The Portland daily press., 1899-05-23
City Gay With Flags
and Bunting.
The Grand Procession Part of
TOday's Programme.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l

Gardiner. Me-, May 22.-Four years ago
the Gardiner Board of Trade gave car
nival and 1t was a successful carnival too.
1t lasted week during which this city
was gay with bunting and enlivened by
| the strains of music while thousands
thronged the streets from morning to
night In the great wooden building
known as the Coliseum, probably because
it bears not the slightest resemblance to
those mighty structures of antiquity to
which the name was first applied, the en-
terprising merchants and manufacturers
of LGardiner displayed their wares and
products and Reeves's celebrated band
gave concerts afternoon ana evening. To
further instruct and amuse the crowds
there was mighty street parade and
various entertainments in the hall, In
that the county of Kennebeo had ever
seen. So successful was the carnival of
four years ago that tho Board Of Trade
decided to try 1t again and to make the
second event a commemoration of the
semi-centennial of the Incorporation Of
Gardiner as q city. This second carnival
opened today in blaze of glory which
indicates that it is to exceed the event of
four years ago In interest and the size of
the crowds in attendance, If those things
are possible.
| The good people of Gardiner take par.
donable pride in their city and their car
nival and some of their patriotic feeling
found expression in the flags and bunting
| with which they adorned their houses and
places of business in preparation for the
fun and excitement of the week, for a
Gardiner carnival is a show that keeps
in progress for six days out OF the seven
and the preachers mention 1t, SO it is
said, In the services of the seventh. By
noon today, the city looked as If tbs
glorious Fourth had arrived six weeks
ahead of time. The opening day was
devoted to tho reception of the Governor
and other prominent men of Maine.
Reeves and mis- band men got along in
time to play them welcome and when
the train with the distinguished gusts
aboard stepped at the Gardiner station
this afternoon, 1t was met by the Mayor,
members of the city government and
others In authority. The ladies of the
party were taken to the Evans House
while the gentlemen were given ride
through the gaily decorated city. Re-
turn ing to the hotel they we've greeted
with the strains of "Hail to the Chief, "
that ancsint melody bing playsd in honor
of the Governor by Reeves's band which
was stationed on the balony of the hotel
Then the visitors were rendered a lunch
and after that prepared for the evening
reception at which the carnival would be
formally opened.
The Coliseum was made gay with flags
and bunting when the crowds flocked in
for the evening exercises. Beneath the
galleries were the exhibits OF u number
of the enterprising concerns of the Ken
nebeo Valley and at the rear of the hall
occupying all the space under the bal
cony there, was an excellent representa-
ton of Niagara Falls, due to q combina-
tion of the art of the scene painter and
the realism supplied by water from the
Cobbosseecoutee (which was induced to
run in glittering stream over the can
vas precipice. The effect under the cleo
trio light was very pleasing and the
model of the shores and islands was true
to life. The miniature Niagara is one OF
the many things due to the enterprise
and industry of President MoCausland
of the Gardiner Board OF Trade. Mr.. Nc
Causland is one of the leading business
men of the town and public spirited
citizen as we'll. 1t was to his efforts that
the success of the last carnival was large
ly due and he is at the front in the ar
rangements for this one. With hlm'
sharing his enthusiasm and equally dill
gent in their efforts are Vice Presidents
| w, Lewis and S. q. Decker, Secretary
J.. E. Cunningham, Treasurer ID. D
Webster, Directors James Walker, W. r.
Studley, j. 5. Maxcy and Gsorge Ii.
Harrington.
To aid in the opening of the carnival
there came among others the Governor OF
the state; Hon. Charles e. Littleheld,