The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-04
WILSON ATTENDS
Spring FESTIVAL
With Mrs. Wilson, President
Witnesses Pageant Held
at Neighborhood House.
IMMENSE CROWDATTENDS
Street Is Closed to Traffic During the
Performanee Given by the
Children.

The President and Mrs. wilson were III
terested spectators yesterday afternoon
of the spring professional which was the
eliminating pageant of the three days
celebration. given by the children OF
Neighborhood House. to mark the return
of spring. The President and Mrs. Wilson,
accompanied by Miss Helen WOODROW
Bones. drove to the scene OF the pageant
in N Street Southwest. and witnessed the
performance from their automobile. the
President was noticibly pleased with the
pageant and the childish acting, and evil
denced his interest and enjoyment by
smiles and repeated applause.
A. tremendous, crowd drawn from all
parts OF the city, thronged N street
Southwest, between Fourth and Filth
Streets. where the procession and tine
dances were held. The street was closed
to traffic by permission of the city Id
thorities, and was given over wholly 10
the actors and spectators. The pavement
throughout most of the length of the
block constituted the stage, while the
spectators were grouped on the sidewalks
and across the ends of the street. The
celebration began promptly at O'Clock.
Led by Goddess of Spring.
The Goddess of Spring led the process
sion from the main entrance OF Neigh
borhood House about the open space to
her final position. and was followed by
personifications of March. April. and May
with their appropriate retinues.
March was followed by a troop of boys
in shaggy coats. April led a group Of
rainbow fairies and children represent
ing rabbits, frogs. and bears. These
wore raincoats until the time for their
dance came, when the coats were dis
carded and they stood forth In cos
tunes of rainbow colors. After May
came Prince Sunshine. a boy in garb
of golden yellow, carrying a golden
standard. Streamers OF ribbon were at
tached to the top Of the standard, and
holding the ends Of the streamers
marched little girls dressed to represent
spring flowers.
Following the triumphant march of
Spring came representation OF Father
Time In Babyland. A character repre-
senting Father Time lead twelve dec
Grated baby carriages containing real
babies, who entered SO well into the
spirit of the celebration that they did
not even whimper. A carriage was dec
Grated to represent each OF the twelve
months.
Little kindergarten tots came next and
depicted the Fairy Queen and her court
surrounded by other wee youngsters
dressed as birds and bees and butter
|
| land Real Friends from Fairyland fol-
lowed. Here were Red Riding-Hood and
the Wolf, 30 Peep and Little Boy Blue,
! Peter OF the Magic Boots, Simple Simon,
| Old King Cole, and a host OF other
| familiar characters. and last of all real
| live trained goose, which could be
| thought of as Mother Goose or as the
fowl of golden egg fame just as the
spectator chose. The goose was led by
/ leo n
thai, a lad of twelve. Immediately after
| this group came Robin Hood and his
| merry men.
| Groups of girls, in the costume of FOR
| eign lands who presented the charac-
| teristic dances of the countries repre-
| scented. completed the procession. Twelve
little shepherdesses with powdered hair
| represented England, and danced a May
pole dance Seven girls in white with
| long bridal wells marched. carrying upon
a litter a doll dressed as May queen
after the custom of France. German
peasants, Dutch flower girls, and Swedish
| peasants followed in groups OF eight.
President seems Pleased.
! After the actors had completed theii
formation the groups OF dancers came
one after the other into the centra
space and gave the native dances of the
countries, which they represented. AL
were graceful and excellently performed
| President Wilson seemed especially pleas
| ed with the Swedish dance, which was
more spirited than any of the others. The
pageant was concluded by dance. par
ticipated in by all the characters. This
represented the American May festival
and at its completion the procession
formed again and marched into Neighbor
hood House.
In all over 200 children took part In th'
May festival. which lasted three days
II was designed to be an epitome OF th'
May Day celebrations of all countrie!
and faithfully followed the customs oh
served in some cases for centuries D!
the different peoples. Great interest wal
shown by the children participating II
the celebrations, and even the smaIles
tots were thoroughly happy over thei
parts in the plays and pageants.
i Last night "Hansel and Gretel,' fair!
play, was given in the outdoor theate
of Neighborhood House, special featur
of which was the dance of the RainooV
fairies. The crowds attending the pro
duction were so great that two perform
ances had to be given. This pay com
| r1o+ad tho series of entertainments at