The Sunday Oregonian., May 31, 1908, SECTION FOUR, Page 4, Image 40

THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, MAT 31, 1908,
Picturesque Rhododendron Carnival at Florence
Oregon Coast Town Does Itself Proud in First
of What Is to Become Annual Event.
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.AND PARTY OX TficM$t5J? J i:XSS::SS ' -L
BY JOHN H. HARTOQ.
FLORENCE, Italy, and Florence, Ore
gon. The former with Its reminls
censes of past ages, the latter all
spick ancT-span, brand new. The former
with Its dark-skinned signoritas, the lat
ter with Its red-cheeked maidens, for no
where on earth will you find rosier
checks than In the little town of Flor
ence, located In the western part of
Lao County, about three miles from the
Pacific Ocean. Ancient Florence, with
Its Italian cloudless sky; our own Flor
ence, wtti the cloud effectB so typically
Oregonian and Buch a delight to every
artist.
It had been raining more or less for
two weeks and everybody was worried,
for though it was good tor the crops, a
rainy day was not Just the kind of
weather desired for an outdoor festival.
But May 20 did Itself proud and al
though the sun did. not shine, the air
was balmy and the day almost Ideal.
From all over the Sluslaw country
gasoline launches, loaded inside and out
with merrymakers, were adding their
cargoes of human beings to the crowds
gathered along the waterfront, all ex
pectant of the celebration which was to
open the first annual Rhododendron Car
nival of Florence.
A large barge had been tastily covered
In green and pink, the colors of the car
nival, embodying the pink of the rhodo
dendron flowers and the green 1 of Its
foliage, and in v the center of this was
erected the queen's throne, with a can
opy of rhododendrons. Flowers, flowers,
everywhere. Even the enormous "Wel
come" letters In the triumph arches were
composed of rhododendrons.
At 10 A. M. the Florence band opened
the festivities nd a hush went through
the crowd, which packed the street and
occupied every point of vantage, as the
hotel doors opened and Joaquin Miller,
the "Poet of the Sierras." appeared, es
corting the young queen of the carnival.
Miss Laura Johnson. She was followed
by two llttie tots who acted as train
bearers, and after these came the maids
ef honor.
It is written that Miss Johnson was
selected by ballot. The wonder of it all
is bow, among so much loveliness, any
man or number of men could have ar
rived at a decision as to who was most
worthy to be the select one.
Queen Rhododendra was elegantly at-
tired In pink pink dress, ' pink gloves,
pink slippers, pink well, pink every
thing, the effect being heightened by a
green velvet robe, mantle or whatever
technical name the fair sex would give
It. Her maids were attired In white.
Then followed Dr. Edwards, Mayor of
Florence, closing the procession. .
As tho party arrived on the barge and
the little tralnbearers had been admon
ished how to hold the robe, mantle or
whatever it Is called, the white-bearded
poet made his bow to Her Majesty and
then delivered a speech which was such
a mass of beautiful word pictures that
It would be libelous to try and repeat any
of It from memory. ,
Imagine if you can the blue waters' of
the broad Sluslaw, the hills across the
way, in all the countless shadings of
their Spring dress, accentuated by a lit
tle church steeple and pretty residences:
the barge with its load of beautiful
maidens and in front of the throne the
most picturesque figure In all these
United States, Joaquin Miller. Paint
this picture in your mind, imagine Its
colorings, and you will realize that here
was the grandest stage setting for a
Wagner opera that human eye had ever
beheld.
The Poet of the Sierras may look odd
when he is among us common mortals In
our horrible, unartistic, somber fabrics,
but here he was in his sphere. Here he
was the one thing needed to complete
the plctureque scene. .
With his long locks surmounted by an
embroidered red fes. his long, snow
white beard half covering the brown
corduroy-velvet frock coat, his enormous
white mustache, his brown top boots
with their fringe and tassels, the over
coat, now nonchalantly thrown over one
shoulder, or. when necessary, temporarily
discarded, the poet held the populace
spellbound, not only with his beautiful
words and powerful voice, but the eye
was fascinated by this theatrically at
tired venerable figure alongside of the
young hazel-eyed queen; foils the one for
the other, each accentuating the other's
attractiveness, like snow-capped moun
tain alongside of tender Spring flower;
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MISS MAITIli WIHH UAKiHTER OP MAYOR 'WISK OK ASTORIA,
U HO OA K A PIANO KKl'ITAL IN THIS CITY" LAST THI RSDAY',
MAY SS. I
December side by side 'with June, Win
ter introducing Springtime.
