Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-06
Visiting Throng Disappointed,
but See Gay Parade.
Honor Queen.
THOUSANDS LINE STREETS
TO WATCH FINAL EVENTS
Queen Shenandoah Takes Royal
Oath of Apple Kingdom-Byrd
Leads Salute.
BY CHARLES b. DEGGES,
staHDCorrespondeat of The Star

Shenandoah VIII as she bowed and
smiled for the thousands that lined the
streets Of the apple capital of Virginia
In the grand feature parade closing the
apple blossom" festival today, could
not quite dispel the disappointment at
! the failure of the orchards themselves
! to burst into the glory that was prom
ised for them.
Aided and abetted by an unkind sun,
the stubborn buds throughout the val
ley region refused to burst into full
bloom before the festival closed.
The gay procession Of the feature
parade began moving through jammed
streets early this afternoon bound for
the fair grounds, where Miss Patricia
Morton OF Winchester. England, as
! Queen Shenandoah VIII, will review
the marchers. AS the long-awaited
parade got into motion, additional
thousands of visitors who arrived over
every road soon after daylight this
morning. augmented those here since
yesterday to form a packed human
canyon in the narrow streets that are
| the line of march.
Marines Head Parade.
Escorted by the goth Marines and
the Goth Marine Band of Washington,
the parade was headed by Queen
shenandoah Wis gorgeous float, which
was virtually transient throne. I'M
mediately behind her royal highness
came the two floats which bore the
| bevy of royal beauty that is the staff
OF apple blossom festival princesSes.
The National Conifo1Jc
strength in the parade was chiefly in
the second division. which included three
! musical organizations. They were the
Overseas Band and Bugle Corps of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars; the Victory
Post. No. 4, Drum and Bugle Corps of
the American Legion, and the Vincent
! B. Costello Post Drum and Bugle Corps
of the American Legion. Adding to the
representation from Washington's
County Post, No. 139, American Legion
OF Arlington.
The High School Cadet. Corps Of
Alexandria had its place with other
Virginia student military organizations
in the fourth division, where marched
also the Arlington County Cadet Band
Gnd Drum Battalion.
Besides military entries. however, the
parade this afternoon was made gor-
E 8
Claborately decorated floats of various
commercial organizations. Novelties
were introduced by pantomime possum
hunts and f1ddlers of the Virginia
mountains.
Cameras Not Permitted.
+ This final day Of the eighth annual
apple blossom festival followed the
coronation of Miss Morton as Queen
Shenandoah VIII yesterday In the
Handley School Stadium. State police
had been instructed to permit no photo
graphs to be made of the ceremonies
or the pageant which followed.
The actual coronation ceremony was
adapted from the ancient Winchester,
England, ceremonial by Dr. S. L. Flick
niger. Following a procession of the
participants the queen was recognized
by her subjects. assembled in the sta
dium, who gave vent to a reverberating
shout of AL hail the queen"
The bishop, role enacted by Dr.
Flickinger, then asked the queen
If she were ready to take the oath of
her royalty, and receiving the affirma-
tive reply, he secured from her her
pledge Ito preserve true peace under
her auspices and TO command equity
and mercy in all judgments" ReceiY-
ing then the mantle of royalty. Queen
Shenandoah VIII presented to the Dean
of Winchester a golden apple, which,
in her coronation, she was asked to
look upon and remember to pray for
Gods blessing upon all our labors that
we may gather in the harvest of apples
and ever rejoice in His goodness"
The Dean of Winchester then
launched the final gesture of the coro-
nation by handing to Rear Admiral
Richard E. Byrd the crown of jewels
and apple blossoms.
Byrd SaIutes Queen.
The white-uniformed rear admiral
gently placed the crown upon the head
OF the new queen. EScorting her royal
highnesS to her throne at the top of
the stone steps which cascade down into
the stadium from the Handley School,
Admiral Byrd gave the little Briton
gallant salute while the crowd set up
its cry of: Long live the queen"
Returning then to the foot of the
steps, Queen Shenandoah VIII and her
admiral escort, took seats in a blazing
sun, flanked by the yellow owned prin-
cesses, to witness the pageant of the
fruit of the gods"
The pageant was repeated in the
stadium this morning. Development of
the apple was traced from the planting
If seeds, on through the growth of green
leaves, blossoms and finally to its full
glory of ripe fruit.
Costumed children who danced inter-
pretive steps before the vast assemblage
portrayed this drama of nature, while a
reader voiced verbal explanations from
loud-speaking system erected in the
stadium.
The festival will be concluded with
the formal Queens ball at the Shenan-
doah Valley Academy tonight Mean
while apple blossom balls are scheduled
at the various hotels here and in nearby
Shenandoah Valley clubs and hostelries.
Miss Morton, the reigning Queen
Shenandoah VIII, will leave Winchester
tomorrow for Washington. After a
brief stay there she will go to Phila-
delphia, where she will remain over
Saturday and Sunday. She will con-
tinue on to New York late Sunday to
be the guest at the Lexington Hotel of
Mrs. F. s. Waterman, wife of the foun-
tain pen manufacturer.
Capital Princess Thrilled.
Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd in his
glistening white tropical uniform at
yesterdays coronation Of the queen Of
fered the greatest thrill of the first
day of the apple blossom festival for |
Princess Washington who, more pro- |
saically, is Miss Rosalie Brown, Western |
High School student Of the National
al