The Washington times., 1923-05-26

feature of the great Shrine con-
Vent1on converting here June 5.
For the first time in the history
or the world a great national dance,
participated in by residents in all
sections of the country, stepping to
the rhythmic strains of the same
band, will have been realized. Pre-
parations for the great national
dance have been completed by Edgar
G. Snyder, United States Marshal,
District of Columbia. who Is in
sense the first official national
dance master to appear on the pages
OF American history.
Music To Be BrOadcastetI.
1t was the fertile brain Of the
genial United States Marshal Of the
District of Columbia which con-
ceived the idea of converting what
otherwise would have been "a strict
ly local feature Of the Shrine con.
vention into. something akin to a
national testimonial to the unity of
the States-7terpsichorcally express
ed. Through the perfecting IF a
system Of amplifiers carrying the
strains of music of the band play
ing for the dance Of States the
length Of Pennsylvania avenue and
transmitting it to the Arlington
radio station, where it will be
broadcasted, it will be picked up
by the receiving stations OF Shrine
temples in all sections of the coun.
try as well as by hundreds of thous-
ands of private stations scattered
through the intermediate districts.
There is deep sentiment under
lying the conception of inducing
the whole Nation to join IN a great
national dance having it's inception
in the National Capital" said Mar
shall Snyder today
1T is the first time anything Of
the kind has ever been attempted.
1t expresses in a new and novel
way the idea of national union. 1
feel assured it will prove a huge
success. Really. there is no rea-
son, why at stated periods, with
radios aid national dancing should
not become a feature OF our gen
eral entertainment, the music be-
ing furnished by a band in the
National Capital"
Required. Much Revision.
Plans for the Dance of States,
which promises to be one of the
picturesque features of the conven-
ton, have undergone several re-
visions since first outlined. Orig
inally it was proposed to organize
the dance with the thirteen original
States occupying the honor ground
in the Garden Of Allah. Later it
was found advisable to substitute
a plan turning the garden over to
the three States having the largest
State societies at the Capital. These
proved to be Alabama, Ohio and
California.
The original thirteen States will
occupy the area between the Treas
ury Building and Twelfth street, to
be followed up Pennsylvania avenue
by the other States in alphabetical
order, to Third street.
Official programs giving the dance
numbers will be issued early in the
week. It is understood all Of the
popular dances will be represented.
Thousands of bushels Of corn
meal will be used in converting tho
asphalt surface of the avenue into
an ideal dancing floor. Previous
to the dance all litter will be re-
moved from the avenue.
100000 Couples.
While those charged with the
supervision Of the Dance Of States
refuse to estimate the proba BILE
number of dancers who will partici-
pate in the event, it is conceded by
them that 100000 couples is a con-
sentative estimate. If this be
realized it will break, in a national
sense, all dance attendance records.
Masked persons will not be per-
mitted to engage in the dances. At
first it was proposed that a carni-
val feature Of this kind be permit
ted. Those in charge of the pro-
gram, however, declared that, being
on open air event, it would be i'm.
possible to supervise 1t as could be
done were it held within an en-.
closure and the idea was abandoned.
That fancy dancing will be seen
along The Avenue is certain. To
what extent this will be carried has
not been announced.