Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-25

To canals and ocean and in the inter-
vening mainland-lagoons with an Ital-
ian setting-thousan made Pilgrim
age yesterday carrying out the spirit
of feasting, fun and folly in every
detail.
Venice had a mardi-gras, a Coney
Island and a worlds fair in miniature,
and all Southern California was repre-
sented there.
The carnival spirit was uppermost
and reigned from early morning till
past midnight, The midway was the
safety valve, for here all visitors
surged and spent their surplus enthu-
siasm.
Flags futtered gayly in the beach
city. Bunting tapped in the breezes,
Japanese lanterns dangled wherever
there was room for them Streamers
and paper parasols lent their pictur-
esque effects.
Venice truly was en- fete.
Is Center of Attraction
Windward avenue, leading from the
midway to the big pier, fianked by it's
stately Venetian buildings, seemed the
center of attraction. Toward this
broad thoroughfare humanity travelled
as car after car deposited its load of
pleasure seekers. Each visitor brought
fan-lil<e slapsticks, "wife beaters," as
they are called, bags of confetti dust
ers, ticklers and bells. If they didn't
bring them, they found hundreds of
venders to supply their wants.
True Carnival Spirit
The habit Of getting busy with some
noise-provoking instrument was easily
acquired, for the carnival spirit was
infectious in Venice, just as it was
in Los Angeles Necessarily every man
provided the woman he escorted every
husband his wife and every brother
his little brother with something to
start something" And it all helped TO
ever.
The real rush of the day began at
noon. Stragglers with picnic baskets
had been coming in autos, wagons and
by boat and trolley, but as the meridian
was reached athe augmented trolley
service piled the people into Venice as
fast as they could be unloaded. Wear
ing their outing clothes, carrying canes
and colors and laughing with Fiesta
fervor, they distributed themselves on
the pier, beach, Midway, canals, min
iature railway or on camels and burros.
The slogan was Have a good time, %
with every imaginable facility for hav-
ing it.
Confetti Warfare
Massed around the aquatic grounds
thousands took seats by / o'clock to
see the confetti battle on land and
water. They came in streams, ever in
creasing, and headed for all the shows
nthe Midway. When not doing some
thing they were seeing, or warding off
playful blows from the thousands with
busters, ticklers, canes and slapsticks.
All ages and classes were there, de-
mure women and hoydenish girls, staid
men and men in the making, brokers
and men who were broke, school chill
dren and graduates.
Every show on the Midway had
special ballyhoo and exploitation fea-
lures, and as fast as the auditoriums
were filled up new hundreds were fight
ing for places in the line.
Thousands of red programs were
scattered for information, and the
masses were prompt in taking places
to see each attraction as fast as it was
scheduled. This helped trades people,
takers and showmen, for they knew
when the greatest rush was due and
made preparations accordingly.
ReveIry and Good Humor
The confetti showers were so lavish
that it fairly showed. All colors of the
shoWery stuff descended on the people.
Men had their pockets full of confetti;
women their handbags laden with it. 1t
was sold by basketfuls. Everybody
bought 1t and passed 1t along.
Notwithstanding the inevitable jos
tling and bruising that resulted with
over 100000 people engaged in throwing
confetti and welding sticks and
brushes, few lost their tempers. The
revelry was good-natured though lively
1t was give and take and then some.
Restaurants, booths, cafes and camps
did a land office business. With extra
help and extra supplies the thousands
came so fast they had to await their
turn. There was no extortion, fact
that all visitors commented on favor
ably.
Venice has never had such throngs
as it saw yesterday, and they reported
with unanimlty of opinion that it had
been profitable Fiesta day all -
Crowds Arrive Early
All day long and far into the night
Venice was crowded with thousands Of
visitors, and many hundred Shriners
Joined in the celebration.
At an early hour in the morning the
crowded cars started to run on a two
minute schedule.
Everything had put on a festive APP
pearance Windward avenue especial
ly attractive with it's hundreds OF
brightly colored banners, and later in
the evening with its myriads OF elec-
trio lights. The lake was bordered with
decorative banners while on one side Of
it the Midway Plaisance attracted at
tention with its festive appearance.
The takers were there in all their
glory, and at every STEP before the day
was over, some one tickled the chin "
the sightseer with a feather duster,
knocked his hat Off with a cane while
some one else pounded him on the back
with "wife beater."
The ceremony begun at 1880 O'Clock
with a grand concert by Venice of
America band, led by Chiaffarelli.
BY $3.50 the confetti began to fly and