Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-05-20
Portland, Rose in
Hand, Will Welcome
Strangers to City
Annual Festival of Flowers 10 Be
Held June 5-10-Plan Besuti-
full Spectacles.

PORTLAND, Ore, May 1g.-(Special.)-
From a small beginning, largely an expert
ment at first. the annual Portland Rose
festival has become an event to which the
whole northwest looks forward to with in
terest. The prevailing spirit is that Of the
worship of the rose, which seems to attain
nowhere else the perfection it reaches here.
This years celebration will be held June
to 10 and will be the most pretentious of
the annual events since the fiesta was
started four years ago.
Portland people are gaining in their
festival spirit and enthusiasm. Old and
young eagerly participate in the observ-
snces OF the week, vieing with each other
in decorating and entering handsome turn
outs In the parades.
Although the fiesta spirit prevails and is
everywhere evident, the people make 1t APP
parent that they are enjoying a wholesome
holiday without any of the Objectionable
features that often accompany such cele-
brations.
Perhaps one great reason for the careful
conduct of the festival is the genuinely
civic spirit that prompts 1t.
Upon alighting from the train every pas
senger is handed a rose and until they
leave the city every citizen seems to be
opinion of Portland.
Another pleasing feature Is the apparently
absent business end" to the festival.
Everyone knows that the city profits
largely by reason of the thousands who
visit the rose festival. However, this Is
not its object. nor is that idea allowed to
prevail.
Perhaps these things would not be true
Of such carnival in any other that such
distinctively home city as Portland. The
tete was planned originally for the pleasure
OF the home people and as an expression OF
tho satisfaction they feel in growing perfect
roses to beautify the city.
The annual festival promises to become
greater every year. The first week in June
VIII see the roses at their best; the early
spring weather has been particularly
favorable for the development of perfect
blooms and the very large amount of new
planting during the last two years assures
tremendous addition to the usually very
large number OF roses shown in the com.
petitive exhibitions during the carnival
and to be used for decorative PURPOSES IN
the pRrades
substantial reductions in rates by IN,
railroads assure a very large attendance O,
people from a wide area.
The week will start off on June with q
royal welcome to Rex Oregonus. the rnorr,
monarch who rules the season of revels.
The distribution of roses to all visitor,
during festival week is a feature that viii
De continued this year. Immense number,
OF roses are taken to the Union depot eact
morning OF the festival and pretty girl,
present one to each incoming visitor. 'rhi,
pleasant custom has made a decided i'm
preston upon the city's guests. The an
7 huel rose exhibition. competitive In II,
nature IN which prizes are given for IN,
oest showing of the various varietiea a,
wei as the best general exhibits, will n,
hold this year, as usual, under the direet,o,
OF the Portland Rose society.
A shower of roses, which becomes a var,
table battle, will be a surprise for the city
suests This Is two-day event. Tn
oro"os nnins the streets are bombarde,
with roses by pretty girls In trolley car
Whlon pass along the principal thorough
fares Over 100 girls will shower miIljon
OF beautiful blooms upon the spectators 1,
this unique feature.
The horse and carriage parade nar
ucipated In by owners OF handsome aorIr
ages and olooded horses, usually about ~,
miles long, will Guido any similar sboutn,
Of former festivals
me electric parade usually occup,as ~,
nights of the festival. This IL unada nm :
great number OF floats mounted IN .troo
car trucks and Illuminated with rnvriad
OF electric lights. The nature Of the floa,
IN this spectacle Is kept secret al ths
VIII cause the more surprise vben ~
parade is started. III