The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-23
ALEXANDRIA CELEBRATES
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
WITH FESTIVE PROGRAM
Homes Thrown Open and Business Is at StandstiI
During Parade to Pay Tribute to
Great Virginan

At p. m. every man in town was
calling every other man colonel"
At p. ~. a shutter, laden with a
human form, was borne TO somebody's
unprepared and unappreciative home.
At . p. m. the gallant gentlemen who
had survived the day bowed with
cOurtly grace over my lady's hand
murmured vows and praises, and
sighed Of alteration and aching hearts.
These and other things happened in
Alexandria, a place where the Southern
Railway trains stCD daily, and the sta
tistical column de- 0ted to enterprise
and the birth rate long ago fell into
innocuous desuetude. The event was
the commemora. ion Of George Wash
ingtons Birthda!
1t was Celebr "a with patriotism,
pageantry, and punch. From many win
dows on many STREETS there hoated in
glorious unison the Stars and Stripes,
gorgeously new. and a temperance
pledge, torn to tatters. Throughout the
grand and majestic day. water was Wis
Ible only once, and this was when "the
entire fire department" gave a brief.
low-pressuro exhibition of how TO put
out ire whea it isn't burning.
Every Man an Orator.
But it was a great Gay. Every man
was an orator. Every woman was a
belle and walked grandly on an end
less chain of masculine hearts thrown
before her so that they might receive
the benediction OF her tread. And
Henry B. +. Macfarland, president Of
the Board OF Commissioners OF the
District Of Columbia, rode. hat In hand,
at the head Of the procession, decorat-
ing the parade with a 40-horsepowcr
smile and graciously sharing the best
carriage with the master Of ceremonies
and the mayor Of the town.
MilitaFism was all over the place IN
addition to the bestowaI OF the title OF
Colonel on all Corners. in rank de-
fiance OF the army regulations and
horseback tests, Alexandra had some
real soldiers in her midst. Soldiers
made up almost The whole parade. Sol
diers filled themselves with the lba-
tons without which no one could ade-
Quately express the greatness Of George
Washington and the pervading regret
that his birthday came only once
year.
All Day; Into the Night.
The celebration lasted all day and far
into the night so far for some that
today found them wishing for the
kindly offices Of the committee of dis
tinguished men vino journey TO Wash
iEgtOn's tomb yesterday morning and
laid on IL wreaths Of flowers.
After the committee had visited the
tomb a small percentage Of the towns
went to church. After church
a big percentage got busy with the
punch bowls and iayouts Of foods. Be
tween church time and the parade there
were gatherings in various places. and
many expressions Of individual and col
lective gratitude to George Washington
for having been born.
Parade and mcfarland.
Then came the parade and Commits
sioner Macfarland. In the line OF march
were regulars, militiamen, high school
cadets, and civilian organizations
Colonel UrelI at the head OF the Dis
trict National Guard. cleared the way
with whiskers that dropped 10 his stir
rups. Fire Chief Belt looked extremely
bored. The Culpeper Minute Men show