Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-08-31
BABY PARADE

was held on Friday, August 24th, In
stead of Thursday, August 23d, as
previously arranged, having been post
poned because of the unsettled weather
conditions. Friday dawned clear and
bright and the success of the parade
was unhampered by its postponement.
In fact, it has been acceded, not only
by those viewing it, but by the partici-
pants as well, that it was the most
successful parade ever held in the his
tory of Wildwood.
Great enthusiasm and interest had
been displayed in the contest for the
election of a Queen, which contest
closed on Tuesday evening at 10 O'Clock.
The count was made and concluded
and the interested parties awaiting the
result, learned that Miss Dorothy Ger
stel was successfully elected Queen of
the Carnival with a large majority vote,
while Misses Nellie Weldon aud Sara
Gould respectively, were elected her
attendants. On the day of the parade,
Misses Helen Coombs and Clara Haney
were selected for the honorary positions
of Pages to the Queen
The parade was divided into ten
classes and one special class, namely;
Glass A, prettiest baby; Glass b, latest
baby; Glass G, twins; Glass D, fancy
costume, 2 to 6 years; Glass E, fancy
costume, 7 to IL years; Glass F, comic,
6 to IL years; Glass q, character, s 10 II
years; Glass H, family groups; Glass I,
most artistically decorated baby coach;
Glass j, most artistically decorated
float and special Glass K, tiniest BABY.
Three prizes in gold, 500. $40 and So,
were awarded to each class.
Registrations were confined until two
o'clock of the day of the parade, reach
ing a total by that time of owe $50
entries. The number in line was over
500.
The parade formed and moved at 3 80,
taking as its course, the Cedar avenue
approach and going up the boardwalk
to the Ocean Pier, countermarching
back to the Casino Arcade and disband-
ing.
The Baby Carnival was headed by
Chief of Police Lester Smith, City Com
missioners Frank E. Smith, VIM. J.
.Hendee and r. w. Ryan, a number of
prominent business men, the Wild
wood Crest band followed by the Boy
Scouts OF America, TroopNo. l, Bridge
ton, n. j., which formed an admirable
body guard for the coming Queen and
her attendants, whose arrival was
heralded down the line to the yet un-
seeing crowd, by thunderous applause.
Then came the part of the carnival
in which all were interested, large and
small alike, the babies. The number
of entrants in Glass A were SO extensive
shat the judges had a difficult matter
in deciding who was most worthy of
receiving the three prizes awarded to
that class.
Neither was it an easy task to decide
upon the latest baby. In fact, the
trouble and ex Expense to which fond par
ents had put themselves, in order to
make the parade a success, made the
task of the judges far more difficult than
ever before and the only easy part was
the decision in favor of the two partici-
pants in the special class, created for
the tiniest baby. However, the report
rendered was fair one and few, except
the traditional crouch, had any reason
for complaint.
A number of entrants in the parade
are well worth describing.
Aside from a number of prettily dec
Grated coaches, the first entrant which
attracted the attention of the spectators,
was an excellent representation of a
Tom Thumb wedding, which was en-
tered in Glass D. Immediately follow
ing this were a u Der of fairies which
seemed to be an omen of good wishes
for the bridal party.
A little boy, Russell Grouse, was the
cause of much amusement. He was
c.everly costumed to represent a canni-
bal or a Fiji Islander and indeed his
skin had the proverbial tan of these
natives. This little fellow so pleased
the judges that he was awarded first
prize.
Other entrants attracting attention
in the same class was a small Scottish
Highlander and then going way back
to early Egyptian days for the idea, a
modern Cleopatra took part.
A number of character participants
were very interesting. Among them
was a little fellow in the full outfit of a
ball player and be certainly looked the
part. There were also quite a number
vim they displayed, may indicate the
r,n4I L. l;fn rrbinb than mill foIlorz