After the address Joaquin placed the
crown of flowers on Queen Rhododen
dra's brow and escorted her to her
throne, amidst huzzahs and applause.
Thereup Mayor Edwards, in a few well
chosen words, bade the visitors and
guests of honor welcome to Florence and
presented the queen with two snow-white
keys, carved from rhododendron wood,
tied with pink and green ribbons. One,
the key to the city; the other to the
hearts of her subjects. In the accom
panying picture the keys can be plainly
seen.
A naval parade then took place and i
committee consisting of Messrs. Weather
son. Beach and Hartog awarded the
prizes. The first prize was carried off by
the boat decorated and rowed by pupils
of the Florence High School. It Is the
one to the 'left In the picture. The
barge with the queen -on her throne can
been seen in the center background.
The balance of the day was spent
in music, recitations, dancing and what
not. but preceded by the "Queen's din
ner," served in sumptuous style at one
of the hotels. The programme, though
at first glance exceedingly long, went
with such snap and precision that it did
not last more than a couple of hours.
When such affairs drag they are apt to
become tiresome; this one, thanks to
proper management, never dragged a
single moment. The principal of the
Florence High School, Miss Hamble.
"did herself proud," for she it was who
managed the details. A scarf dance by
14 young women and a butterfly dance
by a dozen little girls were among the
numbers which pleasantly linger In the
memory as novelties well carried out.
That the llttie town of Florence should
plan such a carnival is highly commenda
ble. That It should create such an en
tertainment, on such a scale, is praise
worthy, but that its first effort should
be so entirely successful is gratifying
and almost beyond understanding.
That each year will see a repetition of
the event; that Florence will gradually
become famous for Its annual carnival
and Its millions of wild rhododendrons.
Is the reward which will rest upon those
whose efforts made the first Florence
rhododendron carnival the splendid suc
cess It was. -
All Lane County is proud of Florence.
All Oregon may well be.
consideration to what is due to our in
dependent colleges. Their labors in
the past and their aspirations for the
future are worthy of it.
J. H. FLETCHER.
INDEPENDENT - COLLEGES
Their Claims as Educators Find
Champion in J. M. Fletcher.
ST. JOHN, Or.,-May 29. To the Edi
tor.) In the consideration of- Oregon's
system of higher education the equi
ties of our independent, denomina
tional universities are not to be for
gotten. During the organization of the Ore
gon country, the various denomina
tions responded courageously to the
demand for higher education and es
tablished tn different localities col
leges and universities which Have done
a noble work and borne a large and
notable part in the upbuilding of the
state. In the early dawn of civiliza
tion in the Northwest, Pacific Univer
sity, Willamette University and Whit
man University bore aloft the banners
of the Cross and civilization, and
helped to lay the foundations of a
great commonwealth Other colleges
followed these early pioneer institu
tions and all have done their part and
remain important factors In our edu
cational system.
Many people prefer to send their
children to a - denominational college,
believing the religious atmosphere and
discipline advantageous. These col
leges are private enterprises, exisc
upon their' own resources and never
ask any aid trom the State. They are
still progressing, still doing a great
work, but are hampered to some ex
tent I hoptj only temporarily by the
competition of the state. In a new
commonwealth, such as we have in
Oregon, state competition to the ex
tent of free education is bound to hold
back very considerably - the develop
ment of our private universities, and
many of those who have helped the
last-named schools and Worked for
their advancement, have always felt
it unfair for the state to enter into
competition with them, and thus re
tard their full development.
We cannot achieve greatness in
higher education by means of the cor
rupt political methods which largely
prevail in connection with state-supported
schools.
Let the people, of Oregon elve proper
KILLED BY MAD , PRINCE
Soldiers Fall Victim to Whims 61
Servian Ruler. -
VIENNA, May 30. (Special.) The
Crown Prince of Servla is showing more
than ever that it . Is necessary to put
him under severe restraint. Two of his
recent mad acts have resulted tn the
death of one soldier and the maiming of
another. In a fit of passion he knocked
a soldier down with a violent blow that
caused his death. The soldier's body was
sent to his home in a soldered lead
cofnn, in the hope. that the real cause of
his death might not become known. But
the dead man's father opened the cofnn
and found that his son had been killed.
