The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-08-16

il the Pageant of Roses, about
Which Pasadena girls and boys had
Zen thinking and talking for weeks.
The opera house was one great bower,
for the whole framework of the stage,
boxes and galleries was hidden by trail
ine green branches, dotted with roses
Every seat in the house was filled and
people were even packed in the aisles.
Wien the curtain finally rose, and the
sadience suddenly stopped complain
IL about the heavy fragrance of the
flowers, in their wonder at the beauti-
ful tableau on the stage.
A lovely girl, dressed to represent
tie goddess of flowers, was lying asleep
On moss-covered rocks, and, clustered
sll about her, were little children
whose costumes made them look like
yellow poppies, and whose soft little
syelids were folded like hers. The
time was supposed to be California
autumn, when, after long, dry sum-
ner, everyone was watching and wish
hg for rain. Presently, the awful
Breath-of-the-Desert came stealing in.
he was man in suit of dark green
tights covered with bright spangles,
and his face had been painted the color
of ashes. 1t was horrible sight to
see him painting and curving and twist
hg about in his wicked glee at finding
The Goddess Flora fast asleep. Sudden
h, the soft music of the orchestra grew
bud and warlike, as the Breath-of-the-
Desert, by wave of his sword, called
his army to follow him. In they
trooped and what do you think they
we're but crowd of boys, dressed to
box like the ugly cactus that grows
u over the desert! A moment more
md they would have killed the lovely
0eddess and all the poppies, too, but
1ash!-like streak of white light
alns, down from the mountains at the
tack of the stage, came the glittering
Rain God-all in dazzling white ant
dlver-and the way his bright SWORD
vent cleaning about, killing one cac
+ tusafter another. was enough to make
you hold your breath. Last of all, HI
1pusht the Breath-of-the-Desert ar6
when he had him, like the rest, lying
dead upon the stage, the Rain Goo
boxed up and smiled, for he saw com
ihg toward him the Maiden Spring
Who was really sweet girl dressed II
green gauze, with bare white arm.
lolding high above her head an I'M
nense green fern. Behind her came lit
tle children in white gauze and shin
ms wings. They were the Fairy Rain
dropf, and, q moment later, the God
dess Flora and the poppies reused from
their sleep and all joined in happ.
dance to joyous music.
Reautiful!" Perfect" people wer'
ATing, as the curtain went down.
But you just wait until you se
Ssella Bird and Ethel Douglas!" whis
fefed . Pasadena boy to the strange
beside him. This is only the begin
slsg. Now, after the Rain God comes
yo1 see, they'll have all the Californi
Viz flowers represented, and then tn
1herent kind of roses, just in the OF
eef that they really come. And Ethe
- Stella take part in everything. My
eetthey can dance. Mrs. Hackett wrot
- story of the Pageant and planne
e whole thing. but she says sh
eeesnt believe she could have made
se without those two girls. Stella Bir
20 to be called the prettiest girl j
esadena, but since Ethel Dougla
me here, it's tie. 'Sh! there goe
- curtain"
and the audience seemed TO agre
nth this enthusiastic boy. for as Eth,
sna stella, dressed like purple blo'
came leading the wild-flowe
.nival upon the stage there was
oaen. deafening burst of applaus
people began to murmur: "Ol
se me the opera glass, quick!"
|S some one threw great bunch of vi,
Z ts that fell at Stella's feet and 81
eht them up SO gracefully, witho,
Is ag step in the march, that ever,
seeered. She smiled aud bowed