Evening star., 1909-05-26
PARIS FLOWER FETE
An Incident That Lives in the
Tourists Memory.
HOLIDAY FOR WHOLE CITY
Loyalty Of the True Parisian q Fea-
ture Of the Festival.
LOVE FOR THINGS THAT BLOOM
A Sentiment Attached to the Pretty
Show That One Cannot Forget.
Washington's Opportunity.
HOLIDAY FOR WHOLE CITY
LOVE FOR THINGS THAT BLOOM

The project OF flower fete for Wash
ington revives the impressions of such an
event In Paris; to be precise not an
event-only an occasion-an incident of
the year expected with confident pleasure
by the world fashionable and unfashion-
able. Your Partisan loves out-of-door life
not In an athletic spirit, but for its own
sake. A holiday to him is something sa-
cred He is educated from childhood to
realize that to mar the happiness of any
one who has set aside little time for en-
joyment is as bad as 1t would be to pick
his pocket. Crowds therefore assemble on
terms of courteous understanding. and the
day of the flower fete is one on which
men. women and children gather under
the influence Of summers awakening to
cultivate an amiable, though impersonal
relationship. This fete is but local ex-
preston of an impulse common in Euro
pean cities. The love Of things that
bloom Is in Italy as strong as the love Of
song. The festival is, as 1t should be- an
expression of the social sentiment in its
broadest sense. and any celebrity the city
gains on it's account is only accidental
1t rained on this day in June last year
appointed for the flower pageant In the
Bois de Boulogne. But the circumstance
In no wise affected the confident enthu-
siasm OF spectators or participants. The
taximeter, always important. was at this
time of superlative consequence, and
mOdishly attired people made their way
to the scene Of floral fascination. Per-
haps the feminine instinct had something
to do with the interest in the day, for
every one knows that there is no setting
for womanly beauty like a setting Of
flowers.
You must go to the flower fete?" says
the confidential waiter at your table
L. IL s-k
are barbarian! His feelings are hurt
for they have q maxim there; 'if you do
not love the flowers of country, you do
not love its people" But what especial
charm can there be in q concourse Of
this kind. however vast. You have seen
flower fetes elsewhere. They were de-
lightful, but when time is short new i'm
pressions should be the guest; not old ex-
periences.
Perfume of Million Blooms.
As you step outside on your. way to
some place particularly recommended by
the guide book. you note an allurement
in the atmosphere. 1t is indefnable at
first. Then 1t materializes. It is a per-
fume: one that no chemist could imprison
In his concoctions: the perfume OF a
million natural blooms. a delicate but
magnificent harmony OF fragance. Each
occupant of the passing lines OF vehicles
contributes some share, even IL It be but
sedate pink in the lapel Of a formal
frock coat.
OF course. 1t threatens rain. But show
ers soon pass and umbrellas are plentiful.
some of them garlanded so that they NAV
neure IN the scene with due propriety.
Your hired carriage makes its way to the
spot where attention is focused 1t is
not decorated and may not move in the
parade. but you may make your way on
% loot to the highway, which Is being
With all its beauty 1t is a thorouxhIv
democratic occasion. The magnificent
equtpage, adorned as BELTS the station
or resources of its owner. does not dis
place or oyershadow the simple family
carriage. which an expenditure Of a few
francs has supplied with peonies in riot
Gus abundance. There is a bonnbardment
Of blooms. visible and tangible ex-
change Of the compliments OF the day by
people who though strangers make bold
to welcome one another to the joy Of
living. Only little Of the procession is
to be seen by the visitor who has not
had the foresight to present himself as
participant. Somewhere there is music:
somewhere, no doubt. distinguished per-
sonages are reviewing the parade of
pleasure.
Something to Remember.
But the glimpse is something to remem-
Der. and as the taximeter is regained
there is the satisfaction that comes with
the addition OF something worth while
to store Of pleasant memories.
Yet the occasion was not quite comnlete
We were only spectators. we two Ameri-
cans; only outsiders gazing over the
fence at the enjoyments of others
carriage still carrying a portion Of its
store OF peonies passed. In 1t SO far as
one might guess from appearances were
rather, mother and two daughters. Our
unblushingly leafless turnout corld not
fail to be noted. Instinctively one Of the
young women reached for a great gen.
erous bloom and hurled II to use with
laugh to give ii impetus. 1t landed at our
feet and gave us the right to feel that
we were not aliens in this little world Of
festivity.
1t was all SO easy, this unostentatious
yet magnificent gathering Of home garden
simplicity and hothouse pets, that a little
envy arose. America looks the world over
and chooses the best for it's use WHY
had Washington neglected the flower
lete! p. c. j.