The San Francisco call., 1898-03-20
THEY FAVOR
 THE FESTIV AL San Rafael Ladies Are Enthusiastic Over the
 Carnival.
The Committee Hard at Work Enlisting the Support of
 TownspeOple.
Will Probably Be Held in May Owing to the Backvvardness of the
 Flower Gardens.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


 SAN RAFAEL, March 19-Bright and early this morning the ladies on whom has been placed the duty of can wasting the town for an expression of sentiment on the holding of rose car nival in May, were out among their neighbors and acquaintances, discuss ing features and attractions, as well as the best time for holding the fete, for it was only necessary to mention rose carnival for the recipient of a call to enter upon details, as though there could be no question as to it's success.
 A general invitation has been extend ed to the ladies of San Rafael to at tend the meeting of the committee on Monday afternoon, at which time the project will be definitely decided upon. While it is evident that not a single voice will be raised against 1t, the la dies want assurance of the active CO., operation of everybody, and this they are determined to have before they proceed any further. To-day there is not a member of the committee who has the slightest doubt that this assur- ance will be given.
 Mrs. A. w. Foster this morning nott- fled those ladies of the committee who were absent from last nights meeting of the action taken by the citizens and the responsibility resting upon them, and during the day consulted with sev- eral of the members.
 Many ladies living in San Rafael" " said Mrs. Foster, "who have visited similar festivals in other places in past years have returned filled with the idea of holding q flower show at home, and without exception they have ex- pressed the sentiment that there is no place in California better adapted for such an affair than San Rafael. No- where do roses bloom in greater pro fusion or are the varieties more va ried than here, yet many places not nearly so favored as we are give most creditable displays each year. Some of them even find it necessary to make heavy drafts upon the gardens of San Rafael to complete their attractions, while we would have more than enough flowers right at home to fill the re- quirementS of the most elaborate dis play.
 T think one reason why San Rafael has been so backward in entertain mentS of this character Is because of our proximity to San Francisco. It has been much. easier to run over to the city for our amusements than to prepare them ourselves, as those Hv- ing farther away must do. If we had to depend upon our own exertionS for amusement we would have established flower feteS long ago.
 Since the subject has been agitated ] have talked to many ladies about 1t and am gratified to say that have only met one who raised the slightest objec- tion. That lady favored the plan, but was apprehenSiVe that there was not enough time to prepare for 1t and sug- gested that it might be well to postpone it until next year. 1 told her that next year would see us in exactly the same position we are in now. If we ever did anything we would have to make a beginning, and we could do that as well this year as next.
 Regarding the suggestion emanating from the Ten Thousand Club that the carnival be held during the latter part of April, the ladies believe that owing to the late season it is too early and that a week or two later would be much better. Mrs. Foster said she had in spected her rose bushes to-day and found them very backward, and unless we had warm weather from this time on the blossoms would not be in their full glory by that time, She thought 1t would be much better to hold it during the first week in May, when the gar dens would surely be burdened with their treasures. This opinion was shared by several other members of the committee.
 Mrs. L. A. Lancet has been busy all day enlisting supporters of the carni- val, and is satisfied that Monday s meeting will result in a decision to pro- ceed with the plan. In this she is fully fndorsed by Mrs. and Miss Elliott, Mes danes Dreypolcher, Christiansen, Whittemore, Ham, Butler, G. H. Eos fer and Harrison. The other member of the committee, Mrs. R. H. Warf1eld, is enthusiastic over the fete, and has given her promise of stanch support. But to name the ladies who have also done this would be to publish the social directory of San Rafael.
 Ward McAllister, the leader of the Hunt Club, has promised to do all in bfe mower to assist the affair, and will arrange for a cavalcade of aids, com nosed of members Of the club, both ladies and gentlemen, mounted on their thoroughbred hunters, for the big pa