Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1908-04-30
The Battle Of Flowers.
San AntOnio's Gala Day.

VII OllC GISG uety w pain every |
year, the anniversary of the vic
tory of San Jacinto, which won
Texas Independence from Mexi-
co, procession of gaily decked |
vehicles file back and forth in |
front of the Alamo chapel, and
the beauty and chivalry of the
great Southwest pelt each other
with flowers and confetti. This |
odd and fanciful Battle of Flow
ers, with the grim old blood
stained chapel, where the Texas
patriots gave their lives as a
background, is a unique festival.
During this season sunny
Southwest Texas is a land of |
flowers; the hills and valleys are
brilliant with every hue and tint
from the delicate white of the
lilies to the flaring yellow of the
myriad coriopis, which the chill
dren call Mexican Blankets" so
there is no lack of ammunition Of
peace, and the flower strewn
streets, literally besprinkled also
with confetti, are thronged with
merry, pleasure-loving crowds.
The Latin-American element has
leavened the whole lump and at
this time the old world Spanish
atmosphere of San Antonio
makes true Carnival spirit.
The Spring Carnival, as it is
called, generally lasts a week:
this year it begins on Monday,
April 20, and lasts until Satur-
day, the 25th. At this season
crowds flock into San Antonio
from all over Texas and patriot
ism and flowers are rampant.
There are from one to two pa
rades every day, civic parades,
labor parades, uniformed orders
and amalgamated brothers of
every kind march back and forth.
One organization in particular,
the Knights of OMAHA (Which is
Alamo spelled backwards), in
PRODUCES the comic and gro
tesque elements, as well as ihs-
toric, and their false faces and
gorgeous costuems make one of
the features. Bands play on
every plaza, and about every
tenth block in San Antonio is a
plaza filled with pomegranate,
Alilac bushes, Yucca palms, null
berry or banana trees. Youths
and maidens go arm in arm and
confetti and flowers are thrown
promiscuously, and when the
blaring bands cease and the
moon rides high one hears along
the shadowy side of the streets
a tinkle of banjo and guitar,
singing and laughter, the peren-
NAL melody of youth and love.
Conspicuous in the crowds
giving the Latin spirit of aban-
don to the festival are the Mex
leans; whether it be that these
people have become so thorough
ly Americanized as to rejoice in
the victory that wrested an En-
pire from their Mother country,
or whether the inherent Latin
love of festival makes them
glad to participate in any kind
of a fandango, even to celebra-
ton of their own defeat, they
are the most enthusiastic and hi
larious. 1t is this Latin ele-
ment, with its love of gay colors,
which gives the Battle of Flow
ers a touch suggestive of Venice
or the festivals of Spain.
Vacant squares and lots are
filled with all manner of side
shows, from "Boscoe, who swal-
lows them alive" to vaudeville
artists of some ability. AT night
especially the lights of the chile
stands twinkle and old Mexican
women, whom story writer's love
to Describe as beautiful senori-
tas, dish up chile con carne, hot
tamales, tortillas, enchiladas and
other mystic and hot dishes that
make you sorry at the time you
eat them and for long time af-
forwards. There are many
booths where the famous drawn
work and bead work of the Mex
leans are on display.
But Spanish is not the only
one of the many nationalities
that 90 to make up Southwest
Tavas Next in numbers and