The Washington herald., 1908-04-27


ferent' in the way Of receptions to the
battle-ship fleet. Although the fun
doesn't begin until tomorrow, it is evil
dent that this little seacoast town in
tends 10 make its promise good Al
ready it is different You see it in the
prospectus that the Civic League, which
Is running the welcome, has put out, It
says
our young men are supposed to bring
all the girls they know TO the dance
and then stand back in favor OF the
officers. Our people are going TO turn
out full strength at the sailors dances
and sports. but viii leave to the guests
the best Of the girls and games"
This IS going to be an almost entirely
outdoor affair. The chief part OF the
celebration VIII be along the Ocean
boulevard. This street, which is bounded
by surf on one side and park on other.
is only about quarter OF a mile long
Here late tomorrow afternoon the great
floral parade takes place. Santa Barbara
is noted for these shows. Folks here say
this Will outdo all previous ones. About
lo0O sailors viii take part in the festiyi-
ties They viii carry flowers in their
rifles or in their arms. The fun will
close with a furious floral bombardment,
when every one is privileged to pelt any
one else with roses. lilies, pinks and
whatnot all he pleases.
Plan "FIght and FrOIie."
The committee says this is the only
combined fight and frolie" the fleet will
ever have. Next night there is to be
dancing on huge platforms on the bouIe-
ward. At one end will be platform for
the officers and at the other a platform
for the bluejackets.
Forty girls, costumed 10 represent Cali
fornia flowers, viii dance, and children.
dressed as butterflies and bumblebees.
viii minsie with the dancers. Then Miss
fnez Diobllee, of Spanish-California or
igin, VIII dance a symbolic dance Of
spring. Miss Dibbllee has a great repu-
tation as a dancer on this coast, and her
performance is expected 10 capture the
teet. An Open-air BAH is TO follow. The
dancing platform Tor the bluejaCkets is TO
De EJJ Teet square The committee says:
1t will be one open-air time with lots
or music and lots OF girls, and with no
introduCuOns required Il VIII not be the
Iault Of the Santa Barbara girls if the
bluejackets fail 10 have q good time. The
entire town is free TO them"
Want Plenty OF Girls.
The committee then appeals for plenty
OF girls and flowers, and says:
If we are to capture this fleet we must
have plenty Of gunners and lots Of am
munition for floral bombardment. The
armada IS said to be formidable. New
ertheless we believe We can make them
haul down their flag"
All this sounds very nice. but il will
have to be something pretty fine to
cause full surrender, for something like
a chill struck the feet when the first dele
cation Of officers and men hit the beach
last night In the first place, the anchor
age here is inhospitable. Heavy swells
make il hard to. put launches alongside
OF the big pier. The pier has no lights
at night and it was positively dangerous
last night 10 go 10 and from the ships.
The next place. At the very entrance 20
the pier, We're found a vast crowd OF
catch penny affairs, nickel-in-the-slo
concerns, and cheap gewgaw shows, with
short change men in charge to relieve
the bluejackets Of their money as quick
" as possible. Again it was found that
the prices at the large hotel here had
gone sky high-so high, in fact, that
when you paid you could almost see over
the tops of mountains that make this
place the American Riviera.
Saturday was pay day with the fleet
About $2500O0 was paid out, and Santa
Barbara has hopes.
Welcome Is Genuine.
With all this. however, there is the
same genuine feeling of welcome that
has greeted the fleet all along the Coast
CalifOTnia's craze over actually seeing
great feet is based upon a real feeling of
patriotism. The Coast now knows that
il is possible to bring a battle-ship feet
here in a reasonably short time. and
there is a sense Of relief and joy such
as one experiences when he knows that
his home and property are secure. The
feet can understand why a foreign coun-
try, in the exchange of international
comfy, greets a great collection of ships
like this. cordially and even Uproariously,
but il is still some puzzled over Califor-
MAS welcome. One of them expressed it
this way:
ITS like going downtown some MORN
ing only TO find the whole family on
the front porch when you get back, eager
70 throw their arms about you, fall on
your neck. and weep tears Of joy on
your shoulder because of your safe re-
ture. when really you have only been
out for the exercise you need. and the
only thing that has happened is that
some Of your neighbors have been espe-
cially nice in saying good morning to
you"
The fleet has learned that the cele-
bration here is to be artistic, rather than
hilarious, The committee in charge has
some Of the artist colony here as the
moving spirit The idea is to have
harmonious picture in the eye all the
time For instance word has been sent
out that no photographer will be per
mitted within the lines to take pictures
of the floral parade unless he Is dressed
entirely in white. The picture itself must
not be marred by any man in dark
clothes. Even the newspaper men will
be required to wear big blue badges.
and be dressed in harmony with the slIr-
before they can occupy. seats
IN the press stand. Some of the news
paper men grin at the idea of being
labeled.
Decorations I'm Harmony.
The decorations are not as lavish as
in other places, but are modest. I'VE
want to have this artistic, and not gar
lsh. is the way members Of the com
mittee put it.
Meantime the bluejaekets hitch their
and say that while that artistic
business goes all right. they know how
0-KAI0N