The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-04-28
WASHINGTON FOLKS ENJOY
fine MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL
Big Society Function Was Directed by
Mime. Anita p. Brown.

Washington.-Echoes Of the recent
celebration Of the Festival Of the Mar
di Gras still linger pleasantly in the
ears of social Washington The spec
tacular function was held in the i'm
mense convention hall, and more than
1900 persons crowded into the sciAtil-
lating arena. The affair. conceded on
all hands to have been the largest,
finest and most unique assemblage of
it's kind ever held in the nations cap
ital, was held for the benefit of the
building fund of the Young Women's
Christian association and is now firm
ly established as an annual event.
The unprecedented success Of the
Mardi Gras this year, as was true Of
that of last year, is personal triumph
for Mrs. Anita p Brown. From start
to finish she gave to the work degree
Of intelligence, industry, comprehen-
sive vision and constructive ability
that stamped her as manager Of the
first rank. She was full of brilliant
ideas and had the resourcefulness nee
essary to put them into practical effect
In conception and in execution she
showed a capacity for leadership that
was marvellous. and this is borne out
by the concrete results produced by
her skillful efforts.
Among these splendid helpers were
Mrs. Maud Hawkins. Mrs. Alice
Wormley Francis, Mrs. e. D. Willis
ton and Mrs. Walter J. Singleton.
Willingly they gave the full measure
of their social influence. time and
physical strength to the cause. 1t is
not a matter of wonder that the peo-
pie so promptly and so numerously re-
sponded to their clarion call. The gen
tlemen were not less arduOus in lend
ing their aid to the work Of providing
a club home for their charming sisters.
and their labors were helpfully in evi-
dence Walter j. Singleton rendered
yeOman service as floor manager. and
Judge Robert H. Terrell, besides lend
ing the force of his valuable experience
garbed as a prince Of the realm led
the grand march. Others who ma
terially assisted with the thousand and
one details were A. Lincoln Brown.
Custis Syphax. David L. Bruce. DR.. @.
Sumner Wormley. John Fl. Downing.
DR.. e. D. Williston and others.
The Mardi Gras as brilliant spec
tacle has had no equal in this COM
munity and would have done credit to
the New Orleans originators Of the
mighty festival The hall was lighted
by myriad of electric bulbs. The
costumes of the characters were true
to life, typifying every phase Of hu-
man life Of today and Of the manifold
personages of history and romance.
With the vast assemblage whirling to
the inspiring strains of L. N. Browns
orchestra of forty pieces and the fash
ion boxes filed with handsomely gown
ed women and gallant men in evening
dress, enshrouded in lavish decorations
Of flowers, flags and ensigns, the pic
ture was one that mo artist could
paint" Confetti. streamers and all of
the paraphernalia of fun and frolic
were there to drive away "carking
care" A delightful diversion Of the
midnight hour was the artistic fancy
dancing Of Misses Lucille Moore and
Hortense Gray. who performed a Sc
ries Of terpsichorean evolutions worthy
Of q Ruth st. Denis or an Aida Over
ton Walker.
OF Mrs. Anita P. Brown, upon whose
shoulders the entire weight of the man.
agement Of the Mardi Gras fell. too
much in praise cannot be said. To
her must be accorded the lions share
Of the credit for its satisfactory out
come. To draw 1000 or more of the
nations elite and to clear upward Of
500 in a single effort are feats Of
magic in this day Of the high cost Of
living and the increased expense at
tached to the giving Of large entertain
ments. But this is not the first instance
where Mrs. Brown has scored heavily
for the Y. w. G. A. and for other
worthy enterprises. charitable and re-
ligiOus.
FIRST BATTALION ON DUTY.