The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1899-10-12
THE CARNIVAL
WAS THE BIGGEST THING JOHNSON
CITY EVER HAD.
The Citizens Were Wild With Enthusiasm
and Unstinted in Their Praise.

~ Wuo OhO 6IHhNOnp oNpAO ~ VShh
son City's eventful history
The day was perfect, the floats were
faultless, the parade was gorgeous, the
citizens were crazed with surprised de-
light and the strangers within our
gates stood aghast at our enterprise
and joined heartily into the roars Of
spontaneous applause that greeted
each float.
It was the unanimous verdict that
johnson City had never before been SO
thoroughly aroused and had never so
completely covered itself with glory.
The citizens generally do not know
the amount of work done by our mer-
chants, and we are Of the opinion that
they themselves scarcely realize the en-
terprise they have displayed. Think
of ton Saturday, the 8Oth day of
September, we called upon the various
merchants and manufacturers and
asked all who were in favor of having
carnival the first day of the Fair, and
who were willing to put float in the
parade, to sign paper signifying their
intention. The object was to satisfy
all parties that if they prepared a float
there would be parade. Did they
sign? 1t would have done your soul
good to have seen the merchants when
the idea was presented. Their coun-
: tenances frightened as the old time
enthusiasm arose, phoenix like, from
the ashes Of blasted boom-day hopes,
and when they grasped the pen to sign
we knew the fires of hustle and ambi-
tion had been rekindled and that all
: would be we'll. No one refused, not
q one hesitated. ALI went to work with
will and THE COMET famed the fires
of enthusiasm into blazes of glory.
The Carnival idea became contagious,
t everybody took it, and there was soon
q general confagration. In exactly
eight working days the parade was on
the streets. The result was magical.
There were 81 floats in line, long
Is line of bicyclists and company Of
Rough Riders. The parade was con.
n siderably over mile long and was
IL over an hour passing given point.
'f The streets through which the pa
r rade passed were lined with people an6
ct every float was surprise and called
le forth continuous cheers. No one, moi
/. even the most enthusiastic, had an idet
1T the parade would be such q wonderful
4 exhibit and the people do not seem tt
or tire of singing its praises. johnson
re City has started wave Of good feeling
Iy as it were, and it is pervading THU
- whole territory. Everybody has |
Of kind word to say of the town and it
Or enterprise and it pays to be talked
it about in this manner. The parad
lie was led by the Brabson Concert BanC
ID of Greeneville. The first float con
We tanned the Queen and maids of honor
Q. Miss Emma Taylor, daughter of Gov
s. Taylor, was the Queen of the Carniva
at and she selected as her Maids Of Homo
Q, Misses Leona Martin, Mamie King
~ Iva Johnson, Gertrude Taylor, Carr,
es Carr and Lizzie Carr. The following
ne young men acted as outriders and wer
to attired in gorgeous uniforms; Messrs
as Will johnson, Sam Willard, Fran
IS, Miller, Bob Martin, Horace Miller
he Ed Houston, Will Harris and Chas
ng Biddle The Queen and Maids G
he Honor were appropriately gowned an
in looked royal and regal in their robes
mt The float was drawn by four matche
vn horses and was admired by all
is This was followed by float i'll charg
ge of Sam Ponder containing 45 girls rer
or resenting the United States. Then TO
Ii lowed the floats of the merchants an
on manufacturers as arranged by the mai
lid shals, the carriages of citizens cam
Ip- next, then the bicyclists and Roug
lot Riders.
Ia Several premiums had been offere
, o by the Association and the Bee Hiv,
ID A committee on award was selected I
follows: J. A. Cargille, E. O. Bali
- win, of Boones Greek, and W. W. r.
W.T. mine. After mature deliberation the
II awarded the blue ribbons as follows:
For best decorated double trap, Mr.
~ w. P. Harris and Mrs. Geo. 7. Wo
ford.
Best decorated single trap, DIR. ,
W. Cox.
Best decorated farm wagon, W.
~ Barton on "Woodlawn Farm"
NJ BEE HIVE PRIZES.
Best decorated carriageJ. M. Brow
Best decorated bicycle, d. A. Job
a Best decorated person, Miss Nab
y Gildersleeve.
Best decorated horseback rider, Mi
us Lena Barton.
Youngest children in parade, Cy /
Lyle's kindergarten.
Most comical rider, A. s. Rogers {
+" the gray mule.
e Our space will not permit us
speak of the individual floats, suffice
out to say they were all highly creditab
emit and would have done honor to a TOW
of 10000 inhabitants. This is only
-, starter, next year we viii do ev,
u better.