Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-24
FROST N|PS BUDS
AND SNOW CH|LLS
WINCHESTER FETE
But Cold Blasts Fail to Check
Enthusiasm of Thousands
of Visitors.
FURS OF PARADERS
HIDE GAY UNIFORMS
First Days Celebration Goes Ahead
According to Schedule, With
Colorful Indoor Affairs.
BY ARMISTED w. GILLIAN,
star Correspondent Of The Star.

| chester's festival of the Flowers of the
Apple, opening today, was a pageant
dulled as furs, to protect the partici-
pants from the biting blasts of snow
and frost-laden wind. covered the frills
and furbelows of other festival occa-
sions.
The apple blossoms were out in all
their glory, dropping their petals to
mingle with the light-falling snow that
a feeble sun fought valiantly and finally
conquered Just before the big opening
event, the parade of 10000 school chill
dren through the principal streets of the
town.
Forewarned by the weather man that
| the opening of the Apple Blossom cele-
| bration would be accompanied by chill
blasts, parents sent their children to
| march In the parade in the accustomed
white duck, but provided them also with
| warm overcoats that somewhat spoiled
the uniform effect planned by the fes-
tival management.
Indoor Features Gay.
The first days celebration indoors,
however, went on with renewed gayety,
hosts and hostesses of the principal
characters in the festival expanding
their lists to take in celebrates that at
the last moment found they could not
stay away. Only two governors were
on hand for the occasion, Gov. John
Garland Pollard of Virginia and Gov
L. G. Hartman of Georgia. Upon the
shoulders of Gov. Hardman fell the role
of master of ceremonies at this after
Moons pageantry preceding the corona
ton of Miss Suzanne Pollard as Queen
Of the Shenandoah.
Gov Gardner of North Carolina and
Gov. Conley of West Virginia, who pre-
viously had announced their intention
of attending, found late yesterday that
they would not be able to leave the af-
fairs of their States for the celebration.
Frost Nips Buds.
Winchester awoke this morning, of
all mornings in Winchester's history,
to find its apple blossoms all bedecked
by the hand of Jack Frost, but the
enthusiasm of the town itself for the
festive celebration of the poisoning
Of its favorite fruit was undampened
by light fall of snow that last night
preceded the celebration of the flower
ing of King Apple.
All night long every road leading
into the blossom bedecked Valley of the
Shenandoah was damned with visitors
to the famed festival, and all night
long the housing committee OF the
festival association worked to get the
visitors into warm and comfortable
quarters as the unreasonable and chill
breeZes blow down the Valley. But
the weather deferred none. BY train,
by airplane, by every road in the Valley
f1ocked the thousands-even by boat
they came, two intrepid canoeistS, out
for the unusual, padding up Opequon
Creek-while the hotels, their Railways
filled with cots while the reservations
of those who thought before they came
remained open, sent their applicants to
cots in Railways of accommodations
for tourists" and improvised boarding
famed for being the home Of the Byrds
of Virginia, Harry, of gubernatorial
fame and Richard Evelyn OF North and
South Pole fame.
Work on Details.
All night last night the officials Of
the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Fes-
tival Association labored with the final
details Of celebration. But by bedtime
every princess was in her appointed
place, every attendant properly accom-
modated and every little detail of the
festival taken care of. The hawkers
about the streets were arranging their
accustomed wares, obliyious to the
frosty bitterness of the air. and the
carpenters were putting the last nails
and decorations upon the hot dog and
soft drink stands along the streets upon
which the parade of the school children
of Virginia, Maryland and West Vir-
ginia passed this morning.
Bright and early all Winchester was
out in CAV colors. For the townsmen
it was a day of trade, and they were
at their stands in time to take care
of it. For the visitors it was day
of rejoicing, and they also were out
bright and early to take the places OF
those who, having celebrated the COM
ing of the festival late into the eve
ming before, had retired.
Ardent Spirits Seized.
Bad news confronted those more
hilarious celebrators of the coming into
blossom of the apple tree. Winchester
and State police announced early last
evening that they had seized total
of 100 gallons of whisky and APPLE
lack intended for the festival visitors.
Anticipating conveyance upon VIM
chester by bootleggers and liquor run
ners, the city and State police were
stationed at every entrance into the
little town, and when known or sus-
pected cars entered they were stopped
and searched.
Susanna Pollard, daughter Of the
Governor of Virginia and Queen OF TINS
years Apple Blossom Festival, kept In
seclusion this morning. Everywhere
about town, however, were seen the
rushing cars of her attendants as they
participated in the gayety OF Winches-
ter's biggest two days OF the year. she
was to make her first public appearance
this afternoon at the coronation, wnen
Gov Hardman of Georgia was to place
upon her head the symbol OF the nopil-
ity of the lowly apple. The coronation
was to take place this afternoon at
o'clock, following the trail o. the pink
petals" in the pageantry that preceoeo
the big event of the first days rejoicing
of the Towering OF the apple trees.
Parade of Blossoms.
A great deal went before the corona
ton. School children in gay attire
hurried and scurried about town to take
| their appointed places in the Parade
| of the Blossoms" From Virginia, Mary
land and West Virginia they came,
school children to take part in the cele-
bration, and, despite the frigid weather,
| they put up bold front and marched
their gayest.
Before the headquarters of the queen.
but not for the sight Of her highness,
they marched for the benefit~of Gov.
r.