The Washington times., 1906-07-08
BAND PLAYS DIXIE,
GIRLS RAISE ROOF
Old Melody in New York
Theater for Southern
Maids.
ONE KISSED COMMISSIONER
Young Women From Chattanooga on
Tour of North Create FuTore in
Metropolis.

NEW YORK. July 7.-Wayfarers In
Union square last night stood stock sull.
stared. even shivered I'm fear that some
great disaster was bIotting out dozens
of lives somewhere in the neighborhood.
For high above the zooning and the
changing OF cars came yell that seem
ed almost to shake the statue OF George
Washington on its pedestal. It took
only a half minute. however. TO make
the listeners aware that the sky-spliI-
ting shrek came from the Union Square
Theater. There was a rush toward its
portal. All was placid there.
Twas Southern Maids.
The fact was that a CHATTANOOGA
party NJ lovely Southern maids, who
filed two proscenium boxes in the the
ater as guests of Keith & Proctor. had
gone wild when Dixie" was chanted
by Miss SabeI Johnson, who, the pro
gram says, is a "svelte singer Of soul
stirring songs" Dixie always makes
the folk below Mason and Dixon's line
yell like a calliope. When Miss John
son chortled the chorus. "'Way down
South in the land of cotton, cinnamon
seed. and sandy bottom" something
happened. A voluminous roar rumbled
out into the air Of the-square. 1t came
from that cluster OF charming maids,
who were transformed In an instant
into a mob or hurrahing Hebes. with
arms waving and eyes flashing. Rogers,
the manager. started from his Office 70
phone 10 300 Spring CHATS police head
Quarters). but the operator said IL was
10 use, as Bingham and waldo were or
Easollning for another game at Rock
away.
Kissed Commissioner.
Eventually the din ceased, but only be
cause Miss Johnson stopped the song.
Commissioner Robert Watchorn. Of
Ellis Island. ought to be the happiest
man Ga New York One of the prettiest,
winsomest lasses, and withal the young
est. In the Southern party. visiting this
city. threw her arms around the com
missiOner's neck and gave him kiss
as Dixie's reward for the lovely time
he had given them at the immigration
station.
II all came about this way: In the
morning David Robinson. chairman of
the Southern States immigration Com
mission, took the party over 10 E'I'-
Island TO see how the immigrants We're
handled. Mr. WatChOrn sent his private
launch to the Battery for them and
Mntn kltN arrived ahIblll4ltA a l4lFtlAEiE
Of the special inquiry board 10 hold
thirty-minute reception in his office.
Dixie Girls Were Honored.
The commissioner was evidently
warming toward this aggregation Of
beauty and brilliancy, for he said pres
entity.
Young ladies. if YOU viii promise to
be very quiet we viii continue the
how we dispose Of the cases of depOrJa-
ton"
The promises were made, and the girls
watched work go on. When il was over
the commissioner appeared 10 bid them
good-by, but when they had been shown
over the whole building by subordinates
they were led 20 the roof garden, where
the smiling commissioner stood in front
of what the young women described as
'the grandest luncheon ever eaten any
where
After this was over the commissioner
took his fair guests through some OF
the remote parts of the building which
are not ordinarily open TO visitors. By
this time the most pOpu ar" girls had
begun 20 think that there was no one in
New York city-0r, in fact, short OF
Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabamd-WhO
was so great and noble and altogether
delightful and charming.
And Now the Happy Parting.
When it came time to embark again
for shore the commissioner stood on
The stringpiece and shook hands with
each maid before she stepped down into
the boat The last was Miss Flossie
Blackburn. an ingenious and altogether
lovely schoolgirl of fifteen years, who,
on account of being the youngest, is re-
ferred to familiarly as the "kindergar-
ten"
Mr. WatchOrn." said little Miss
Blackburn, beaming at the commission
er, we all want TO thank you for the
perfectly lovely time YOU have given
The commissioner inclined his head.
while the kindergarten stood on tip
toe and made her promise good.
Mr.. Watcnorn's face was still wreath
ed in a baauhc smile long after the
party IN the departing launch could dis
TfnurlIieh bia fga F1Vag