Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-05
OPENS WITH FIELD DAY"
ON MONUMENT GROUNDS
Washington's Young Athletes En-
gage in Competitive Ath-
letic Carnival,
HORSE SHOW LEADING EVENT
Sons Of Revolution and Sons Of
American Revolution Give Spe-
cial Program-Fireworks
Display This Evening.

With the spirit of patriotism
enthusing its entire citizenship.
Washington today is observing
the 13oth anniversary of the
signing of the American Declare
ton of Independence.
Although the "safe and sane"
idea is in vogue, the National
Capital has seen no more interest
ing nor thrilling celebration than
that which opened with a man.
moth field day meet on the Monu-
ment grounds at o:3o o'clock this
morning, and will end with nearly
two hours of brilliant aerial FIRE
works, beginning at $3.50 o'clock
tonight.
Early this morning. when the rain
was drizzling all over the city. there
was talk among the workers for the
celebrations about posrponing the
events for more propitious skies. When
the rain stopped it was decided to push
the program through. The threatening
skies kept down the attendance 1T
many of the events.
People Kept Wide Awake.
Young America may mourn the loee
of the firecracker and toy cannon
Fourth Of July times, but he is having
IN in nf n
day, for the program which the citi-
zens' committee arranged promises to
keep the city wide awake for twelve
hours or more. There is something In
the program for young and old. some
thing calculated to appeal to every
whim and fancy of the holiday amuse-
ment seekers.
Washington's young athletes inau-
gurated the all-day festival. By $3.50
o'clock they were competing in the
largest municipal field meet ever held
in the capital. Followers Of amateur
athletics turned out in large numbers
to witness these contests. which were
held on the Monument grounds near
the bathing beach. At IL o'clock
swimming and diving tournament in
the bathing beach began. This like
wise attracted many entries and a
large number of spectators.
Shortly after the athletic meet started
patriotic exercises, conducted under
the joint auspices of the Sons of the
Revolution and Sons of the American
Revolution, were commenced at the
foot of the Washington Monument. All
naturalized citizens and those who
have not taken out naturalization pa
pers were included in the invitation to
attend this meeting. which was pre-
sided over by Commander John H.
land, former District Commissioner, de-
livered the principal address.
Program Resumed at I O'Clock.
The program allowed an hour for
luncheon, and by 1 o'clock the festivi-
ties were on again, commencing with
the workhorse parade, which started
from Peace monument at that hour for
the Brightwood reservoir at the head
Of 10th street, where the horse show
and tournament is to be held.
Indications are that from 5000 to
10000 persons will witness the horse
show from the banks of the reservoir
and other vantage points. Running
steeplechasers some of the best thor
oughbred jumpers in the east and all
round good horef1esh will be seen in
action at the show with some of tn.
best riders Of this part of the country
participating.
Many members OF the Board of Trade
Chamber of Commerce and Retail Mer-
chants, Association arrived at the
root for the representatives of these or
ganizations in the big independence
day mule race. Paddock information
was to the effect that Charles ]. Co
lumbus representing the Retail Mer-
chants Association. would go to the
post a. favorite. Tom Grant of the
. Shassber Of Commerce and LOUIS c.
a big lot of hackers. John Martin rep
resenting the newspaper men, will ride
an army mule Of which little is known.
dences of the Fort Myer cavalrymen.
Liberty Pageant at Monument.
1t may be 6 o'clock or later before the
horse show program is concluded Prior
thereto 500 playground children who
are to stage the liberty pageant at the
base of the Washington Monument will
get their performance under way. The
is scheduled to begin at )
o'clock, and will last until about
o'clock. It will be directed by Miss
May Roper of the playground depart
ment, music being furnished by the
Band. The performers will be
costumed and the interpretive dances
are said to be unusually attractive and
This part of the days
1t Is belleved. also Will
draw a large crowd.
before the fireworks display begins
tonight there will be patriotic concert
on the Monument grounds by the
United states Engineer Band, from $50
to Sis o'clock. At $50 o'clock the
nyrotechnical program will open with
4 salute, and for nearly two hours
thereafter Washingtonians will be
treatedN to a dazzling extravaganza of
are and explosives.
Celebration Is City Wide.
The municipal celebration. commence
ing. with the athletic meet and con-
.luding with the fireworks on the
Monument grounds. is only part OF
The big city-witle. patriotic festival in
which residents of the capital are par
.icipating today.
-Four citixsns' associations afs con-