Evening star., 1926-10-31
.HOBCOBL|NS STRUT
GA|LY IN CAPITAL
Halloween Merrymakers Up
to Minute in Costumes.
Little Disorder Noted.

Washington, seat Of governmental
dignity, forgot itself for the nonce last
night and suffered its annual hilarity
relapse at the hands of weird army
of spooks, goblins and other envoys
of Halloween.
The same city which but lately bow
ed In staid Difference to the majesty
of a fiesh-and blood queen, unbent
itself with contrasting informality To
pay homage to another reigning po
tentate. his royal nibs King karnival
of Mardi Gras.
The sovereign of JOY held sway from
early afternoon until early dawn to-
day, spreading his message of cheer
, to the sound of trumpetS. ratchets.
jazz bands and automobile horns. and
amid continuous showers of confetti
and paper streamers.
Few Instances of ROwdyism.
Inside and out--from night club.
hotel and private nome to downtown
thoroughfares-the spirit of revelry
ruled, and those imbued with this
spirit needed not the mouthfuls of con.
fetti, the tickled chins, the chidng of
strangers that marked the occasion.
Few instances of undue liberties or
disorder came to the attention of the
alert. but sympathetic policemen, who
patrolled the city.
Less than 80 arrests for disorderiy
conduct had been made at midnight.
and from precincts all through the
city came the same report-that the
celebration was the most orderly OH
record.
The outstanding casualty attributed
to the evenings celebration was the
virtual destruction ny fire of an un-
occupied frame house at 266 Cedar
avenue, Takoma Park, Md Firemer of
the town expressed the opinion that
the building was fired. perhaps unin-
| tentionally, by Halloween "cele-
brants." About $4,000 damage was
| done the residence, which is owned by
| e. A. Robey.
Seven False Fire Alarms.
Seven false alarms of fire we're
| turned in during the evening by prac.
| tical JokeSterS with an abnormal sense
of humor. Police are attempting to
| trace the calls. with a view to arrest
| ing the perpetrators. A fine of $40
Is provided by law for such offenders.
The big feature of the observance.
of course. was the annual pageant of
Fantastic sprites. ghosts. grotesque
| characters, clowns and other fanciful
personages on Pennsylvania avenue
and other prominent streets.
| Thousands of spectators and par
ticipants lined the sidewalks and thou
sands of automobiles. jammed the
streets.
| The air was heavy with gayety,
shrieks, shredded paper, laughter and
gasoline fumes, as the merrymakers
strutted their stuff before a chucllling
audience.
Queen Is Represented.
| The costumes ranged from those
depicting ancient superstitions and
| l'erSonageS to more modern get-ups
representing Queen Marie, Uncle Sam,
Charlie Chaplin and other we'll known
persons. Her majesty could be dis
| tinguiShed easily by her crown OF
jewels and her Rumanian attire.
/ AS is ever the case, large numbers
of men essayed to dress as members
of the opposite sex and vice versa.
Some of these characterizations were
quite deceiving, and 1t sometimes re-
| quired a second look at the broad
shoulders or muscular limbs of a
"fapper" to settle the question.
The procession moved slowly in a
great triangular course in the down
| town section, following Pennsylvania
avenue, F street and Ninth street.
| Upper Fourteenth street and parts of
Connecticut avenue also were
| thronged with celebrants.
Hotels Draw ThrOngs.
Every night club had it's special
| program of entertainment, and nearly
every hotel ballroom was filled with
maSQueraderS. At the Mayfiower
members of the Kiwanis Club made
! merry. The Willard was stormed by
Kallipolis Grotto dancers. and Wood
| men of the World. Legionnaires
| cavorted at the Raleigh. The Palais
| Royal Benefit Club was at the Wash
ington. The opening of the Carlton
| Club of the new Carlton Hotel on
| Sixteenth street drew a crowd of joy
| seekers from official society. Other
| hotels entertained various organiza
| tions, and countless parties of At
| private character were staged through
| out the city and its environs.
1t was a gala evening from every
| viewpoint. for the National Capital
had purposely lifted the lid off the
mystic cauldron to let joy bubble over
Observation-Disclosures for one night, at
least