Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21
Press Club Members March to
Their New Home.
LIVELY SCENE ON F STREET
Neapolitan, Band Almost the Chief
Feature of Parade.
FORMAL OPENING BIG SUCCESS
Handsome New Rooms in Fifteenth
Street Thronged With Members
and Their Friends.

The sacred Billiken of the Press Club
that foolish inane lump of baked mud
surrounded by high priests carrying
laterns. were carried last night on aplat-
form supported on the shoulders of extra
high priests from the old quarters at
1905 + street to the clubs new home. 60s
18th street. Moved to his new shrine
amid the shriekings and yelling and sing
ings OF songs: moved to his new quarters
to the music of a full brass band provided
by Jesse Carmichael. and which turned
out to be four Neapolitans playing
guitars; moved to his new quarters to the
great joy ofta rabble of street boys and
theatergoers. who stopped TO cheer and
wish him good luck and wonder where
on earth that crazy bunch of lunaties
came from. which was hiking down F
street. all out of step and nobody singing
the same song his neighbor.
Whew, 1t looked like a big night for
the Press Club last night. and il was.
For as early as S o'clock Charles Cot
trell the Great. took his station at the
old Press Club door and began TO tell just
how he and Mr.. Bryan OF Nebraska ran
things and incidentally assuring the
members of the club that the parade
would surely, start at half-past eight He
kept on telling EN- that until half-past
nine nearly. Then they bought Japa,
nese lanterns and lit them and peered
into one another's faces and talked imi-
tation Japanese and acted like dignity had
died for while. Then four young ladies
tripped down the street and the parade
started-but in the wrong direction. 1t
took Eddie Hood four whole minutes TO
get the boys back where they belonged.
Then after long argument ABOUT who
should be the one to wipe tine tears OF
laughter from Billiken's face they started
The Order of Procession.
1t was famous parade Away out in
the frs, line of attack were the two larg-
est policemen. in the world, Messrs. Mac
donald and Trennis of the first precinct
Then came a perfectly clear space OF
street into which no urchin dared step.
Then came the band. twanging and
strumming on their Neapolnan guitars.
singing merrily the songs of Bella Napoh,
and not minding the Slurs that the street
boys cast OH them, containing illusions
to the Black Hand.
Then came a large party named johns.
He smoked cigar and called nimsen the
captain.
Then Billiken. All hail. All hail.
He sat fast wired u1on sturdy OAK
platform. borne ON the shoulders of
Charles Cottrell. J. l.. Suter Harry Sefo-
field, tanner OF wildcats. and Fred Werner,
who really does not look like Bil!iken at
all.
Surrounding the bearers were the Lm-
offers. the lantern bearers. who kept Bill
liken's face wreathed IN gentle light from
18th street to 18th. They were Norborne
Robinson, Jerry Egan, Henry Sweinhart
and Earl Goodwin.
Even Journalists in Line.
Surrounding all of these in hollow
square was loyal and strong guard OF
honor composed of reporters and journal
lists.
Then came the sedate members of the
Press Club. walking Lwo and two and
wishing they were boys again, by hicky-
And finally Jesse Carmachaels motor
car with him in it.
And of course some of the rabble-
Thus they marched. the band playing,
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon the second
rank singing something about coming
home i'm the dark, the third rank droning
Maryland, My Maryland. the fourt"
rank yelling to the band to tell them 10
play Garry Owen. the fifth rank
singing a very profane song about
Hail. hail. the gangs all here, which
inquiries ofNhe world at large as to what
any of us care ABOUT anything, ana
answering in rather strong language. And
SO on.
Really a Nice Club.
Thus did they enter their new nome
And their new home was ready for them.
For in reality the Press Club is not
padded cell affair, much as the Bill
ken parade would seem 10 indicate. Il is
Just abont as comfort able a club as can
be found in a good days journey TWO
spacious floors, entrance at 6r' Loon
street have been nicely fitted up. with
everyt hing dear 10 the heart of man-es-
pecially a newspaper man. The general
effect of the decora ions throughout Is d
very pleasant green. One very attractive
feature is d frieZe made of the matrices
Of the various newspapers represented In
the club. covering the entile continent.
The matrices have been treated with
green stain.
The billiard room is a dream. so Is the
private dining room, so is the other dining
room-and SO is the whole place
And. therefore, seeing il is so attractive.
the opening last night found the place
lust crammed full after Billikc1 and the
crazy procession got there. They overran
the club from the billiard room down to
the cigar trays: and, of course. there was
a very large and tasteful supper spread
Ia,