New-York tribune., 1916-04-24
Fifth Avenue Grand Army
Grips Right Hand Tightly
About Umbrella.
OLD GUARD LOST
AMONG SPECTATORS
Few Society People and Small
Number of New FrOcks Out,
Veterans of March Say.

The Grand Army Of the New silk
Petticoat did its annual Easter parad-
ing on Fifth Avenue yesterday, with its
weather eye turned furtively up TO the
threatening gray sky above. and with
its right hand tightly clasped about
the stock Of its umbrella
"Parading" is something Of com
plimentary term for the Grand Army's
review this Easter. 1t was much more
of a march than parade and much
more Of a timid retreat from church
to home than a valiant charge of fash
ion. The real paraders that splendid
Old Guard which has clicked its French
heels on the Avenue pavement for
casters beyond the memory OF man
found themselves hopelessly lost
among several thousand spectators in
citizens clothes, who lined the side
walks to look for something they
didn't see.
Hardly any one took the chance of
wearing dress parade uniform be
meath clouds that so plainly promised
rain. Eight persons out of every ten
who passed Fifth Avenue and Fiftieth
Street between 12 and o'clock
were in heavy marching order. carry
ing or wearing sombre raincoats and
clinging to the inevitable umbrella.
Few Society People Out.
Veterans who have stalked through
innumerable Easter parades say yes
terday's was the least animated, brought
forth the least number of well known
society people and the most sparse
scattering of stylish new frocks Of anv
review In recent years. They ascribe
the unusual circumstance TO the late
ness of the season. the cloudy day and
to the final fact that society, perhaps.
has IN some mysterious way come 10
realize that Easter parading isn't, after
all, the most aristocratic thing imag-
Unable.
BY 1880 in the morning COM
Portable grand stand of spectators
found standing room in front Of St.
Patricks Cathedral and St. Thomas's
Church, ready to watch "the great" "a
they issued forth from the services.
Not daring 10 trust his own judg-
ment entirely on such complex event
a. al IaNAti pdlhut, IL IlDuUc spec
tator took up a post on the steps Of
the Cathedral, just behind two young
women who were talking vigorously
about parades pro and con. and who
were chewing gum even more vigor-
ously Their dialogue no doubt accur-
ately sets forth the opinions formed
by most of the spectators Of the Easter
types which passed in review.
Mlnnie's Opinion.
A splendid parsonage, wearing high
silk hat, frock coat, bright yellow flower
and patent leather shoes with white
silk tops. was just swinging past.
DO you get that?' one of the two,
Minnie. wanted TO know
Sure" came the reply. Hes turn
ing west into Fifteth Street"
"Cm. Going over to the car barns TO
get on his uniform. Fares, please,
madam"
The next vision received more kindly
comment. He had no white silk on his
shoes, but his silk hat fared out at the
top as the Liberty Bell does at the bot
tom. lie had a cane instead of an
umbrella and wore fire alarm cravat.
There's a regular fellow" Minnie's
friend announced with decision.
"You bet. He's Broadway dragoon.
that gent is. Looks like Jack Barry
more. don't he?"
And walks like he was stopping at
the Waldorf. This is not his first pee
rade."
Then came a healthful looking
matron, marching abreast of her hus-
band.
Look at her lace stockings" grunted
Minnie. Probably 90 with her last
summers bathing suit"
"The nerve of IT," said Mnnie's
friend. Paterson, \. j., she looks like
TO me-"
"Have you seen any Of the regular
folks YETI" Minnie wanted to know.
What d'ya mean, regular folks, Min
ME-"
"Oh people like the Astors, or the
Nanderbilts. or Andrew Carnegie, or
Diamond Jim Brady"
They don't pee-rade any more. the
regular folks. It's getting out Of style.
] guess. Look at that girl with ycl
low coat and birds wings on her hat
big enough to fly battleship. Now,
there's an outfit worth pee-rading in"
''See anything else worth looking
att" the friend questioned.
'Not thing but raincoats. Say, the
pee-rades kind of bore, don't you
think"
"Sure. Let's skip. I've seen enough"
"All right Where1l we go?"
ooh, 70 the movies guess. That's
better than this"