Evening star., 1909-07-06


of the joint committee of the Board OF
Trade and Chamber of Commerce toward
a safe and sane Fourth of July cele-
bration was expected from the time the
committee started Systematically to work
weeks beforehand to collect the nsessary
funds and to make plans for yesterdays
exercises, but that the results would be
anywhere near as fattering as they were
the most sanguine did not for one mo-
ment imagine.
To the small boy and the average man,
even, safe and sane" Fourth sounded
like a dull day. Most Washingtonians
looked forward to a day of quiet, CRATE
full to adults, but far from pleasurable
except in a negative way. The young
sters gave up all hope.
But they were doomed to an agreeable
disappointment, for livelier, more en-
joyable holiday, one in which the festive
spirit prevailed as it rarely prevails in
Washington, has never been known in
the nations capital. There have been
bigger ays-inauguratioons, gigantic con-
ventions, peace jubilees and similar
eventS-which have attracted thousands
of visitors to the city and have Swelled
its streets, hotels and private dwellings
to oyerf1owing with jolly, merry-making
throngs, but never has there been a cele-
bration which Washington got up for its
own benefit, without thought of outside
attendance or outside praise, that equaled
yesterdays.
In point of arrangements the work of
the committee in charge was perfect
With excellent Judgment it mapped out
its plans so that too much would not
be undertaken. Yet there was enough
in the way of entertainment to keep
people interested all day long. And
there were no accidents.
Start of a Happy Day.
Market space was the scene of the
beginning of the festivities at $40
o'clock yesterday morning. when the
first firework bomb was sent hurtling
into the air, where 1T burst and released
an American flag, which swayed and rip
pied in the breeze, suspended from
red. white and blue parachute.
"Oo-ee" came from the throats of the
throng of small boys who, Skepticai as
to the possibilities of a crackerless
Fourth. had assembled early and stood
around in a Missouri-like attitude just
daring the fireworks committee to please
'em. And when other bombs exploded
rapidly and filled the air with grotesque
and fanciful paper shapes doubt fed
from many a youthful breast. A happy
day had started, and from that time for
ward il was thoroughly enjoyed
After an hour of daylight fireworks
sent up from the parking In front Of
the market, the formal celebrations at
the Stephenson monument were held.
These were followed by another hour of
fireworks. Then lunch and a brief rest
and the festal scene shifted to the ellipse
back of the White House, where, at 2:30,
the big daylight display was given.
BY this time the small boys had enter
ed fully into the spirit of the day and
thousands of them, watched by double
Cf~ 1nd
and fought for the paper figures, ban
ners, flags and balloons as they came to
earth Armed with long poles some of
the more enterprising sought to get ahead
of their fellowscrambers by reaching up
and intercepting the falling figures ten
or twelve feet above the earth. But al
ways there was crowd waiting and be-
fore any of the figures hit the ground
they were torn into shreds and divided
among half a dozen. Soon grown persons
one of the liveliest and most amusing fea-
lures of the affair
Floral Parade Winners.
Soon after the conclusion of the after
noon display OF fireworks, interest began to
center in the automobile floral parade.
which was scheduled to start opposite the
District building at 5:30 o'clock This drew
thousands, and the line of parade, which
was down Pennsylvania avenue to the
Peace Monument and back, and then
around the ellipse, was thronsed with
spectators.
Many of the cars were decorated with
exceedingly artistic designs, and when 1t
is considered that Washington has had
little experience in such affairs the sue
cess of the parade was most fiattering.
The prize winners were:
Sweepstakes, for the most beautiful car
In parade. three-hundred-doil silver lov.
ing cup. to be engraved with picture OF
winning car swan boat, to William r.
Matteson, entry No. g.
For the most beautiful car driven by
woman. two-hundred-dollar diamond ring.
huge basket Of pink roses. to Mrs. Will
liam f. Matteson, entry No. 81.
Class A. gasoline and steam cars
First prize. silver cup, valued at S100.
canopied car, with large basket OF pink
flowers on top, TO Arthur Moses. entry
No. 81.
Second prize. pair of tires and inner
tubes. for wistaria arbor, to Clayton
Graft. entry No. GU.
Third prize. S25 gold. for the yacht De-
fender, to John A. Lutz, entry No. -.
G. & Carpenter and three young ladies
wearing pink hats. riding in car dec
grated with pink and white.
Fifth prize, 81 gold, miniature automo-
bile. covered with green and ornamented
with white flowers, operated by two chill
dren. to George Reed. jr., entry No. u.
Class =, electric cars
FIRST prize silver cup. valued at 800,
for pink she'll operated by woman
dressed in pink TO Mrs. Lester d. Moore,
jr.. entry No. "a.
Second prize, pair of tires and inner
tubes. for red white and blue umbrella
pver car. to Mrs. T. b. Spence. entry
No. TS.
Third prize. SO gold. for car decorated
I'm red top white body. blue wheels and
electric lights to Potomac Electric Power
Company, entry No. /.
Glass C. commercial cars trucks wag-
ons. etc
First prize, silver cup, valued at 800
for delivery wagon trimmed in white and
green cloth and roses, to Guide Bros, en-
try No 81.
Second prize. pair of tires. for car deco
rated with grasses and palms and drawn
by winged doves to the Terminal Taxicab
Company, entry No. IA.
Third prize. 81 gold. for airship with
tin propeller. to William Hahn Shoe Com
pany, entry No. 81
Glass ID. motorcycles, all classes
First prize So gold. for two Indians
names not registered. entry No. 91.
Second prize SIS gold. for cyclist who
rode child on the front of his machine
and joined parade on Executive avenue.
Name not registered.
Third prize, SO gold, for motorcyclist