Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-12
THOUSANDS REvEL
At VETERANS FETE
Auditorium Packed With Hi
IariouS Throng for Armi-
stice Day Event.

Washington turned back the hands
OF its clock ID years last nigh. and
re-enacted, with all the abandonment
OF the Paris boulevards, the rampant
spirit Of that first Armistice day in
1918.
Like the recent city-wide Halloween
carnival. the successful triumph scored
by the Armistice Day Ball and Jubilee,
which packed thousands into the
Washington Auditorium for five hours
OF hilarious celebration, assured its
repetition in years to come. Today
the officers Of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, sponsor of the colorful event,
were counting beaucoup francs, ex-
changed from thousands of American
dollars, for the relief of disabled and
destitute ex-Service men and their
families. From Gen. John j. Pershing,
the commander in chief of the Ameri-
can forces during the World War, to
the humbleSt buck private, this first
Armistice day celebration of its kind
in Washington, proved a hit from be-
ginning to end.
10000 ThrOng Auditorium.
Approximately 10000 people, with
scarcely elbow room, were in the big
Auditorium by 9 o'clock. Throughout
the evening a steady stream of hui
mainly passed in and out the doors,
with a result that it was practically
impossible to estimate the actual num-
Der who joined in this care-free OBJ
servance. After the crowds began
gradually to melt, the concessions did
land-off1ce business, but during the
midst of the hilarity it was almost
impossible to spend even franc.
The appearance of Gen. Pershing,
who was given hearty ovation, started
the ball of events rolling. Gen Per-
shing, the honor guest of the evening"
was in the box of Secretary of the Navy
and Mrs. Charles Francis Adams. Con-
spicuous among the notables who at
tended by the hundreds was Washing
tons newly appointed superintendent
of police, Brig. Gen. Pelham D. Glass
ford, director general OF the jubilee, and
Representative Royal c. johnson, grand
marshal. A spectacular feature was the
arrival of Harold D. DeCoe, commander
In chief of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars, who was piloted from Pittsburgh
in an airplane by wartime ace, now
Judge Walter B. WanamakeP of Akron,
Ohio.
Secretary of War Patrick ]. Hurley,
however, made the individual hit Of
the night
The Court of Injustice, presided over
by Justice Peyton Gordon, was trying
in vain to hold its session and fine dis
tinguished guests distinguished prin-
cipally by their dignity of bearing in
the midst of the hilarity.
A gendarme appeared dragging Secre-
tary Hurley before the court.
You are charged with conduct be-
coming to an officer" Justice Gordon
WEereupon the Secretary of War, in
the manner of an Oklahoma cowboy,
turned to the microphone and gave
voice to a wild "Ya-hoo." It brought
down the house.
The first prize was awarded to three
veterans who impersonated Old Bill and
his pals In 1.-THE Better Ole" William
Mann, Haywood Newbold and John Cas-
we'll. H. l.. Shale, a blackfaced dough-
boy from Fort Washington, won the
prize for the most comical costume
who appeared as the American Tour
ist." Mrs Laura " Damn was instru-
mental in obtaining the donation of
prizes by local business firms.
Judges Of the evening were Lieut.
Col. j. o. Mauborgne. L. M Leiserning,
Felix Mahony, Miss Ann PEBBLES and
j. Minor Dorey.
Golden Is Chairman.
Nathan D. Golden, junior vice COM
mander, Veterans of Foreign Wars, was
chairman of the jubilee and Mai
James w. Boyer was director of
publicity.
During one lull when the stage was
partially cleared, members of the
United States Marine Band appeared,
and accompanied Miss Beverley O'Brien,
who sang the "Marseillais," and Miss
Betty Grace Tucker, in THE Star
Spangled Banner"
The jubilee last night climaxed an
all-day program in Washington de-
voted to the observance Of Armistice