Evening star., 1928-04-08
Everybody's City.

The Easter host of school children
from the North the South. the East and
Tire West is taking Washington by storm.
The public buildings, the parks, the
streets of the Capital are full of them
gay youngsters dressed in their bright
est and their finest. hsral6s of Spring
SIS dependably accurate as the flowers
that bloom in the Spring, ira Ia, or
the birds that chirp in the glade! From
far and near they have come at
season when Washington is a charm
ingly radiant hostess. looking her best
70 receive them. They viii carry away
some pictures that can never fade.
Here in Washington the significance
Of this annual pilgrimage is apt to be
lost because its yearly repetition makes
II something to be taken for granted,
But a custom which really had It's
inception some thirty years ago in the
personally conducted" tours offered by
the railroads has grown in importance,
especially since the war. until Easter
time in washington finds the hotels
entertaining capacity crowds, their
guests registered in groups from as far
North as Portland. Me. and Toronto,
Canada. and from as far West as
Chicago. This year has brought
greater number of Spring visitors than
ever before. according to some sources
OF information. and the number is ex-
pected to grow with each succeeding
year. A large proportion Of them are
young men and women from high
school and college who come in groups
schaperoned by teachers. Combined
with the lark OF an excursion. there is
the educational value Of a trip to the
Nations Capital that has become widely
recognized
The Easter holidays. greater inter-
est in the Capital City. better facilities
for travel and hotel accommodation.
and the cherry blossoms have all been
factors contributing TO the rush Of
visitors, which starts about the first Of
April, reaches its peak during Easter
week and subsidies toward the end of
NAY. The blooming Of the cherry trees
has almost attained the Importance of
national festival for the sight of the
Tidal Basin, with its border of pale
pink, has been advertised from one end
OF the Nation to the other. Thousands
who intend to isit Washington choose
this time Of year to come, for they
"want to see the cherry trees"
This Spring rush Of visitors has an
Importance Of deeper and more lasting
significance to Washington than the
mere economic benefit which some
agencies may derive by reason Of the
crowds. Especially is this so Of the
young men and women who are coming
-here from school and college. This
significance lies in the fact that the
American Capital is coming into its
-0En as a Mecca for Americans. Those
piao, az American citizens, own the
Federal City are coming 70 look over
their property Those in whose hands
rests the Capitals future are familiariz-
ing themselves with the Capital of
today. Washingtonians would do well
TO retain and 10 emphasize this regard
Of their visitors as their landlords. or
more correctly as joint owners. Of the
Capital City The owners Of the Capital
who live here, by accident or by choice.
compose an Infinitely small minority Of
the millions who share In this owner
ship. II Is their city. and their alb
sentee ownership must be counted as
the great element in its growth and
upbuilding Welcome our Easter visitors.
sbui welcome them as natives Of the
s.honne town" OF al America