The Washington times., 1923-05-12
SHRINE, LIGHTS
T0BE TESTED
TONIGHT
System Costing $4,000 to
Be Most Elaborate Ever
Seen in America.

The illumination of Pennsylvania
avenue during the Shrine session
next month will be one of the most
elaborate outdoor spectacles ever
seen in America. it was announceu
today by the decorations committee
More than $4,000 is being expend-
ed on this feature of the decora-
lions alone and ST. 900 electric light
bulbs will be. used.
Plans for the illumination were
drawn IN bv the Westinghouse
Lamp Company and cover the coII'
plete lighting system. The lighting
system starts at Peace Monument
and follows Pennsylvania avenue
to the Treasury, a distance OF one
mile. From Fifteenth to Seven
teenth streets comprise the Garden
of Allah, the center OF all decorative
effort. The section of the avenue
from Seventeenth street to wash
ington circle will follow the scheme
on the lower avenue
Road to Mecca.
The lighting of the Road to
Mecca, from Peace Monument to
the Garden OF Allah, comprises five
major rsplit necklace" arches and
fifty-nine minor arches, spaced at
a distance of 100 feet. The effect,
in completion, will, be that of "a
ceiling of light, with the major
festoons forming draped curtains
Of brilliant light at Intervals
The predominant colors in the
lighting will be yellow, red, green
and white. In the major designs
the top line of lights will be green
mazda lamps, the center field
yellow lamps. and the bottom red
lamps. The side ornaments will be
composed of red lamps. The sun
tburst in the center will combine
the Shrine colors, red, green and
yellow. The lamps are all West
tnghouse spray -colored lamps, a
new type selected by the committee
for the first general use locally. .
Searchlight Battery.
The plans for the Garden Allah
are still in formation. The lighting
here will be on the parallel plan
and at least 5000 bulbs will be
used, harmonizing with the re-
mainder of the plan. A large bat.
terry of searchlights will probably
be used in addition to this scheme
50 that every foot of the space may
be thrown into brilliant light.
The first test lighting of any of
the system was made yesterday aft
ernoon, when the portion between
Fourteenth land Fifteenth streets
was lighted for a few minutes.
~,
ing of other portions of the sys.
tenn. The first general test is to
take place at g o'clock tonight,
when il is planned to illuminate
the entire length. for a few min!
utes. This test was to have. been
neld Wednesday night, but was
postponed to- permit repair of
storm damage.
For the first time in the history
OF the Postoffice Department the
cafeteria maintained at the Post.
office Department for employees
VIII be thrown open. to the public
during the Shrine convention. 1t
10 estimated that five thousand can
be fed here daily.
The cafeteria will he anon
throughout the day to the public
except between the hours of II to
government at cost to those patron
tzlng the cafeteria.
During the noon hour the cafe
teria will be open only to employees
OF the Department.
Wild Arabs will descend upon
Washington 1000 strong from
Medinah Temple, Chicago, during
the coming session, according to
"oTo received here today.
Worlds Biggest Shrine.
Medinah is the largest Shrine
temple In the world with a mem
oershlp OF more than 21.OOO. Last
1ear the chicago delegation to San
rtaHcIsco tliied five special trains
OF ten sleeping cars each. This
year Medinah will increase ifs vie.
Sltlng forces to figures never before
contemplated
Ihustflous Potentate James Todd
mas taken personal command. and
VIII bring brass band of 200
pieces, an Oriental Band of 150l
pieces, a battalion of five nanics
ana zoo chanters. The patrols will
ne under command of Major Frank
y; houndy, past imperial potentate
with Headquarters delegation IN
yer Ihomas J. Houston, imperial in.
VIII be under
command of Will II. Wade wbo
Ied the vast host in California last
year. ''" last
Medinah is making great nrer.
ration to entertain the nobility nass
ing through Chicago from the. west
The temple will serve three meals
day. and will have a fleet of Io0
automobiles to meet all trains. and
escort the parties through the citv
special theater parties have been
arranged
40 Drum Majors.
a massed unit of 10 drum ma.
Jors may be one of the features
whlch VIII dazzle the throngs who
wtness the great parades. Harry
hlmbaiI. chairman of the hands
ana concerts committee. wants IN
Mdnap each drum major as he
reaches the end OF the parade route
ana hustle him by automobile IN
me tail end of the parade wbero
ne VIII march with his fellows nacb
one OF the 10 being the nersonai
representative on earth. as ,,,ost
urum majors are supposed IN 10
OF the Most High, the King ~ &c
Day of Judgment. ~ ''e
incidentally, Ross Andrews do
cares, this is one of tho roa
Tor the use of frosted bulhs ~ ~
avenue lighting system-hc dnos,.'.
want to take any chance NJ dro,',.
ing out the suneTior Iii. avn.