Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-10
CITY TO HONOR
"BASTTLE DAY"
Celebration Will Pay Trib-
ute to Our Ally's Fourth
of July
FRENCH CoLoNYs PLAN
Parade Will Be Followed by
Monster Demonstration in
independence Square

"Bastile Day" the French Fourth Of
5uiy. marking the i2Sth anniversary Of the
fall Of the Bastlle, symbolic Of llberatlng
France from autocratic rule. is to be OBJ
served In Philadelphia on July II. pa
rade Of virtually the entire French colony.
the French war relief committee Of the
Emergency Aid. soldiers, sailors, marines
and reserves will be held in the morning,
followed by a monster demonstration in
Independence Square. Mayor Smith has
announced that a number Of prominent ma
tional speakers will participate.
1t had been planned to bring Sarah Bern
hardt the divine Sarah" Of the French
stage, 10 participate in the Independence
Square patriotic gathering. The EVENING
LEDGER invited Madame Bernhard to be
It's guest at the celebration. Today reply
was received IN which the actress expressed
regrets at her inability to accept due to
the long Journey necessary from Long
Beach n. y and return.
BERNHARDT's TELEGRAM
The EVENING LEDGER sent this telegram
20 Madame Beruhardt:
The Mayor OF Philadelphia has declared
Bastile Day a day Of general rejoicing
and celebration. Appropriate exercises IN
honor Of Americas devoted Ally VIII be
held at independence Hall, In Independence
Square. the birthplace of American lib
critics The day will be devoted also to
the collection Of funds for the relief Of
stricken families in the recovered prov
inces Of France. Your presence on the
stage. even If you were unable to speak
would add incidentally TO the enthusiasm
Of the occasion. VIII you not come as
the guest Of the EVENING LEDGER? Your
secretary Informed our representative,
who personally tried to see you, that our
request should come in this form.
EDITOR OF THE EVENING LEDGER.
Her telegraphic reply follows:
l assure you, Monsieur, that am truly
borry to be unable to accept your invita-
tion to be in Philadelphia. II takes five
hours by auto to go quickly, thus requir-
ing ten hours TO complete the return on
the same day. That is too much for me
during this hot weather. My heart urges
me TO come to you, but reason, which is
= the wickedest invention of the human
brain, forces me to abandon the great
honor you do me and to regret that air
planes are not yet the ordinary means
OF public locomoton
(sgned) SARAH 'BERNHARDT.
Mrs Cornelius Stevenson has announced
that the French War Relief Committee OF
which she is chairman will cooperate with
the various French societies and organza-
tons in the city in arranging for the parade
and demonstration.
A special committee, Mrs. Stevenson said,
is working hard to perfect arrangements.
II is composed of Mrs. Harold Ellis Var
nall. Mrs. Charles Leland Harrison, secre-
tary; Mrs. Joseph Leidy, treasurer, and
Mrs Cyrus II. X. Curtis.
Miss Anne Coleman, who was connected
with the Secours-Duryea, a French war re-
lief society with headquarters in Paris. will
have charge Of the aids and the sale Of
buttons, programs and souvenirs.
luncheon win follow the Independence
Square gathering, and later in the afternoon
the celebration will be carried to the Phil
Hes ball grounds at Broad and Hunting
don streets, where the Pennsylvania Rail-
road band will render a musical program.
The Duke de Richeleu, a descendant Of
pected TO be one Of the honor guests and
speakers at the Independence Square eXer-
ciees.
AS has been the custom for many years,
the French colony here will celebrate the
fall of the Bastile with an outing which will
be held at Point Breeze Park in the after
noon. Games, sports music and dancing
will be included in the program. The Assoc
ciation National Francaise Of which Paul
Glouton is president, Is in charge Of ar
rangements Another organization that is
assisting in the plans is the French Benevo-
lent Society.