Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-10-28
Where Parades Are Miles Long
And Everybody Gets
The Spirit.
ECHOES OF PoRToLA WEEK
Festive Throngs Grasp the Oppor-
tunity TO Establish New Records
In Pagcanty-wherc All Boost.

especial Correspondents
San Francisco. oct. g5-This IL a city
Of carnivals. city Of parades. lie
who would describe them must deal iu
superlatives. Here parades are miles
long. instead Of blocks long; hun
dreds' will not do, thousands" is
tho word
10 not jump TO the conclusion that
this is going to be an expose OF news
paper exaggeration or OF civic enthus-
iasm flooding over the walls Of varac-
lily. These things are matters OF I'M
colored history; records Of fact and
figure.
As I write this. the city is in the
midst Of Portola, a iive day celebra-
ton in commcmoration OF the discov-
cry Of san Francisco bay by Don Gas
par de Portola, i4s years ago
Two parades. already held. were
greater than any OF their nature ever
held in the United States and one Of
them has never seen a predecessor in
the world. But this Is going a bit too
fast.
CARNIVAL UPPERAiosT.
san Francisco has always been
famed as a gay city and a city's ex-
uberance finds expression In carni-
walls. Three years ago this city was an
ashy waste. Today It Is a reconstruct
ed city second 10 none in the world
from the strength and -cost-of- build
ings standpoint And from the moment
that 1t regained its grasp on life. after
the catastrophe OF three years ago, II
has been in one Of three conditions,
namely. preparing for a carnival, en-.
joying a carnival or recuperation from
the effects OF a carnival.
Tho first Wars fol1ox-fuc o
the fire saw hundreds OF thousands Of
merry on the streets. II was
wonderful show OF indomitable
spirit.
Then came the welcome to the fleet,
n year ago last May. Thousands OF
sailors and military men OF land or
CARNATIONS marched in line. The
whole nation wondered at the process
sion and the wonderful recuperative
powers of city that could entertain
hundreds of thousands "a months after
i had been shaken 10 the ground and
then consumed by fire.
But IL was left TO Portola week to
see the real demonstration OF gaiety
which lived through quake and fire.
REMARKABLE CROWDS.
The city OF san Francisco has a
population of 100000. cities around the
bay aggregate population Of 100000
quarter OF a million to take part in
Portola festivities. And every mothers
son, daughter and grandchild can be
| found on the streets, eager 10 see
everything in the long days program.
] The crowds are something remarkable.
Said New Yorker: II have seen big
| celebrations in my own citpy; | have
seen the Mardi Gras of New Orleans; l
| have been in Chicago during big show
| weeks; / have seen London and Paris
In gala time; but ! have never seen
! anything like the crowds I've seen
here in San Francisco during Portola
week.
And the shirt and gaiety OF the
| crowds are as much more noticeable
as the difference in the size OF the
| crowds. themselves. New York on New
| Years eve or election nights sees no
larger crowds and not nearly such
festive throngs." So much for the
| carnival spirit OF the city. Now for a
word about its parades.
MUST BE LARGEST EVER.
II does not matter what kind OF a
parade IL Is. IL must be the largest
ever held. Take the recent work horse
parade held here just a few week.
back. II was five miles long. II
stretched from one end of Market
street to the other and two-thirds Of
the distance on the counter-march
and Market street is 20 city blocks
long Nothing like Il was ever seer
in America, said those who ought L
know and the city was satisfied. bu
surprised had the verdict been other
wise. And 10 add another record
breaking feature q wire-cable com
pany was represented in this parade
by ~ horse team.
Another opportunity TO establish new
records In pageantry came the opening
day OF the POrtola celebration. SaI
Francisco grasped IL. II had sailor
from men OF war OF a half dozen diff
ferent nations in one parade, some
thing that had never happened In thii
or any other country. The natiOnl
represented were the United States
England Germany. Holland. Italy and
Japan. And never before have mel
| OF war flying 30 many different nag
been gathered In one port
! Although this parade I've mentioned
was a military display II probably did
as much 20 create the fellowship o
man as all the peace conferences and
Hagues ever held Fighters from the
six nations chatted together and
throughout Portola week mingled Tx,
members OF one huge family.
ALL NATIONS THERE
The third day Of the Portola saw one
| or the greatest eAnlDlth OF cotnOlroil'
tism the country has ever seen. In a
pageant that included over 25,O0l
marchers. native sons and daughters OF
this state marched along with gorge
ously cOstumed natives OF Greece, Rus
STA. Italy Germany, Holland, England
scotland China. japan and other coun'
tries. This parade took four hours L
pass a given point
few days before the Portola les.
tlvities opened President Taft was q
visitor 90 the city and after he had
ridden through miles OF city street,
lined along both sides with sole
masses OF humanity, he said but one
reception on his whole trip would com
pare at all with the one accorded hin
here That was the Chicago turnout
Within a few days Portola week vii
have become history but win the peo
pie OF this terrtor. rest back and set
he themselves for long breathing
spell? Not much--they are alreadl
talking about the coming New Year