Evening star., 1924-08-30
CHEERING THRONG
ACCLA|MS WALES
REACHING CAPITAL
Crowd Lines Route From
Union Station to White
House for Greeting.
WELCOMED BY HUGHES
UPON ARRIVAL IN D. c.
Women and Girls Constitute Ma
jority of Eager Watchers
for Prince.

for Prince.
Greeted by throng of enthusiastic
men and women who banked Penn
sylvania avenue from the Capitol to
the White House in a solid mass and
Jammed the concoLrse ~ Union Sta
ton, Edward Albert, Prt..>. of Wales,
and perhaps the most p71.lar young
man in the world, came 20 Washing
ton today to have luncheon with the
PRESIDENT and Mrs. Coolidge.
Never before, perhaps, has SO dis
tinsuished a visitor come to Washing
ton in a less transformations manner,
ana Yet peen taken so eagerly to the
hearts Of the city's people. The progress
OF his highness from Union Station to
the very doors of the White House
was procession of triumJi through a
lane of cheering, handke1 hief-waving
humanity.
Greeted by Hughes.
His highness reached Washington
exactly at 5 minues altar o'clock,
several minutes later than schedule
He was met by Secretary of State
Hughes and a representative of the
British Embassy as he stepped off
of the train, and immediately after
shaking the hand Of he Secretary
of State most cordiall-, hurried to the
automobiles that waited outside of
the Presidents entrance to rush him
to the White House
Ropes were stretched across the
east end of the station concourse to
hold back the several thousand per-
sons who banked themselves along
every point of vantage, stood for
nearly two hours awaiting the arrival
of the royal visitor AMI then virtual
ly milled with each other for a closer
view when he stepped into view.
From the very minute he stepped
from the train the stf tion echoed to
the cheers of the throrg
Is Plainly CARRIED.
The prince wore a suit of blue serge
with white pinstripe, black shoes and
a soft gray hat. In fact, he was so
plainly garbed that several persons
first mistook Maj. Solbert, his Amer
lean military aide while in this coun-
try. who looked immaculate in care
fully pressed white uniform, for his
royal highness.
AS the Prince of Wales stepped
through the bronze grating that sepa-
rates the concourse from the trainshed
he was greeted by burst of cheers
that made him pause for just an in
stant. Quickly regaining himself, how
ever, he raised his hat and continued
on. constantly doffing his hat to the
admiring crowd. BY his side walked
Secretary of State Hughes, also plainly
dressed in a black sack suit and Pan
anna hat.
Thousands Wave Greeting.
Thousands of persons waited out
side of the station entrance and Della
ware avenue to the Capitol grounds
was banked, too. Pennsylvania ave-
nue. direct to the gates of the White
House was crowded and thousands
waved handkerchie.s to the royal Wis
itor as his car swept past. In front
rode two motor cycle policemen and
behind four more acted as escorts.
Outside of the station the police
protection was perfect, and although
it carefully guarded his royal high
ness from any annoyance, it did not
interfere with the crowd getting a
glimpse of the Nations distinguished
visitor. Now and then. however. some
disappointed girl was heard to ex-
claim in distressed tones:
"Oh. he went by SO fast I didn't
even get chance to see him."
At least 80 per cent of the crowd
was composed of women and girls.
They were banked around the Penn
Sylvania avenue entrance of the
White House in such a solid mass
that traffic moved with difficulty. a
veritable automobile parade followed
the prince on his journey up town,
but motor cycle policemen efficiently
kept annoying motorists from mos
ing" their way into the official pro-
cession.
White House Gates Closed.
AS the cars swung through the
White House gates they were quickly
closed to keep the crowd. which was
already making a rush, from follow
ing in. The President and Mrs. Cool
idge greeted his royal highness per-
sonally. 1t was 20 minutes after l
o'clock when he entered the Executive
Mansion, and formalities were dis
penSed with.
The luncheon hour was set for 1:30
o'clock, and after his highness had
been given time to prepare for the
meal, he, the President, Mrs. Coolidge
and John Coolidge went Immediately
to the table. Out of Difference to the
wishes of the prince and the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Coolidge, who are still
in mourning for their son, Calvin, jr.,
everything was strictly informal, and
the luncheon was more of family
affair than a reception to the heir
apparent to the British throne.
Later this afternoon the members
of the cabinet and the ladies of
their families will go to the White
House to meet his highness. Here,
too, no effort will be spared 10 make
the reception strictly informal, and
soon after the guests have departed,
the prince will bid the president and
Mrs. Coolidge goodbye and return
to his train. 1t is scheduled to leave
for New York at o'clock, arriving
there at about 9 o'clock. No stops are
expected to be made en- route.
Crowds Excluded from Grounds.
So dense a crowd gathered today
on the White House lawn, hoping to
see the prince close at hand when
he crossed the threshold of the man
sion, that eventually they all were
excluded from the grounds by the
police.
President Coolidge had given in
structions that the big iron gates
along Pennsylvania avenue were to
remain open. but he had not counted
on so large a gathering as assembled
long before the princes train reach
ed Washington. When the Govern
ment departments closed at noon for
the Saturday half-holiday thousands
more, including many tittering, bob
haired clerks and many of their sis
ters who had grown gray-headed in