Evening star., 1923-05-29
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

There is going to be omething new
started in Washington, when all
states mingle in one grand dance
along Pennsylvania avenue from the
Capitol to the White House. every
evening during Shrine week. 1t might
be called a folk dance.
This great outdoor dancing floor. the
most famous street in America. is to
be only the center point of a nation
wide festival, for the music, the
laughter. the shouts of merriment Of
the hundreds of thousands will be
Pacific, and will be re-echoed, while
all America may join in the merry
whirl. Never has there been any
thing like this for gigantic frolic.
The idea that this should be the be-
ginning of annual frolics all over
America. with dancing to ampliied
and broadcast music centering in
the capital. originates with Chairman
E. c. Snyder of the entertainment
committee.
Let joy be unconhned."
~ x*
The novelty does not consist In the
street fete, for there are similar GUS
toms OF street dancing in many other
and other cities Of France after the
armistice-es well as before the war
though it was suspended during
hostilities.
In Mexico and other Latin countries
of Central and South America there
are gallant parades in the parks and
plazas 1t is the custom for the
SenorS IN naradk around n nirc1a ~,
one direction, the senoritas parading
around concentric circle in the OPP
posite direction, thus passing the
senors continuously. while the duen-
mas sit in a third, concentric circle,
watching the sly. fiirtatious glances
passing. like little flashes of light
ming, between the two inner circles.
Perhaps tEat mild Irritation would
not seem very exciting. to some "seno-
ritas and senors" of Washington, for
no dancing comes out of 1t, nor would
playing the bear" be accepted as a
furious courtship. but when in Rome
or in Mexico-one does according
to the customs of the country. Per-
haps the Washingtonian folk dance
may really start something American,
il properly guarded by chaperons
and police. until the excitement Of
novelty is superseded by the crys-
tallization of custom.
The novelty Of the proposed street
frolic In Washington will consist in
the nation wide participation.
The probabilities are that most of
the merrymakers here will be Shrin-
ers who will need no ''chaperons"
The Poet. Southweil, says:
"Of mirth to make a trade would
be a crime.
But tired sprites for mirth must
have a time"
There is movement on foot TO
revive interest in genuine celebration
of Fourth of July as a national day
rather than a sport holiday. This
is headed by Nathaniel Phillips, pres
fdent OF the League OF Foreign Born
Citizens. Mr. Phillips believes that
too much stress has been laid on
America as a synonym for opportu-
nifty. and not for obligation in pro-
portion to the opportunity.
He urges that every city should
plan Court Of Honor. a pageant and
patriotic Grafton. Both the pag-
cant and the speech should emphasize
the history and ideals of America
avoiding controversial partisan poll
tics. He suggests that the local
naturalized citizens should be listed.
and the names given to Boy Scouts
personal invitation to attend the eX-
ercises. Each group of foreign born
should be given place on the pro-
gram. to sing their national hymn
Of the old country. and much singing
or American patriotic songs should be