The Washington herald., 1907-05-18

green bIoHAe NtTelu, peTCneQ launtly on
the dolDhins back, sat silent on her lofty
perch in front Of the Mclean residence
at Friendship" The Nereid's perch Is in
the center Of the beautiful Italian garden,
bOrdered with trim-set hedges. velvet
with emerald lawns. and shaded by Nor
way frs and gigantic oaks.
Ordinarily one can imagine that the Ne
reid sits there in perfect peace, with her
sylvan bower, the music Of the fountains
playing echoed by the music Of the birds:
but yesterday afternoon the little bronze
deity found her retreat invaded by throngs
Of merry revelers for the sake Of charity.
It was the opening Of the annual charity
fete at Friendship" the fine country
place Of Mr.. John R. Mclean, on the
Tennalytown road. and all roads seemed
to lead there. The fete opened az
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. but long be-
fore that the Tennalytown road was
cloudy white with the dust Of many We
hicles all headed toward Friendship"
The street cars were crowded. though
the service was efficient and rapid: many
fine carriages and automobiles, containing
the fashionable, formed a procession
along the route and so steadily did the
people n Washington turn out 10 patron
ize this fine charity that before evening
fell the grounds were thronged with peo-
pie and the young people. who for the
nonCe were statesmen, were almost tired
Of taking the money.
Weather Is PrOpitfOus.
The day was ideal for the opening az
the fete. The rains q the day before had
left the foliage OF the beautiful grounds
fresh and green and sweet-smeliing: tho
turf Of the lawns was springy and CRATE
mi 20 the foot. and the air was clear and
bracing, and around the Friendship
grounds the fringe of forest trees seemed
20 blend their branches with the arching
sky. Il Was a wonderfully picturesque
scene.
About the grounds Of Friendship there
runs a tall and wsll-kept hedge. and out
side OF this. on either side the gate were
thousands OF dollars worth Of autorno-
hies. autos 0f all makes. and shapes. and
sizes, ranged tn a gaudy row, for there
" as a rule that no machines should enter
the grounds. Many carriages were there,
too, for most Of the people preferred 10
walk In rather than drive-especially as
walking IN cost only = cents. while driv-
ing cost 81. Il was curious sight 10 see
the bordering hedge alive with the
cockaded top hats of the coachmen and
footmen. who, standing on the box seats
Of their vehicles, could overlook the
greenery of the hedge and see the bril-
liant scene within.
Equipped Like Country Fair.
For it was a most brilliant scene. The
grounds were laid out on a well defined
plan with booths and stands and tents,
and al the equipment Of a country fair.
gay with bright-colored bunting, hutter-
ing with flags. Above the monotone Of
conversation could be heard the voice Of
the society girls urging. with many d
smile and Winsome glance from dancing
eyes, the newly arrived 10 Please buy
some tickets for the japanese wedding"
or Won't you try a box Of this candy?"
or Aren't these roses lovely, won't you
buy one?"
Woe To the young man who being offer
ed an American Beauty rose az the hands
of a beautiful maiden, stretched forth his
hand TO accept the gift, u was a gift Of
the Greeks for the duiCet voice would
change. The sweetness would harden a
little and "One dollar. please ended the
tete-a-tete.
And they were SO skillful. too, these
young ladies'; one wondered sometimes,
where they learned it ALL Walking down
The Streets OF Paris" lured by the cry
of Here You are. continuous vaudeville
you would feel a soft touch on the arm,
Versed in Many wiIes.
Pardon me. a sweet voice would say.
Didn't YOU drop this~" and there would
he held out 10 YOU package Of candy.
or perhaps. a dainty handkerchief.
No. I think not. No. I'm sure I did
not drop it," you would say. wondering.
perhaps now any eyes in the world could
look so appealing Then the eyes would
light Up with a friendly glance.
Didn't you drop it? Wen. then. per-
haps you'll buy H. Its only 80 cents For
the Christ Child Society" OF course. after
that one had 10 buy, and-after all, the
smile was worth il.
Or the general hum would be inter
rupted by the voice Of usty-lunged young
harkers standing in front Of booths
marked For the Casualty Hospital" or
For the NeiEhb0rhOOd House" or For
the Convent Of Perpetual Alteration" and
they would proclaim: Come in. good
people; step inside. See the wonderful
collection of trained animals lust ar
rived" OR a man with painted face, the
veins on his forehead swollen with his
efforts 20 yell through a megaphore,
would cry: Right inside-society vaude-
vile You'll never have another chance
and you'll never miss the money" only
desiSting long enough to garner in the
harvest of golden grain that was at
tracted by his yells.
Attractions without Number.
Once in a while, above the rest Of the
could be heard the sharp ping"
Of rife shots as those who thought they
could shoot tried their hand at winning the
massive silver cup offered for the best
score, or took delight in blazing away at
the air with a huge revolver, firing blank
cartridges.
At other booths there were men and
girls with cane racks, where one seldom
won a cane; there were pretty girls sell
ing paddles for wheels Of fortune, where
Continued on Page 2, Column 4.
81 90 excursion at $50 a. m SUNDAY. Nav
Il.