The Prince, who fancies himself as a
marksman, attempted to hit a cigarette
from a soldier's mouth. He made a bad
shot, and the soldier's lower jaw was
shattered.
The Star Brewery's famous Hop Gold
beer is unexcelled in all respect and Is
highly recommended for its strength and
health-giving qualities. Orders for bot
tled beer receive prompt attention. Phcne
Eaet46. Home phone BLU6.
Painted china auction.' Metzer's, 342
Washington street.
Touring the Rose
City by Trolley
SEEING PORTLAND OBSERVATION CARS
LeaVe Second and Washington Streets Daily
at 10 o'clock A. M. and 2 o'clock P. M.'
A Guide Accompanies Each Trip, Describing
All Points of Interest.
The Cheapest and Quickest
Way of Seeing Portland's
Principal business blocks, river and harbor,
West and East Side residences, Forestry build
ing, Willamette Heights, City Park, Portland
Heights, Council Crest, Churches, Hospitals,
Theaters and Public Buildings.
Time 25 HoursFare 50 Cents
Visitors Attending the Rose Festival
' Should Not Fail to Take a Trip to
PORTLAND'S SUBURBAN SUMMER RESORT
HOTEL ESTACADA
On the Upper Clackamas River, 35 miles from
the city. Cost of trip, including three meals and
one night's lodging, and round-trip railway
fare .$3.00
Cost of trip, including dinner and round-trip
railway fare 1-50
GOOD FISHING
Electric trains leave First and Alder Streets:
7:15, 9:15, 11:15 A. M.; 1:15, 3:45, 6:15, 7:25
P. M. Daily.
Hotel tickets on sale at railway ticket office.
Ask for them.
EVERYBODY WAS
WRITING POSTALS
Interesting Incidents of a Contest
That Kept Penmen Busy
How More Words Than. Are Contained on a Page and a Half of The Ore
gonian Were Correctly Written on an Ordinary Postal Card.
It has been frequently stated that
stenography and the typewriting ma
chine have tended to eliminate the
earlier accomplishments of hand-writing,
upon which our parents and
grandparents prided themselves In the
aminer. and Mr. Rose, advertising
nianaprer of the Chronicle.
Through an inadvertence Mr Rose
did not meet with the board, but the
other four gentlemen made the awards
unanimously, as the following letter
Photograph taken from a winn?fa post card nlxcd ovar 110 time.
years gone by. No achievement has
played a more Important part In the
progress and development of. the -hu-,
man race than the recording- of events'
and Impressions by symbols, which,
when grouped together, are - now
termed "writing:."
That penmanship and good hand
writing: are not the accomplishments
of a past agre, and that In fact the
art flourishes more than ever, has been
demonstrated in a most novel and in
teresting: post card writings contest
which was only recently closed by the
enterprising: firm of Eilers piano house.
Eleven thousand two hundred and
eighty words, with 4512 marks of
punctuation, a total of 61.476 letters
and characters in all (matter equiva
lent to almost a page and a half of
ordinary newspaper), were placed per
fectly upon a standard size Govern
ment postal card.
'Prom Washing-ton, Idaho. Wyoming-.
California, Montana, the British Co
lumbia provinces, and, in fact, every
Western state, postal cards were sub
mitted. Old ana young were alike in
terested. Hand-writing almost as
varied as the number of contestants
was submitted. Beautiful specimens
of Latin, German and English styles,
with Pppncerian and telegraphers run
ning hand, and the present day verti
cal system taught in the public schools,
were submitted.
Aside from the Intense Interest in
the writing itself and the competitive
nature of the contest, the very liberal
prizes to be awarded in the contest
added the finishing touch to the en
thusiasm. Three magnflcent high-
f rade pianos, offered by three of the
oremost latter day American piano
factories, made the prizes worthy of
unusual and painstaking effort.
It was with a - view of impressing
the names of. these three- makes
namely, the Lester of Philadelphia, the
Kimball of Chicago, and the Hobart M.
Cable upon the minds of the Intelli
gent people in the community that this
post-card contest was inaugurated.
The sentence, "Eilers Stores Sell the
three foremost pianos of today the
Kimball. Chicago; the Lester, Philadel
phia, and the Hobart M. Cable." was
to be written as many times as pos
sible upon a Government post card, a
piano of each of these makers to be
awarded to the three best and highest.
