At an early hour on Monday morning the usual bustle and active preparations commenced.

Carriages rolled along laden with confectionaries and flowers.

In fact the street, houses, and passing vehicles of every description, appeared as though the heavens had literally rained flowers--flowers showered in every direction.

Evidently we were certain that flowers were to be one of the prominent features witnessed in the grand demonstration.

Every house opening on the Corso was covered with bright streamers, pennons, and flags of every size, shape, color, and hue--red, blue, white, green, gold, purple, yellow, and pink.