New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-24

n3ense stars the national shield, Masonic de-
signs or other enblems composed of flowers,
which form a striking contrast to the ground
work If the latter is not composed OF DOS
SONS il may be made OF the familiar plant
known as ben-and- chickens in the East, MOSES,
NrIls or leaves; the foliage, however, is gener-
,,iv fastened TO q fine wire netting attached TO
the framework. The monuments, fountains ana
other designs in bronze and marble are often
beautifully decorated with designs made espe-
es,llv for them but the arches usually the
e1ost elaborate form. and some of these eA-
tend from one side of the street to the other,
reaching to a height of thirty or forty feet, and
it is not unusual for a single arch actually to
contain twenty thousand or thirty thousand
bowers of different kinds.
The professions which form the most lmpor-
,aut part of the carnivals also give an opportu-
nitv for displaying the wealth OF natural peaulS-
Df course, it is considered an honor 1or INC
owner of a vehicle to be invited to take part III
the parade. There is much rivalry III lhle
respect between the towns as to the one "ho
shall have the most deliberately decorated Car
rage or automobile. The women OF the Iaihhy
study out ideas for weeks In advance, anu seieO'
+ba choicest blossoms which can be secured for
the purpose 1t makes no difference "helher liie
vehicle is a tallyho, an automobile touring car
E-o1lv hidden with leaf and blossom, only the
,ias revealing its character. White is natu-
rally one of the fayorite colors, as there is such
IN abundance of flowers of this tint Roses
lilies and carnations are used in protuslon IL
some of the designs set in groundwork Vi
green. Red and yellow are other colors WHICH
can be literally used, as so many species are VI
these colors. GeraniuIns, pnks and the many
different kinds Of roses all contribute to the
1plendor OF the decorations Honeysuckle, now
over is SO abundant that sometimes a carriage
S,lll be draped with this entirely. Pansles' Vlo-
lets and the ordinary field daisies are other
decorations favored They are used largely LOT
making up initials and designs which are placed
upon the panels of the vehicles.
But the parade is by no means confined to
pleasure vehicles. The Fire Department takes a
hand in the proceedings. and the same rivalry
prevails among the engine and hose companies
as we'll as the crews of the ladder trucks Some
Of their decorations are among the finest feat
ures OF the parade. The shape of the fire ap-
paratus assists in executing it. and wherever
bit Of green or a bloom can be placed to advan-
taee it is put in. Even the teamsters turn out
at times with their big freight vans decorated,
while the Chinese contingent forms one of the
most interesting features of the celebration. In
each Of the California towns are large colonies
Of Celestials, but as a rule they confine their
efforts to making great dragons or other myth
cal beasts, principally out of PAPER mache and
silk. Some of these are mammoth in size, re-
curing forty or fifty men to carry them in line;
but it can be said that the Cinnamon take as
much interest in the celebrations as the Ameri-
cans. ard their work adds greatly to the unique
appearance of the carnVals.
The floral adornment is not confined to the
carriages in the procession, however; often the
harnesses are covered with leaf and blossom,
while the drivers guide the horses with ribbons