Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-28
Flowers, Flowers Everywhere.

Flowers, Flowers Everywhere.
For this brilliant panorama there coult
hardly have been found loveiier setting
the boulevard-there is but one 'boulevart
in Santa Barbara-was hedged on either
side with roses and ferns, making lane
of green and bright color. Overhead
waved red pennants. At the head of the
boulevard. in the pretty Plaza Qelwar
where the Queen of Girls received heI
seepter of regal authority. played q foun.
tain. The ground was carpeted with dow-
ers poured from baskets.
At the end Of the PIAZZA was a stand
with red canopy. In 1t sat the admirals
and captains Of the fleet. who command
ed a view of the boulevard from end to
end and Of the crowd Of spectators who
hedged II in on both Sides Women OF
fashion. with. fancy parasols and rich
gowns; schoolgirls in the national colors,
the summer man in spotless white fan
nels. the Spanish troubadour, colonial
DANES and priests in the gray and somber
black were the human part Of the pic
ture, and making the setting for them
were the flowers, Of which there was
no end
There was the flavor of ,old and now
Spain. the religious and the secular:
There were the quaintness Of the days OF
the revolution, the rugged grandeur OF
the pioneer moving across the mountains
classic Greece. with the goddess Minerva
the center Of things. And there was the
cornucopia Of California poured out with
lavish extravaganza =, 49,, 49,.
Cheers for Marching Sailors.
1t was significant that in all this play
OF beauty and color and splendor the first
heartsome cheers of the day were given
for the marching sailor boys. Rear Adj
~ + 10 N q md
officers. in their gold braid, brought a
ripple Of plaudits as they moved along
in a brougfam whose floral decoration
alone cost 81 500. but the storm did not
break until the chaps in the white blouses
and turned-up hats came along. the muz-
zles Of their guns choked with clusters OF
flowers. There were 1.O0O Of the sailors
in line. The bands played martial airs
and the old love songs of the south by
turn Battleships were fashioned OF
Easter lilies. Gun lines were softened
with forget-me- nots and sweet peas. Com
umn was replica of the Franciscan
mission. with Ginning bells and priests
chanting.
When Rear Admiral Thomas had sur
rendered to the Queen Of Flowers she.
from her chariot Of flowers. released a
dozen white doves, which sailed away
over the crowd.
The battle Of flowers did not begin until
the column made its second trip down
the boulevard and back. Then. in the
stands on either side, men and women
drew from baskets roses, carnations ge-
raniums and sweet peas to. toss them
over into the roadway. The shower be-
came deluge near the officers stand.
The air was radiant with flying tributes
and cheers from the navy men, When the
storm had spent itself the ground was
covered 1t was q temptation the staid
officers could not Withstand. Throwing
official dignity as far as the flowers had
been tossed. they scrambled down from
their seats, scoOped up the same flowers
flung many OF them back to the fair ones
who had given them. and, with the rest,
the first and second squadron OF the Meet
began an internecine warfare. For ten
minutes the bombardment ragged and then
a flag Of truce was raised and honors
were declared even.
Santa Barbara civilians enjoyed this
clash more than anything else in the day
1t had brisk action In 1t to enhance the
play Of color.
In a Carriage Of Flowers.
The coach which carried kear Admira
Thomas, Rear Admiral McCalla. Capt
Grant and Lieut.. Weaver to the reviewing
stand was decorated with 1900 roses and
carnations. At the rear was an admiral,
flag, the background in blue cornfowers
and the stars in white carnations, by
Alex Harmer, a we'll known western art
list and painter. The carriage was drawn
by six white horses 49,,
For class A. prize-marching bodies. thu
sailors of the feet took first honors. the
decision being unanimous and no seconc
choice. First prize for decorated autOmo
biles was taken: by Rhodehaven 81 Rey.
nolds, who had made their car into
mimic battleship of flowers. Second wal
taken by Luther Holton, who had used
deep rose rhodante and asparagus ferns
with beautiful effect. The Forest Rang.
ers. who rode flower bedecked mounts a nd
carried stats with little flags -nying., tool
first for mounted bodies and the Thatcher
School second. William g. Nichol wor
first novelty prize. his exhibit being
a wagon drawn by two mules. Ine noa'
was a small haystack strewn with bios
SONS, and underneath hung wicker bas-
kets containing ducks. geese and chick
ems. The Jefferson School. with, a field
artillery piece, was awarded second.
Just before his departure for San Fran.
cisco to revisw the Atlantic fleet Secre'
tary of the Navy Metcalf announced the
ofiicial itinerary OF the big battleshir
command upon the next stage OF Its jour
% sns e =. Soro
of at New York. Norfolk has been Sc
lected because of the room In Hampton
roads. The fleet could not be reviewed al
New York without considerable hindranc.
to commercial navigation.
According to the San Francisco Manila
schedule. the Philippines will be visited
twice-the first time for coal, on the way
from Australia to Japan. and the secont
time for the, fall target practice. A re-
markable feature o, this cruise Will be tn,
worlds long distance run for battieships-
from Honolulu to Auckland-3.S50 miles
The entire cruise will cover about 1900
miles, which, added to the .i50OO milel
| from Ha yventnn p0aAa IN San .TPanctacf