The Washington herald., 1908-02-23

Washingtonians-thsusands OF them
and Alexandrians en- masse thronged the
streets OF the historic Virginia city across
the Potomac yesterday afternoon TO cheer
the passing military and civic pageant
eommemorating the I7sth birthday ami
versary OF tie nations PaternaI Patriot.
The placid current Of that ancient little
city's daily existence was transformed
into a turbulent torrent Of humanity.
traffic. and din. With its population nearly
doubled by infux Of visitors. it raised its
eustorariiy dulcet voice 10 a cIamorous
shout and proclaimed Itself the national
center OF washington's Birthday festIyi-
ties.
Streets GayIy Decorated.
From nearly every housetop and win
dow in the downtown section streamed
the national oolors. The cross-wires sup
porting the trolley cables were the frame
work for long vistas o. arches Of hutter-
I ing flags and pennants. Nearly every
spectator carried a small flag or wore =
badge OF red. white and blue a Wash
lington souvenir button OF medal.
WITH biare OF trumpets. shriIling OF
pipes, and crash of brass bands. the tread
OF marching troops. ciatter and rumble
Of cavalry and artillery. and brazen goHgs
Of the hower-bedecked. cleaning fire. de-
partment vehicles. the big parade passed
in review between thick walls Of cheer
/ ing hag-waving spectators It was a bril-
liant spectacle. The committees OF AIexau-
drisns in charge OF the celebration can
feel justly proud
AIexandria's ProudeSt Occasion.
/ Yesterdays pageant Is only DierniSl
affair in Alexandria. Citizens Of that
historic city seemed TO feel that TOO mush
could not be made Of the occasion They
regard it as only fitting that the birthday
OF Washing - celebrated with
the greatest pomp f. ssaaria thriv-
ing municipality when me surveyors were
laying out the boundary lines OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia
/ Il was Washington's business headQGsr-
ters-the town In which he displayed The
greatness Of his public-splrited citizen
ship
II was therefore with a certain sense OF
proprietorship that the good citizens OF
/ Alexandria let themselves loose in cele-
brating the anniversary No pains were
spared 10 get all the enjoyment possible
out Of the holiday. and 70 make the famed
hospitality Of Virginia a thing Of per-
sonaI experience 10 those thousands who
came down from Washington and the
surrounding towns and counties.
Crowds Pour Into City.
The crowds began arriving early. Dur
ing the morning hours the roads leading
into Alexandria were Travelled By hun
dreds Of wagons and saddle horses. bear
ing eager visitors from the country side.
Toward noon the electric cars frem Wash
ington began 10 pour forth capacity car
goes with every trip. As 2:S9 o'clock ap-
preached. the scheduled starting time OF
the parade the railway company began
! running trains two and three minutes
apart 10 accommodate the great throng.
One in the city. the crowds scattered
about tEe streets. visiting the various
/ buildings and scenes Of interest and
finding goo5 points Of vantage from which
10 view The parade. The greater mass OF
! spectators took position at the junction
OF Alfred and King streets. where the
reviewing stand had been built 10 accom-
modate the leading citizens and commit
teemen Of Alexandria and the distinguish
ed guests from Washington These guests
had been brought down from Washington
/ in the private car Mount Vernon.
Prominent Washington Visitors.
\ Among tba welI-known Washingtonians
TO be seen on the stand were Commis-
sioner H B r Macfarland Capt James
#. oyster. president Of the board Of edu-
cation: Percy N. Hughes, assistant super
/ iDtendent Of public schools: Cuno Ru-
doIph. president OF the Board OF Trade.
and Cot Burton r Ross. military in
hstructOr Of the High School Cadets.
/ Col. c. a. P. Hatfield. OF the Thirteenth
Cavalry. at Fort Myer. with Lieuts. B.
T. Merchant and H. Il. Bany as MS staff.
/ officiated as reviewing officer. At his side
stood Mayor Fred J. Paff, Of Alexandria.
and Commissioner MscfarlanG.
( Other prominent Alexandrians on the
stand were Mai William N. Smith, E. r.
I Downham, Hubert SnOwden. James r.
Cation w. W. BaBinger. and Harry Ham,
mond
The parade itself was varied pic
tUesque and inspiring. Regular cavalry.
I High School Cadets. Indians in war paint
and feathers. cowboys. continental SOL
diers. and trades union bodies followed
one another between bands that almost
/ invariably burst into the inspiring swing
/ OF Dixie as they approached the re-
viewing stand. signal for cheers. and
shrin rebel yeIls'' from the spectators
! As the first section OF the parade moved
\ from the forming point and its band
broke into a march. all side streets We're
/ deserted. The thrOngs grew denser ard
/ denser along the line OF march Every
window. porch. or other point Of outlook
was a, vantage point. The spectacle was
/ ike small edition OF the Inauguration
/ pageant
Features OF ,se Parade.
The feature Of The city hremen's dis
/ play was the handsomely decorated reel
made up in a new white dress and hay-
Column On Page 10, Column 8.