Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
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cession of merry pseudo artists appears,
carrying set designs of bells or crowns
made of flowers-these having been com
pleted in some nearby home. After sus-
pending the flower designs from the deco
rated scrolls at the corners, front and
back of the taily-ho. all hands fall to COW
ering the saddle blankets and horse co..
lars with f1owers-a matter of no small
Importance when it Is considered that each
blanket has a surface of twenty-five
square feet Harness and brides for thir
teen horses are wrapped with cambria of
the prevailing color. and as every inch OF
cloth must be sewed fast. one can under
stand how much time is required to use
up the necessary two. bolts of material.
I BY midnight each of the thousands of
flowers is wired fast and then all hurry
away to enjoy little feast and rest until
an hour before the time of the great tour
| nament. when renewed activity begins.
| The most strenuous time now shows it
self. Swftness, facility and patience are
called into play. Thirteen restless horses,
daZzled by flashing colors. are to be har-
messed; and may be, one stubbornly re-
fuses to take the bit even under the en-
couragement Of half a dozen hostlers, and
realizes the Importance of its position
only under the magical touch of the vet
Urinary. Willing hands bring flowers. smi
| lax wire and Irvine; bows and rosettes of
ribbon are placed here and there; some
one too hurried to seek shears, tries to
| break a wire across her knee; another
! with powder-boX and swansdown, pow
ders indiscrimina those who have
| formed in line waiting his or her turn;
| the finishing touches are completed, ban
| ners are hOisted and parasolS are opened.
The horses are covered with festoons of
! roses and at last the driver takes his seat
! This same driver is transformed by satin
| cloak and cooked hat into a fairly good
cavalier. wearing his powdered wig some
what awry: for be it known that an
Apolo-like countenance and the ability
to handle six horses are not always found
| in combination.
The bugler announces the start, and the
great flower basket. bearing it's cargo of
| dainty buds. escorted by outriderS almost
covered with flowers, rolls away-all the
| result of seventy-five individuals working
almost continually for twentyfour hours
Punctuality is the keynote of the day
Promptly at 1920 the bugle sounds for the
procession to move and as it passes, the
crowd that Is lined up solidly along the
line of march to the parade grounds gives
vent to it's feelings with no uncertain
sound. Naturally, the center of attraction
Is the queens float, massive and elaborate
in its decorations. surrounded by the grace
and beauty of the court ladies', the flower
of society this season. The schools pay
very important part in the program
and the majority of the beautiful floats
are their entries. For years chief honors
have been borne off by the high school
and originality is not its only Characters
tic. but correct historical representations
whenever they select this particular form
of showing. A certain amount of money
for the purchase of flowers is allowed the
schools by the association, by way OF
showing its appreciation of the lnteres,
displayed.
When the procession finally arrives al
the park, the queen and her attendants
are escorted to the raised dais on the
judges stand and all the participants
then pass in review before her. No more
i beautiful sight can be imagined in the
world. The grand stands are filled te
overlooking. every one of the 118 boxes Is
filled with handsomely gowned women. the
cream of California society, and the all
is filled with the odor of the millions o.
flowers that are seen everywhere in pro