The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-22
FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS.
It is Time the Ladies Took Up
the Matter
Call Should Be Issued at Once
for Assembling
Of All Ladies Interested-Mrs. Mill
ken, Mrs. w. d. Wilson and 9th
er Members of Last Years
Committee Talk on the
Subject.

When the initial Floral parade was
suggested last year, a call was extend
ed to all the ladies of Topeka by the
Committee of Fifteen to meet with
several members of that committee and
talk the matter over. The first meeting
was held with only few of the ladies
of this city present, but at that meet
ing it was unanimously decided to at
least attempt to arrange a Floral pa
rade. a second, and a third, and sew
eraI more successive meetings were
held before the work was thoroughly
started, but at last the organization Of
a general committee was perfected,
subcommittee appointed, and the ar
rangement of the parade taken up IN
a systematic matter. The result was
that the pOple of Kansas had the pleas
ure of viewing one of the finest floral
parades ever arranged in this country
The committee which will carry on
the work this year will not be the same
as last year.
Let the ladies who had charge of the
work last year, take a back seat this
year." suggested Mrs. w. H. Wilson,
who was chairman of the committee
on the Kansas and Topeka float and
one of the most active workers last
year, land let other ladies bear the
responsibility of the second parade.
Turn about is fair play. We can aid
them with what experience we gather
ed last year, but let new workers take
the active field"
The suggestion is reasonable The
committee last year was composed of
ladies' who were forced to neglect their
home duties to some extent while en-
gagged in the arrangement Of the pa
rade To aid in the work was a great
sacrifice on the part of many, and these
ladies naturally feel that they did their
share last year, and that this year the
work should fall to the lot of others.
All of the members of the old commit
tee will aid to some extent this year,
but let the Topeka ladies who have the
time to carry out the arrangements
thoroughly, come forward and take up
the active work.
And the first step toward arranging
for the floral feature of TOpeka'S sec
Ond week of festivities should be taken
up soon. There now practically re-
mains but four months before the open
ing of the Fall Festival, and with the
| amount of planning and labor to be
performed in arranging the parade, the
time will be found to be, none too long.
A call should be issued by the Commit
tee of Fifteen at an early date, and ev-
cry lady of Topeka who can give even
a portion of her time to the work, should
respond. The larger the general COM
mittee. the better.
I Mrs. n. Milliken, chairman of last
| years general committee, believes that
| this years committee should be organ
! lied at once.
1.-THE committee last year was great
! " rushed for several weeks before the
| Festival opened" said Mrs. NIilliken
| ''and I would be in favor of taking as
much time as possible. After the COM
mittee was organized, if it was found
that constant meetings were not neceS-
Sary, a rest could be taken, but I think
the organization should be perfected
soon. By organizing the general COM
mittee the work of preparing flowers
for the parade could be taken up syste-
matically."
Mrs. Milliken will not take an active
part in the committee work this year
After the parade last year I realized
! that it would be impossible for me tc
go into the work again, and resigned, "
said Mrs. Milliken. I shall be glad
| however, to give all the aid I can in ar
ranging this years parade, and I think
all of the members of last years COM
mittee will do the same
! Like Mrs. AIilliken, all the other Of
/ ficerS of last years committee decline
| to take an official position or engage
in the active work this year. All, how
ever, will become members of the new
! committee and gladly make use of the
experience of last year in arranging the
! Floral parade next fall There need
J scarcely be any preliminary work in
| the committee this year, and as soon as
organized systematic preparations can
| be commenced.
Let the ladies of Topeka awaken to
| the fact that Topeka is to have Flor
| al parade this fall never equaIed in this
| country before, and that it is the duty
! of each individual to work for this end
! The Committee of Fifteen should with
in a few days issue a call for a meeting
/ of ladies to organize the Floral Parade
| Committee. All those who took part
! last year should assist as much as is
/ in their power this year, and all others
will be welcome. There cannot be toe
many.