Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-22
HONOR THE MEMORY
OF GEN. WASHINGTON
AIexandrians Conduct EIab-
crate Celebration.
STREET PARADE A FEATURE
Regular Troops and National
Guardsmen in the Column.
CADETS AND SECRET SOCIETIES
Firemen With Apparatus-Services
in Christ Church-MasonicB Ban
quet This Evening.
STREET PARADE A FEATURE
CADETS AND SECRET SOCIETIES
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch I" The Star
ALEXANDRIA. Va. February RI
With the biggest demonst -ation of its
history Alexandria is today celebrating
the one hundred and seventy-sixth ami
versary of the birthday o: her foremost
citizen, George Washington. and the old
town, gaily decorated with flags and bunt-
ing, with pictures of the father OF his
country over many doorways. with bands
of music. marching troops and civic Or
Plantations on parade. and with streets
thronged with cheering crowds. IS dong
honor to the memory of great man.
1t is regarded as proper that Alexandra
should so revere the memory OF Washing
ton. for to Alexandria George Washing
ton belongs This cid Virginia city was
a. thriving community when the city
named after the first President of the
United States was n marsh and its COM
ing greatness was unthought of. 1t was
the home town of Washington. Mount
Vernon on the Potomac was his domestic
home but Alexandria was his business
home. and here he passed the greater POI
ton of his waking hours. when free from
the call of war or the cares of state
1t was in Alexandria he had his office.
and there he transacted his business at
fairs The early history o. Alexandra
and that of George Washington are blend
ed, and the ancient records OF the town
contain many references to him as pup
lie. spirited citizen. Therefore the people
of Alexandria observe his birthday with
public parades and with banquets. and
they invite the people of Washington city
and of the United States to join with
them in the yearly tributes to the MEM
ory of him who was First in war. first
in peace and first in the hearts of his
countrymen.
Celebrations Every Two Years.
hot fl,n
bratiou of Washington's birthday here
takes the form of a public parade, in
which representative branches of the
army and navy of the United States. citi-
zen soldery of the District OF Columbia
and of the various states. civic, patriotic
and secret orders, all do their part III
making the day a gala occasion.
The demonstration this afternoon is one
of the largest and most impressive OF the
many that have taken place here. and II
is. being witnessed by many thousands of
the citizens of Washington and by resi-
dents of the surrounding country in Vlr-
ginia and MARYLAND. and by many from
the states farther away. 1t is estimated
that there are fully 10000 strangers in
Alexandria today.
The psoI le of AlexapGria know how to
conduct q celebration like the one in
progress. They have had a hundred or
more yeurs' experience in public demon
STATIONS ic Ecnor Of Washingtons men,
DRY. and the traditions of how to handle a
big public function and a crowd that fills
the town to OVERLOOKING have been handed
down from father to son through four or
five generations.
This Is the reason that the Washing
ton birthday celebrations here are sue
cesses and is why the throngs that come
to witness the parade go away satisfied
Alexandria never allows her guests to
so hungry.
Gay With Decorations.
Alexandria is profusely decorated. and,
as in previous years. the decorations are
general. King street and along the route
over which the parade Is moving is one
solid mass of American flags, relieved
now and then by the buff and blue: Vir-
ginia colors. Large pictures Of George
Washington are to be seen at every turn.
and they form a great part of the
decorative scheme. which Is generally
pleasing. A new feature of the decora-
lions are steamers of colored bunting
thrown across King street.
The visitors to witness the big parade
and merrymaking of today began to ar
rive yesterday morning. and all day long
every train reaching the city brought its
quota of visitors. The day Is something
of homecoming event. and natives Of
Alexandria who had not seen their old
home in years took adva ntage of the occa-
sion to once more visit almost forgotten
scenes Every hotel last night was filed
to OVERLOOKING. and there was hardly
private family in the city not entertaining
one two visitors.
From early this morning the trains and
boats from Washington have been bring
ing crowds to witness the celebration. and
by noon the streets were thronged with
strangers. The fact that the big seamer
jamestown was in service on the ferry
route with the steamer Lackawanna did
much to simplify the transportation prob
lem. and the electric railway ran trains
from Washington at frequent intervals
during the rush hours.
The crowd on the street is a good-na-
tured one. Everybody seems to be trying
TO make everybody else haye a good time
and judging from the merriment, all are
enjoying themselves.
Services in Christ Church.
While waiting for the parade to move
at 80 O'Clock this Afternoon the visitors
put in the time attending memorial SER
vices in Christ Church. in visiting the
church after the services, viewing the