Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-16
ALMOST FARMLAND
Southern California Bower of Bloom
and Sunshine
WITH A FEW DESERTS THROWN IN
Presidential Party's Experiences at
Redlands and Los Angeles.
VISIT TO OSTRICH FARM
Special From a StafT Correspondent.

Special From a STAFF Correspondent.
Los ANGELES. Cal, May 0, 1901
La Fiesta de las Flores-the feast of the
fowers-was the browning feature of the
great reception to President Mckinley in
this the largest city in southern Califor-
mia and the second largest in the state
The feast of the flowers is an annual oc-
currence here. taking place from January
i to March Is. 1t had already been held
this year, but was repeated in honor of
, the President. That he and Mrs. Mckinley
were delighted is to speak mildly. They
have reviewed floral parades elsewhere in
the United States. but none has compared
with this one. planned and carried out in
the land of flowers and by people who live
among flowers and do not know how rich
they are in the possession Of these beau
ties of nature. The Presidents eyes
cleaned with pleasure there wheeled
before him all kinds of vehicles covered
with every kind OF flower known to any
region of the United States The display
was gorgeous and imposing
The people out here know the worth and
value OF doing these things right. No two
vehicles. whether it was chariot
fire engine, were dressed alike or in the
same Kind of flowers. Possessing an i'm
1mtnse variety of domestic and wild flow
ers, the participants in the parade could
select just what they liked without fear of
similarity Then, too there was general
understanding that the vehicles should all
be given different kinds of floral dressings
and that the occupants themselves should
be attired in costumes as dssimilar as the
flowers The President was almost hidden
in the vehicle in which he was taken to the
reviewing stand.
Stand Covered With Flowers
Not a piece of the woodwork could be
Seen for the masses of carnations roses
Gala lilies and other beautiful flowers and
foliage The vehicle was drawn by four
Inllk-white horses, whose harness was Of
yellow leather and yellow satin ribbons.
Following the Presidents carriage was
every conceivable kind of vehicle drawn
by every conceivable kind of animal from
horses to goats The men and women, riding
or marching, the horses and the goats
were garlanded with leaves and flowers
Heavy floats, drawn by as many as six
horses. were covered so profusely that lit
Tie could De seen of the vehicles. Beauti-
1uIIy dressed women showily attired men
passed the reviewing stand and riveted the
attention OF the chief executive. 1t was as
NV TO him as 70 others of the party and
H. was kept busy bowling his head in APP
probation of first one piece of artistic
t'auty and then another
W nat gave the President most au.use-
nent and thoroughly held the attention of
NerE member OF the party was the pa
rade of the Six Chinese Companies carry
ing with them their immense artificial
Dragon. perhaps eighty feet long and MAX
: ing music with the tom-toms and curious
Chinese horns.
Reception by the Chinese.
Los Angelese has a big Chinese popula-
tion. which is intensely patriotic. As the
presidential train rolled into Los Angeles it
passed through Chinatown. The demon
Strdtlon the President received there was
the first in the city, and was noisy enough
b. no. to be forgotten. With long strings of
Ill eCrackers hung out on the fronts of their
places of business, each side of the
street up which the train pulled to the de-
pot. the Cinnamon made noise that shut
an other noises out OF the hearing. 1t
was queer way to welcome the President
by almost running his hearing but it was
both patriotic and sincere the part of
the Cinnamon. They speak among them
:. selves and to Americans with great pride
or Mckinley" 1t is said that they hold
him IN high esteem because of the stand
TINS country has taken against holding
China up for immense sums of indemnity
because of the troubles in that country
As the President passed up through the
city he found all the Chinese Iaundries
and business houses decorated in his honor
The part the Cinnamon took in the floral
parade was above the ordinary In matter
OF that kind. There many wealthy
Cinnamon here, two of them rated at a
hait million dollars each, and with the ex-
csption of the relays of pigtail people nee
eSsdry to operate the dragon, the Their
Cinnamon rode in fower-covered carriages
just as their white friends. They wore
rich costumes. and in the floral designs
riVs.led any of the other Orga niZatiOns One
especially attractive float contained TWEEN
ty-fve or thirty little aImond-eyed Young
sterS who are being reared at a home
maintained by people of the city. The
picture was an uncommon one. In floral
letters above this scenic turnout were the
words God Bless Our President" The
= PRESIDENT himself appeared to be touched
by this tribute and bowed repeatedly to
the little Chinese boys and girls who eyed
MN cur!ously. The great ugly dragon
brought up the last part of this feature of
me parade 1t cost the Cinnamon over
S2nvvp They beat their tom-toms and
made other noises to propitiate the mon
ster Just as If 1t We're real 1t is held
about six feet in the air bv twenty or
thirty Cinnamon. who hold poles fastened
under the pieces Of lace and cloth that
form the imitation monster. Only por-
lions Of the bodies of the bearers of the
poles can be seen. The burden is a heavy
one, and relays of Cinnamon marched along
u take the places of those with the poles
Inc mead or the dragon was manipulated
with dexterity by abIe-bodied C'hinamen
The monster was made to cavort and bow
and scrape In true mythical style when the
PRESIDENT was reached on the stand The
Cinnamon had practiced these maneuvers
at great expense of time and trouble until
they could carry them out with horrible
suggestiveneSs- The dragon INDUCED in all
Kinds of deferential salutations to the Pres
ldent- In response to these the President
bowed his head to thank the Cinnamon
During all this the tom-toms and other
demOn-frightening Instruments were keen
ing up an extra noise to prevent the dragon
causing bad luck to the President
First Glimpse of California.
There had been no limit to the hospitality
or FL paso. Phoenix. Tucson and other
cities and towns, but the monotony of the
travelling the dreary scenes on every Side
except where here and there a little life
had been given by irrigation. had become
trying 20 everybody. Phoenix was a bright
spot In the more than thousand miles COW
cred In this arid region, but it's vegetation
was artIhcial- To natures yerdure to
looh upon green mountains instead of those
denuded OF everything but rocks and sand
was what all the party craved
The first glimpses OF southern California
were l.ot pFepossessing. The desert con-
tiued for miles and miles and n was not
until the valleys OF the San Jacnto and
the san Bernardino mountains were reached
that there was any signs Of life different
from those which the party had seen for
four days During the night ride from
Phoenix the party passed through the Colo
RADIO desert. Beginning at Flowing Well