The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-01-10
IN N CALIFORNIA

Yesterday, Jan. 1st, Long Beach with
the other southern California towns
went to Pasadena to enjoy their an
nual mid winter festival, "The Tour
nament of Roses" We decided We
could not afford to miss this great at
traction, so at an early hour we crowd
ed aboard a Pacific Electric car bound
for Pasadena, thirty-three miles dis.
tant. The car was packed as was
every car, and every coach on the
steam roads carried capacity loads
during the early hours, also motorists
from nearly all the towns drove 10
the tournament. parking their ma
chimes along the side streets.
Every hotel was filled and carly in
the morning every balcony wa filled
to their limits with chairs and benches
from which the crowd might get a
good view of the pageant. The day
was perfect Throughout the city on
all the streets the hotels ard promi-
ncnt buildines that lined the path OF
tho big parade was drapcd with orr
Gap the stars ana Stripes, intorwor-
cn with those Of ENGLAND and Franc =.
waving a welcome to the visitors.
Military preparedness was the key
note in the entire celebration empha-
sized by the presence of a Great many
marines from Mare Island, and the
soldier boys from Camp Lewis. Prac-
tically every soldier boy and marine
who could get shore leave was in the
city. was conspicuous in the parade
giving It a patriotic and military APP
pearancc. And when the soldiers and
sailors contcnded for foot ball hOnOrs
in the afternoon excitement ran up
to a high pitch.
About 1920 a. m. the bands and
there were many Of them, began play
ing and the great procession started
from somewhere, and such cheering
as the great parade wended its way
toward the park. Nearly every entry
was made in floral decorations of red.
white and blue. Nearly every city In
southern California was represented
in an deliberately decorated float.
AS interesting as any was that of
The Chamber Of Commerce. This was
a British tank. an immense floral tank
said to be 80 feet long and Is feet
in height. manned by sixteen directors
of the G.. OF G.. attired as British sol
diers wearing shrapnel helmets of gun
metal. tied under the chin and wearing
the drab coats of the Tommys. The
body Of the tank was covered with
smilax borders outlined with white
chrysanthemums. The caterpillar
treads were gray outlined with white.
The directors rode on top Of the huge
tank surrounded by silk flags OF the
Allied nations. Guns p%rotruded from
the front and sides Of the tank. Fol
lowing this was the big floral cannon
mounted on a swivel turrot manned
by four soldiers and as many marines.
There was the little floral subma-
rine. the old time stage coach, the
Red Cross Loaf with workers knitting
for the boys In the trenches and an
army Of nurses marching behind.
There was Liberty upholding the
world.
The exhibit Of the Washington
school was a flower decked auto show
ing Betsy Ross making the first Amer
lean flag. George Washington stand
ing by both, wore costumes of the
colonial period.
The humane society's float repre-
sented by a red star in which was a
horse presumed to be wounded. There
were a great many dogs. some In floats
and some were led. intelligent looking
fellows being trained to locate wound
ed soldiers in time of battle.
Ny letter is already too long. I'll
just say | wish all our good Bookings
people could have been here to enjoy
the warm summer day and to have
seen the wonderful parade and the
beautiful flowers growing everywhere.
Cassie l.. Sanders.