Why should not boys and girls take the lead in the popular _fête_? All
who own pony carts, phaetons, wagons of any sort, or who can borrow
them, may enter the parade and battle, and why not interest your Sunday
or day school in such an entertainment and secure a large float?
The designs for floats are innumerable; among them might be mentioned
Flora and the seasons, America, pagodas, chariots, Daughters of the
American Revolution, the Floral Queen. The teachers should have the
matter in charge, and one of them should act as chairman, and appoint
committees to attend to all the necessary business. The scholars should
willingly assist in the gathering of flowers, trimming, or whatever
would be required.
All the vehicles must be transformed into moving bowers, and this
necessitates considerable work, but it is work that pays; besides, the
real jolly boys and girls will only consider that they have had great
fun.
Decide on your decorations, and then gather flowers. You will need a
great many to make much show. And wire will be found helpful in making
the flowers stand upright, or giving the desired twist. Flowers may be
tied upon cord, and when a long rope is made, it can be wound around,
or fastened to the carriage, but it will take less time, and be less
hurtful to the hands, if you cut a piece of wire netting the desired
shape, and run the flower stems through the holes, or cut a piece
of soft muslin the correct shape, and baste the flowers on. Flowers
such as golden-rod, will need to have all the leaves stripped before
commencing to decorate. Wreaths the exact size of the wheel hubs will
look very handsome, particularly if the spokes are wound about with
satin ribbon the same color as the flowers. If you cover the reins, sew
two pieces of ribbon lengthwise, through which the reins will slip;
put full bows of the same on the harness, and cover the collar with
flowers. The same ribbon should also appear in the carriage decoration.
A very pretty effect is gotten from white hydrangeas and yellow satin
ribbons, or white hydrangeas tipped with pink and pink satin ribbons.
Violet-colored flowers look well in such a parade, and a stylish cut
carriage may be trimmed with ears and husks of corn, suspending the
ears by the husks. The costume of those inside the carriage must be
complementary to the decoration.
The streets through which you pass should look festive and the
spectators be dressed in holiday attire. A line of march must be
arranged, and, on the counter-march, the battle begins. Then roses and
flowers of all sorts are thrown from carriage to carriage, and from the
carriages to the people on the street, and from those on the street to
the carriages; indeed people throw them with both hands, so excited
they become.
Until it is time for the battle, have your baskets full of flowers
to throw well hidden. And when the pelting begins have a sufficient
supply, so that it will not be necessary to use any of the decorations.