Evening star., 1927-03-20
CHERRY BLOSSOM
PAGEANT APRIL 9
Children to Depict Gift OF
Japan to America at
Hains Point.

Ire Chefry DloSSoHl I'a6e"H''
II is hoped will become Washington
traditional welcome to Spring ana the
miracle of the new life it brings each
wear. will be inaugurated on the play
ground at Hams Point on Apth -
Just three weeks hence. .,o,
1t has been expected thar the Ies.lN t,i /,
would fall later. more probably Aprli
10 hnt with the Japanese cherry trees
along the Speedway, when each
Spring ioin the golden forsythia IN
heralding the dawn of the season, al
ready in full bloom. the carrier uale
was selected.
will Honor Ambassador.
This erst pageant is to be in honor
If the Amba assador of Japan, 1suneo
NIatsudaira. whose country presehleu
the trees Of the United states as
token of friendship. and Mrs. WHiiaili
Howard Taft, whose husband was d.
that time the President. MRS. latt
did much to make the welcome sli'
from Japan possible. o,,+
More than 500 children VIII preselil
the various episodes OF the paseant'
They will wear the picturesque natiNe
coe,urna Of Japan. TO make sure tnat
tbase costumes are correct in every
detail. the Japanese embassy mas CON
sented to appoint a special attacne 10
a0vise with those in charge OF lne
nageant on this part of H.
The naceant will be "A series OF
pantomimes expressing the stor! W
the gift of the beautiful llttle trees
from the Emperor OF Japan 10 .ie
people of the United states anu tlls
iov they brought with them wrappe,u
IN in their delicate petals. The VaTl-
oh
native gardens. their departure 1or
tnoerica their reception ana the au
uiration of the people here for them.
viii Represent Other Nations.
The finale will show America shar-
ino with all the other nations or the
world the beauty of Japans GIT III
this the children of the embassies ana
legations represented in washington
viii march in a gay procession:
dressed in the native costumes OF
,beir own countries. AS they reach
the grove of trees they will sing and
dance, and the pageant Will close
with all present joining in singing
"Auld Lang Syne."
a number of persons have been
added TO tie committees in charge.
Miss Minnie c. Hawke has been added
TO the central committee. The mem
bers of the board of directors OF the
National Memorial Foundation who
have been named to special commit
tees include the following:
Mrs. Frank Winston Coe, chairman
of the invitations committee: Mrs.
Tanner, patronesses committee; Mrs
Charles NICK. SaltZman, music COM
mittee: Mrs Grace Graves Herring,
costumes committee: Mrs. Henry Z.
Barnes, arrangements committee: Mrs
Albert n. Baggs, cooperation OF
schools: Mrs. Andrew Hero. Jr., nag
decorations; Mrs. Alfred A. Maybach,
stage properties, and Miss Mary Don
nelly, transportation.
Boy Scouts to Aid.
Boy Scouts of Washington will have
charge of the children, to see that no
harm befalls them in the crowds that
are expected to attend.
Alice Rogers Hager, author of the
pageant, in discussing plans for the
event last night, said:
why do we want a cherry blossom
pageant for Washington? To answer
that is to attempt to set down IN
cold black and white the flame OF
beauty that is with us for so breath
taking and so brief a period each
year.
Life has, unfortunately, too few
of these lapses into perfection, ana
with our hours ffHi to overfiowing
with the routine of every day, most
of us are apt to forget that the most
beautiful CITY in America is all
around us.
but Spring and cherry blossom
time touches US, young and old alike,
and even though the lmmortal urge
lasts but a few short hours, we are
all impelled to seek the source OF ner
burgeoning. 1t is, after all, a desire
that is as old as time-this need Tor
beauty and faith. Throughout the
world, in all lands, man asks Tor the
resurrection-for this eternai re-
awakening Of life out of the death
NAV vary. skins wear different hues,
hut a blossoming flower is as truly
miracle in our own land as under
lacouered pagoda in the East.
Can Have Beauty for Asking.
And we in Washington can have
this lovely miracle for the asking
not one flower, but q veritapie surge
of towering trees, and with them the
added miracle of wind on water and
of Southern skies to lend blue canvas
for the picture. =
why do we want a pageant and
particularly children's pageant!
Because we have thus at our door TINS
DriceleSs invitation TO community
festival for joy in this heritage. For
the children, because children ana
Spring belong together. Because any
child who dances or mines the story
Of the cherries under their hoWering
branches will carry away with him
memory that will be his always. And
because Washington has the right to
tell the world Of her beauty in every
possible way.
And again. the trees have brought
with them from Japan far more even
than their delicate tracery of bloom.
Behind them are long generations of
folk lore and legend, touching very
nearly the heart of the Nation that
made the gift. Cherry blossoms are
more than flowers TO the japanese
they are the chosen symbol OF the
highest spiritual expression Of Japa-
nese life.
Natural to Turn to Imagery.
EFT seems natural that, in honor
ing both g1ver and gift, we should
turn 10 the customs and imagery
that surrounded the trees in Japan.
Anyone who has been so fortunate as
to see the "Sakura -no-mi" or cherry
viewing. in the Island Kingdom,
knows how truly happy combina-
tion this can be
I'VE cannot hope this year--So
short is the time for preparation-to
do more than open door into this
garden that lies waiting. Other cities
have their flower pageants and carni-
walls. each noted for some special
beauty and the imagination runs riot
with the possibilities in store for our
own city in future years. Certainly
nowhere is there a more glamorous
"a more exquisite and fragile lowell
ness nor any better worth ensnar1ng
than in our own enchanted ring Of