Night oil was burned without stint.
Stationers' stocks of fine point pens
were exhausted; postof flees never be
fore sold so manv post cards In small
lots; the Eilers Publicity Department
was besieged bw post, telegraph and
long-distance phone for information.
Cards were written in the solitudes
of the vast plains and of the giant
timber by "milady" in her boudoir, by
the lady's maid, by scientific students
who had access to powerful lenses; in
fact, every walk in life contributed
its quota of specimens.
Keen Interest Everywhere.
Every contestant was certainly in
terested in writing and the pianos.
One contestant stated that he spent
75 hours of laborious night work on
his card: another occupied spare time
during 19 days; still another wrote dil
igently while watching the thermome
ter of a patent incubator; one contestant
wrote during the long vigil over a sick
infant; sons wrote to piease mothers;
mothers wrote In an attempt to win
a piano for their daughters; one In
formed us that she had done her very
best, and that a piano would be a
God's blessing to her five little daugh
ters, the oldest of which was 11 years.
One young man wishes to win a
piano to present to his fiancee for a
wedding gift. A most beautiful card
was submitted with the following
verse:
"I have written your paragraph o'er and o'er
Till brain la weapy and hand 1" or.
But shall be. well paid (when I'va won tha
prize)
Kor my twisted neck and aching eyea.
Have written the paragraph forty-two times,
While friends stood by in admiring lines.
Will now close and arrange a I'lace
Which my new piano so s'J'n will gnce.
Post cards were sent from various
hospitals during the convalescence of
the writers.
An automobile owner wrote while
suffering from a broken leg. Still an
other contestant, a lady, wrote while
pursing a broken arm.
One card had to be sent by special
messenger 80 miles over the moun
tains, then by stage and rail. Hun
dreds of cards were received at the
last moment by special delivery. Tele
grams announcing the mailing: of cards,
were frequent.
The interest manifested by people In
every walk of life was wonderful.. It
must have been the means of securing
ptiblicity for these pianos that could
otherwise have been obtained only
after years of exoloitation on the con
cert stage, and in other directions usu
ally employed by progressive piano
makers. t
Frequently contestants used more
than one color of ink, even working
the firm's trademark or some of the
mottoes of the firm into the body of
the card.
Tbe Sort In p and Counting.
The progress of the contest was a
source of keen Interest to all con
cerned. The detail work of counting,
sorting and assembling the cards aid
tabulating the names of thousands of
contestants was something enormous.
Clerks employod burned midnight
light, as did many of the contestants
who sent ink cards.
Many of the writers watched the
development of this contest with ex
treme interest. Special experts pub
licly passed upon, approved and veri
fied the work of the auditing clerks.
Out of the thousands of cards sub
mitted, the several very highest were
turned over for final award to a com
mittee of gentlemen well known in
the West. This committee was com
posed as follows: Mr. George Mayerle.
expert optician and microscopist, as
chairman; Mr. Clifford House, business
maiiager of the San Vrancisco Call ;
Mr. Hurlbut. advertising manager of
the Bulletin; Mr. Jewell, of the Ex-
wltnesses. Before a decision .was final
ly reached, the servicoa-tf fcjr. Theo.
Kytka, mioroscoptst. handwriting expert
'and documentary- photographer, had
to be employed, t
1 ' May Is,
EUera Plane Vlovsa Gentlenvm: Tour
commute l pleaaed to advise yea that
careful serntiny and close inspection
of tha various cards submitted to us. In
your post card writing con-teat, wa make
the following award unanimously:
Card No. "A06." first selection.
Card No. "A02," second selection.
Card No. "A07," third selection.
The faces of these cards remained sealed
as they were given into our hands until tha
above awards were made. Upon breaking
the aeaU we found the winners to be:
J. J. Lund, Boise; Mrs. C. E. Rogers, Se
attle, and J. W. Oreo. Spokane.
If these persons qualify as to eligibility,
we unhestltatlngly recommend thesa per
sons to your generosity. Very respectfully.
(Signed)
GEORGE MAYERLB.
