The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1917-04-21
WASHINGTON FOLKS ENJOY
FINE MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL
Big Society Function Was Directed by
Nine. 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 scintil-
lating arena. The affair. conceded on
all hands to have been the largest,
finest and most unique assemblage OF
its 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 a manager of the
first rank She was full of brilliant
ideas and had the resourcefulness nee
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 sldllful efforts.
Among these splendid helpers were
Mrs. Maud Hawkins, Mrs. Alice
Wormley Francis. Mrs. Il. d. Willis
ton and Mrs. Walter ]. Singleton.
Willingly they gave the full measure
of their social influence, time and
physical strength to the cause 1t Is
not 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
q club home for their charming sisters,
and their labors were helpfully In evil
dence Walter J. Singleton rendered
yeoman service as floor manager, and
Judge Robert II. Terrell, besides lend
ing the force of his valuable experience.
CARRIED 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 a 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 a myriad of electric bulbs. The
costumes of the characters were true
to life, typifying every phase Of hui
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 pie
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 Sc
ries of terpsichorean evolution5 worthy |
of a 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
$7O0 in 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. @. A. and for other |
worthy enterprises, charitable and re-
ligious.