The Springfield herald., 1899-08-25
DENVER CARNIVAL.
A FULL WEEK OF PLEASURE.
Preparations for Better Entertainment
and Larger Crowds Than Ever Be-
fore.

Preparations for the fifth annual Fes-
dval of Mountain and Plain, to be held
In Denver, September 25th to goth
next, are in an advanced state, and the
Board of Direction promises to eclipse
In magnificence and variey Of display
anything that has hitherto been at
tempted. The various committees are
actively ut work, and all report grow
Ing enthusiasm throughout the city and
state over the great event
1t has been decided to devote the en-
tire week of September 25th to the fes-
tival, in order that ample scope may
be given to the various interests to be
represented, and, as additional attrac-
tions, horse show and street fair have
been included AS special features. 1t
being the intention that the festival
shall primarily furnish an attractive
exposition Of the varied resources Of
the state and of every county in the
state, invitations have been extended
to the commissioners of the several
! counties to cooperate with the board
and furnish such displays as will best
Illustrate their various products. Al
= ready replies have been received from
many counties, and the outlook is that
the state generally will be more fully
represented than ever before.
Especial interest is being taken In
the maids of honor contests in the sew
aral counties. The board has decided
that there shall be Il queen of the fes-
tival, who will reign throughout the
entire week. The lady who will occupy
this exalted position has already been
selected, but her name will not be
made known until the day the festival
begins. In order that she may reign
n,,J, ,A,,l- Oh. r.
tended by II bevy of maids Of honor,
each of whom is to be selected by
newspaper ballot in the county of
which she is resident. 1t Is the desire
that every county in the state shall be
represented, and already the contests
for the honor are becoming exciting in
the various counties.
Another great feature of the festival
will be the miners rock drilling con-
test. 1t Is intended to bring to Denver
for this event all the miners of national
reputation in rock drilling from the
mountain and other states, and the
event promises to be one of the most
exciting and interesting of the entire
week. Suitable prizes will be awarded
to the winners, and already many
teams of reputation In the mining
camps Of this and other states have
signified their intention to enter the
contest
The exposition and horticultural and
agricultural street fair is to be one of
the innovations of the festival, and al
ready great interest is being manifest
ed in this branch of the exposition.
Several streets Of the city will be set
apart for the fair and closed to gen
eral traffic during its continuance
As the festival would not be COM
plete without n day devoted to the
sons and daughters of Momus, Thurs
day, September 2Sth, has been allotted
to the maskers. On that day King
Argentum Aurum will have absolute
and unbounded sway. The merry
makers will have the freedom of GER
tain streets for the entire afternoon,
and 1t is not necessary to say that
fun and jollity will rule supreme. The
day will be ushered in with grand
mask parade, and 1t is understood that
a number Of novel and striking effects
In the grotesque line are in prepara-
ton by several organizations, which
expect to surpass any previous efforts
in this direction. The days festivities
will close with grand mask bail In
front Of the grand stand.
The coronation of the queen of the
festival before the grand stand on
| puOuudN oNtLluS Will be VHe VI tn6
most attractive events of the week
| The grand stand, which will be bril-
liantly illuminated for the occasion,
will seat 10000 people. and before this
| vast concourse the queen. surrounded
by her maids of honor. will receive the
crown. to the accompaniment of music
from hundreds of instruments. On
this occasion. too, will occur the
awarding of the Grand Regent upright
| ..tS
Company, 1887 Champa street, to the
maid of honor who may be chosen for
this distinction. The secretary has al
ready communicated with the clerks
] of the several counties apprising them
Of this superb gift, and asking them to
notify the young ladies' who are cam
didates in their respective counties.
The instrument Is one of the finest In
the world and there is no doubt that
there will be the highest rivalry for
| its possession. The method to be
adopted in making the award will be
duly announced.
1t is the design Of the board, with
the cooperation of Denver's mcr-
chants, to illuminate and decorate
their places of business and the prin
cipal streets in n manner worthy of
the occasion. Fifteenth. Sixteenth and
Seventeenth streets will be literally in
blaze of electric light. the two former
from Larimer street to Broadway. and
Seventeenth street from the Union DE.
| pot to Broadway. The effect will be
most beautiful. with the vari-colored
lights spanning the streets along the
| entire distance.
Mention should not be omitted of the
| parade of the Slaves of the Silver Ser.
pent, which has been one of the most
gorgeous features of former festivals.