The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-07
WASHINGTON, July 6.

- yASN'T IL Glorious Fourth!
w 1t seems to me that no more
w fitting celebrations Of the
nations birthday we're ever arranged
than those which were planned
throughout the country this year, even
I, communities where the safe and
.,ue" idea Of Fourth OF July celebra-
inns has not fully penetrated. Every
,bere pageants, historic and Of patri-
ATTIC symbolism, seem to have been the
,sture Of the day. Washington has
| IN. advantage of having the material
At hand for an international celebra-
,3on OF the great national holiday, and
took full advantage Of 1t.
The pageant Of Democracy Tri-
umphant' at the Ellipse, in which
,senty-six different nations were rep
resented and to which they contributed
folk songs and dances in national COS
tune and in most cases staged cpl
sodes from their history, was wonder
fully interesting, and the great parade
which wound up the day. the nations
falling in In the order in which they
came into the war and marching down
the Avenue" (Which is Pennsylvania
avenue in Washington. even as it Is
fifth avenue in New York;. to be
reviewed at the Capitol by the Presi-
dent and the group Of foreign born
Americans representing thirty-two ma
-onalities which had participated with
him in the exercises at Mount Vernon,
vas both picturesque and thrilling.
It was at Mount Vernon that dem
ocracy was really triumphant. 1t was
the first time that any such celebra-
ton had been held there. And when
i was announced that the President
would head a pilgrimage OF foreign
horn naturalized Americans, represent
ng as many different nationalities az
could be gathered together, to the
tomb Of Washington and there make a
great Fourth Of July address 1t was
realized that there would be the days
real observance.
II was Of course understood that
only comparatively few. the official
party, including the Pilgrims and
members Of the Diplomatic Corps,
would go down the river in the May
flower as the Presidents guests. But
Il was supposed that there would be
considerable space roped in for
which tickets would be issued to the
elect. The hoi polloi might mass it.
as hest 1t could.
That is the usual plan and the one
that the Committee on Public Informa-
ton which was managing the affair,
expected to pursue. 1t was Will IT.
wins office that was making up the
lists Of the elect, and there was con-
sternatiOn in camp when on Tuesday
vori came from the White House
from the President himself. according
70 report-that they needn't bother,
there would be no elect. The roped
In enclosure would be rather small
and there would be no one admitted to
but the official party. Later this
was modified. They would admit three
newspaper men. representatives OF the
press associations.
Those who were emphatically not of
The official party but had had the COM
Portable assurance that they were Of
the elect-certainly many of them
were Of the elected-were perturbed
Must they take their chances with the
hoi polloi? Indignation and pain were
expressed all in vain. They must.
Nice-Pr-sident started Late.
When it came to hearing what the
President had to say, or to enjoying
such an aesthetic treat as John Nc
Oormack's singing of THE Star
Spangled Banner under the trees that
shadow Washington's tomb they
could get down to Mount Vernon any
way they could-trolley. motor. on the
GOOD old Mc.Alester-and II they
wanted good places they'd better come
early and hold them down. There was
Democracy Triumphant indeed, or as
one disgruntled woman who Is accus-
'omed to certain official privileges put
H. Democracy Rampant.
While the President headed down to
Mount Vernon for his contribution to
the celebration of the national birth
day. his daughter, Miss Margaret Will
son went in the opposite direction to