The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-30
SIXTH BIENNIAL FEDERATION
 OF WOMEN,S CLUBS.

All the attention of woman's clubdom
 Is now turned toward the coming sixth biennial meeting to be held in Los An geles in the first week in May. The WIS., itors who will go are particularly for- tunate in that the annual La Fiesta de los Flores occurs at that time, so Los Angeles will be attired in its carnival dress. In a letter from Mrs. Joseph F. Sartori A prominent club woman of Los Angeles. she says:
 "When the club women who attend the sixth biennial meeting of the General Federation of Women's Clubs reach Los | Angeles, they will find the city in it's carnival dress. Its annual fete. La Fiesta | de los Flores, occurs the first week in | May.
 Preparations for the event occupy months and the work of street decora- | ton begins several days before the open- | ing of the festival Light scaholding Is | erected as a foundation for floral designs; wires are stretched for floating thousands | of gay banners in red. green and yellow the Fiesta colors-framework is placed | about doorways and public entrances to | be swathed in these same tri-colored | buntings; wagon loads of date palms. | fan palms. pepper boughs. cypress and mountain laurel. busy hundreds of work men in decking the city which in its gala dress presents a scene unique and almost oriental in color effect. '"The object of La Fiesta de los Flores | (which means simply feast of flowers) is to depict in a living picture or spectacular pageant something specific and typical; something which shall reflect the poetic side of the Great Southwest and Pacific Coast and which shall in no way be a copy of the New Orleans Mardi Gras. nor of any other flower fete under the sun. "The first Fiesta was held in 1894, and in that as in those immediately following the central idea was the romance and history of the Southwest-the Incas Az tees, Pueblos. California Missions, touches of Spanish and Mexican life; and
 of Chinamen trapped put in barbaric splendor and an indescribable wealth of floral decoration.
 Later Fisstas. still having these fea- tures have given prominence to the long procession of fower-covered vehicles, a spectacle which no other city in the world has accomplished and one which visitors
 from less favored climes will scarcely forr get.
 Thursday. May 1, the opening day. the
 Elks. who have large membership in
 Southern California, will parade en
 nasque,. and their costumes will tax the
 ingenuity of those skilled in producing
 the fantastic and grotesaue.
 And the Chinese portion of the parade
 beggars description. It is without doubt
 the most unusual feature of La Fiesta
 and could not be produced elsewhere than
 on the Pacific Coast. The Chinese resi-
 dents of Los Angeles enter into the spirit
 of the affair with an enthusiasm which
 renders their display a rival in splendor
 to their grandest ceremonials. To it's
 effectiveness they bring their robes of
 state, their richest banners. heavy with
 priceless embroideries in silver and gold.
 their josses and their orchestras. and
 most wonderful of all, their awe-inspir-
 ing. map-manipulated Chinese dragon, 225
 feet long
 "At former Ffestas the Indian division was ore Of the stztking novelties. xXWWUwxxywSsytMss-