The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-15
FRENCH SOCIETIES
HOLD JOYOUS FETE
Country Picnic, Games, Dane
ing and Music Amuse Both
Civilians and Warriors.
WAR FUND IS AUGMENTED
Manhattan Casino ThrOnged
Day and Night at Bastile
Day Celebration.

A little bit of Ia Belle France"
opened its doors to those in New York
who were celebrating Bastile Day at
the Manhattan Casino yesterday after
noon. To all outward appearances the
Casino looked much as It does on any
day that upper Harlem 10 celebrating
anything or just relaxing, but inside a
real 'Fete Rationale" with all OF the
attractions Of a true French country
picnic and bazaar was In full swing,
Every one except members OF the
allied armies and navies paid an admis-
sion fee and then paid for many OF the
"a mes played III the park outside the
big main building. their contributions
going to tho French war FUND.
or course the main object Of the fete
was to celebrate Bastile Day, but along
with the celebration went the chance TO
helm La Belle France and big crowd
patronized every attraction to capacity.
Flower girls with buttonhole bouquets
threaded their way through the crowd
and there was scarcely visitor VINO
did not wear one of their crisp tricolor
posies.
The. main hall Of the Casino was APP
propriateiy decorated with the TIL
color Of France and the Stars and
Stripes, and the ballroom floor was
polished to perfection. Dancing began
early and color was added to the scene
by the uniforms Of French sailors and
soldiers of the regular army and the
bright garments Of members Of the forty
French societies which arranged the
fete,
But France was not represented alone
for there we're many khaki clad Amer
lean boys-some Of them were obviously
French American-with here and there
an officers uniform showing. The
United States Navy also was well
represented.
an old home affair was the lack OF
speeches. The crowd was a sociable
one. Americans who could speak no
French locked arms with their French
brothers who could not talk English,
and with their French brothers sisters
and vice versa
Henri Rfbordy, Tho Is known in
financial circles by the excellence OF
his supervision Of the chefs Of the
Bankers Club, was chairman and
president of the forty French societies
which gave their brothers In New York
a real French outing. and CASTOR
Burleti known also for the table he
sets in west Twenty-sixtr street, wal
The French Military Band. which has
thrilled New York in many Of the re.
cent pafades in this city. furnished
music in the afternoon and the fighters
Of France. and America danced to III
snappy music with pretty madame and
chic mademoiselle to tho delight Of all
At the bowling alleys excitement ran
high as the prize for the high score OF
the day was a bronze statuette of Ma
poleon. This had been provided along
with second. third. fourth and so or
up to twentieth and thirteieth prize. BY
NJ. Maurice Croppt.
NJ. A. Blum, president Of the Lafay.
cite Guard, dressed in the magnificence
OF that organisations blue and gold
trimmed uniform, was obhvious to the
rays OF yesterday afternoons searching
sun and gathered in a goodly sum fol
the fund at his shooting gallery.
Then another booth usually giver
over to ringing the cane" was devoted
to ringing Papa JofYre. And up to q
late hour last night little statuettes OF
the man who had impressed New Yorl
as the savior Of France at the Marine
peeked from many a pocket.
And It was a lucky thing for the mar
| who ran the ''hit the rag doll' booti
that none of his targets resembled Kai
ser Wilhelm. AS It was, the amount O.
money collected by that concession in
It Is that mends dolls will be busy fol-
some days rejuvenating his wares.
| All in all II was a day Of real hap
piness and those who left the fete lat,
last night or early this morning ad
mitted that they had enjoyed sixt,
seconds worth Of fun In every min
ute of it.