A. J.
Waters, E. M. Burgoyne, L. ]. C. Spru-
ance. Heralds carried pink and white
banners. SiXtv thousand blossoms were
used in decorating this coach
A glimpse of old fas hioned rural life.
with up-to-date bellishmsnts. was yiy.
idly portrayed by load of hay drawn by
four norses. The load from the harvest
field was creation in yellow mustard
blossoms. Seven charming lawmakers,
with rakes on their shoulders and dressed