H. H. HURLBUT,
R. C JEWELL,
C. H. HOUSE.
After a most careful Investigation,
the above contestants have been
proven eligible in every way. They
will receive free the magnificent up
right piano of the famous Kimball
make. The Kimball piano is unquali
fiedly Indorsed by leading musicians,
among them being Jean and Edouard
De Reszke, Adeline Patti. Emma Calve,
Marcella Sembrich, Lilian Nordics,
Emma Eames. Johanna Gadskl, Walter
Damrosch. John Philip Sousa. Wade
mar Lutschg, Ernesto Consolo and
hundreds of other equally prominent In
the musical realm. Including the great
Damrosch, who appears here this
week. In singing tones the Kimball
Is unsurpassed. It is of the highest
grad in mechanism, design and finish,
as well as unexcelled in quality.
Hobart M. Cable pianos have grown
into spontaneous and merited favor
with leading music schools and col
leges, where the very best Is insisted
upon. Our own St. Helen's Hall re
cently instatled eight Hobart M. Cable
pianos secured at Eilers' ptano house
after most careful deliberation and
investigation of dozens of various
makes.
The other prize piano is the superb,
new sweet-toned, popular Hobart M.
Cable upright piano. This piano is now
recognized as one of the foremost
makes in the United States. It is one of
but very few makes that is built upon
honor. The Hobart M. Cable Co. has
rien to its present lofty position in
the piano world through a conscien
tious adherence to a straightforward,
honest policy that maintains itself ab
solutely throughout the whole of their
splendid organization.
The other prize piano, the Lester
New England Conservatory of Music
of Boston, which is the largest and
most comprehensive institution of its
kind in the world. It accommodates
more than 2500 students, who come
from nearly every state in the Union,
and from Europe and England.
The Broad-Street Conservatory of
Music In Philadelphia is the second
largest institution of its kind in the
world, and Lester pianos have been
used there in preference to all others
for many years.
A most interesting display was mad
In our windows of the winning and
other cards, which has held the atten
tion of hundreds. Ohe of the features
of the exhibit is a photographic repro
duction enlarged Hfl diameters of Mr.
Lund's card. Everyone Is invited to
view the display at 351' Washlptyi
KtrAAt.
In a few short years the Eilers piano
business has grown from a small be-
f ginning to the undisputed leadership
n the musical instrument trade of
Western America. It is a fact that
the Eilers Stores now distribute an
nually over one-half of the pianos sold
west of the Rocky Mountains. This
territory is equal to about one-third
of the area of the entire United States.
The buying power of the forty Eilers
stores is the greatest of any piano con
cern in the country. Methods of ship
ping, handling and selling are possible
in an organization of this size that no
other dealer can employ. These ad
vantages are liberally shared with the
patrons of the store, so that it Is now
everywhere recognized that for price,
quality and terms of credit the careful
buyer must patronize these stores.
The now famous Eilers money-back
guarantee Is another fundamental ele
ment of success. A refund of the
money paid. If purchase after delivery
and trial is not found as represented,
is a rule of the establishment.
Old-time methods in piano selling,
sliding scale of prices, commissions to
music teachers and many other anuses
of the trade are eliminated in this sys
tem of selling.
These quick - selling, little - profit,
straightaway methods have made pos
sible a bona fide reduction in price of
standard, highest grade pianos of $115,
$155; yes, even $180 per piano.
No matter what kind or make of
piano is wanted, no matter how much
you wish to pay, no matter wnat terms
you desire, you will find the most sat
iKfaction, the greatest possible secur
ity and the best accommodation at
Eilers.
Main office and salesrooms are In
the Eilers building, corner of Park and
Washington, which in spite of the un
pretentious exterior. Is recognized as
the most complete of its kind in Amer
ica. The new San Francisco branch of
Eilers piano house has just been re
established in a magnificent fire-proof
building, the finest and largest build
ing devoted-to the musical instrument
trade in Western America. Another
fine store Is located at Third and Uni
versity streets, Seattle; and the Spo
kane store at Post and Fern Is as
complete and extensive as the others.
Still other stores are located in Oak
land. Keno. Stockton, San Jose. Eureka,
Boise. Idaho, and in thirty other im
portant Western centers, and in every
other important North Pacific Coast
city.
Rubber
Sanded
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Ve want you to know Rubber Sanded Roofing. That is why we wrote
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agent in your community.
PIONEER ROLL PAPER CO.
Makers of Rubber Sanded and Rubber Flazine Roofing
v and Renners of Asphaltnm
DEPARTMENT 45 los angeles. California
-r-