Evening star., 1928-05-03
APPLE BLOSSOM
FESTIVAL BEGINS
10000 Jam Streets of Win
chester to Pay Homage to
Wilderness of Flowers.
h stan Correspondent OF The star.

rama of pink-tinted blossoms the Shen-
sndoah Valley today was host To count
less thousands Of pilgrims lured by the
beauties OF its annual apple blossom fes-
tivsl.
Led by Virginis'S famous Byrd family,
nearly everybody who is anybody in this
Of throngs Of visitors from the District
OF Columbia, Maryland and West Vir-
ginia, took part III the opening today
OF VirginiaS own Msrdi GraS
The States beautiful young woman
hood wed with the raye blossoms con-
9ured by the artistry Of Sprngtlme III
seeking favor OF the admiring multitude
as the two-day program of pageantry,
military fanfare. ballroom gayety, fire.
works and other festivities began this
morning.
Tom, Dick and Harry.
The Tom-Dick- k-and- Harry .o-l3ina-
ton of ByroS was 10 be brok only by
the absence OF Dick. the H. ..1s I~lu-
mander Of polar and transatlan,.s fame
who sent his regrets st the t.3Senth
hour out Of respect 10 the memory OF
his comrade. the late Floyd Bennett,
Emulating his popular brother. Gov.
Harry Byro dropped out of the bright
blue skies as the festival opened. having
journeyed here from Richmond this
morning aboard an Army blimp Gov
Byrd will substitute for Comdr Byrd
al the picturesque coronation cerenlo-
nieS late this afternoon, when he will
place on the fair head OF Miss Mary
Wise BoXley Of Roanoke the coveted
crown OF Queen Shenandoah V"
The royal rites will be attended with
great pomp and Splendor and will be
witnessed by some 10000 persons as
sembled IN the stadium of Handley
High School. The proper military touch
viii be furnished by the presence of
the United States Navy Band from
Washington and of many cadet bat
tsli0ns from various parts of the State
Supporting the bluShing queen will
Be q veritable court Of puichritude.
made up of IS princeSses from counties
and cities of the State and from
surrounding jurisdictions. Prominent
among these are princess Adair Chill
dress of the District of Columbia and
Princess Margaret Rees of Arlington
County, Va,
Queens Reception Tonight.
The charming princesses will be the
guests of honor at a formal reception
BY the queen tonight, following which
they viii grace the dance floor at the
FIRST Of the apple blossom balls
The fete opened officially at 10 o'clock
this morning with spectacular parade
Of the blossoms" through the main
streets OF this crowded city. Favored
by warm sun, IN striking contrast
20 the blizzard conditions prevailing
only few days ago. 5000 school chill
Cren from Virginia. West Virginia and
Maryland marched through festooned
humanity packed streets. They we're
dressed II resplen0ent gossamer cos
TUNES representing the flowers Of apple
blossom time along the Shenandoah.
Pink white and green were the pre-
dominating colorS.
The Navy Band, Lieut. Charles Ben
ter conducting, led the procession
More than a score Of 6elser military
or institutional bands p'e.e an the line
Of march. OficiaIs of the festival
and OF the city were at the head of
the parade. The children were divided
into nine divisions and each school
group carried attractive signs or BAN
ners done in school coiors.
Gov. Byrd Lands.
Gov. Byrd arrived shortly after the
parade. AS the big blimp hoated grace
fully 20 the fair grounds guns doomed
their salute and thousands of voices
cneered the homecoming OF Winches-
ter's first citizen.
The parade disbanded al the Handley
School IN south Winchester, where was
staged, just before noon, colored pa
seani Of Springtime. More than 900
students Of the school essayed the roles
Of messengers Of Spring" and de-
picted other episodes associated with the
Development Of the apple industry IN
the Shenandoah and Cumberland VAL
leys
The allegorical progressive tableaux
showed first the coming Of the Quakers
TO the Shenandoah Valley in $780, re-
enacted the visit OF George Washing
ton and q. w. Fairfax, young surveyors,
IN l74S. and presented scenes Of 1881.
featuring the lives Of three revolu-
fioRary heroes. Gen. John Smith Gen.
Daniel Morgan and Col. James Wood,
1T. Symbolic dances were tnterspersed
during the gorgeous program.
Early this afternoon there was q band
contest al the stadium, followed By a
concert by the Navy Band.
Growing Of Queen.
The coronation this afternoon was TO
be one OF the outstanding events Of the
two days Miss Boxley, dressed IN
cueenly robes, viii descend an esplanade
3n the stadium 70 a royal dsiS, where.
with bowed head, she will receive from
Gov. Byrd the scintiilating crown Of
flowers and iewels, which will proclaim
her relgning monarch Of the festival
She viii be preceded by heralds.
ladies Of the court and the princesses.
and the whole retinue VIII pass beneath
en srchway Of steel saberS, held by
cacets 0! the Gtaunton Military Acad-
envy Music viii be furnished by the
Nary Band and the HafriSonburg State
Normal Glee Club.
A faculty play. Nothing But the
Truth" I" viii be staged in the Hsndley
Auditorium just before the royal re-
ception tonight.
This historical city. It's population un-
believably multiplied almost overnight,
tocay Tsyaled New Orleans at Madi Grax
time. Hotels, their rooms taken months
ego, were gtOrrned last night and today
BY distracted families Ia search 0f ac-
coinn1oostlons.
Street fskifs piled their trades and
exercised their iusty lungs from every
Sidewalk. n0ok and corner. Lines Of
waiting customers formed al leading
restaurants Sidewalks were 1ammed
WIN cross section u virginia's citizen-
~, ranging from bronze-faced farmers
and nsO0ptaineers IN country clothing 10
oo~eos, college boys, public officials and
venerable survivors Of tile War Between
tlae STATES
All were lmbaed with the gala spirit
of the occasion, intent On making the
most " q season gnicn comes but once
& year ~ this peaceful, industrious val
ley of orchards faFmiande and meadows
Commissioner Proctor L. Dougherly
lest Washington shortly after ! O'Clock
this morning for Winchester, Va, where
Ef Will represent the District al the
shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
IT. plans ~ return tonight
IN ATTEMn HnnlIFMTInM