Evening star., 1935-05-19
HOME DECORATION
ASKED Of CITIZENS
FOR SHRINE WEEK.
Flag and Lighting Display
Urged as Part Every One
Can Take.

Prominent display of the American
nag and liberal use of electric lights
by home owners for the 1885 Shrine
conclave here during the week of June
Q are strongly urged by Charles j.
Columbus, chairman Decorations
Committee.
These, Columbus says. are means
possessed by nearly all home owners.
During the daytime the American
flag with It's colors will serve as the
most efficient form Of decoration.
Hardly a home does not possess at
least one flag and bunting, he be-
1ieves. At night the lights used on
the tree at Christmas or for lighting
the exterior of homes and yards will
also serve a most effective decorative
purpose.
For the past few months Columbus
has written or spoken before many
citizens associations, business mems
groups and other civic bodies in an
effort to imbue them with some of
his enthusiasm for decorating Wash
ington during the convention.
Advantages Outlined.
He says a person puts his home in
order when expecting company, so
that 1t will be shown at its best; so
also will District residents have Wis
itors when the thousands of Shriners
arrive. Although most residents will
not receive an actual visitor in his
own home during the convention, he
says these same residents will benefit
from the stimulation Of business
caused by the Shriners' visit.
During this time, he points out
there will be parades, special shows
and other forms of amusement from
which he may benefit. Washingto-
mans owe it to themselves, their
community and their city, to put the
city in order and decorate to the
limit of their ability, Columbus be-
iieves.
He is gratified with the response
made by the citizens sIoups. In
many of the groups. special commit
tees to decorate their respective areas
have been organized. Although he is
not yet willing to reveal the elaborate
plans of scme of the groups. he told
last week of plans to flnodlight public
buildings, light up parks and trees
with the Shrine colors-red, green
and gold
Downtown stores have really made
big preparations for this celebration" !"
Columbus asserted.
The use of vari-colored Christmas
tree lights can be employed in various
ways. They can, for example, be
used to outline the various symbols
of the Shriners, such as the scimitar,
crescent or the fez.
Roadside Lighting Asked.
The lighting of homes about roads
leading into the city is also urged.
Columbus said the committee is max
ing an effort to have Rosslyn, Be-
thesda, Silver Spring and other out
lying communities to decorate. For
the benefit of visitors coming in on
the railroads. houses along the tracks
should be lighted, he says.
Last week announcement was made
Of official display decoration cards for
. the home and for business establish
ments. They consist of an ornate
fez. 1924 by 20% inches, and a cut
out Of Shrine symbols to be hung
from cord in window or door, also
the same size.
These cards are numbered. and the
purchaser is registered with the COM
mittee. They are on sale at the
Shrine Committee headquarters at
Alnas Temple, 1915 K street
More recently stickers for the pri-
vate automobiles and taXicabs have
been announced. These are to go on
sale early this week
Showing the benefit to be derived
, from the conclave by each resident,
Columbus said that bank deposits in
creased about $12,000,000 during the
last similar convention here in 1923.
From results already obtained" !"
Columbus declared, this is to be a
much larger and more successful con-
Z vention this year."