Evening star., 1935-04-01
10000 Brave Downpours
Yesterday to Visit Po-
tomac Park.
BLOOMS ARE EXPECTED
TO LAST THROUGH WEEK
Exhibits of Japanese Art Ar.
ranged in Galleries, Museums
and Libaries Praised by Hazen.

The rain-splashed blossoms Of the
Japanese Surugdai-noioi and Someei-
yoshimo, fruitless cherry trees that
fringe the Tidal Basin, were expected
again. today to jam Potomac Park
with tourists drawn from all corners
of the country to view the matchless
sight.
Yesterday 10000 persons in 1920
cars braved the downpour to see the
lush splendor of the downy-white
tree flowers that seemed to form a
natual lei for the round water-basin.
From 8 am. to pm. park police
counted a steady stream of cars
crossing the Inlet Bridge after slowly
circling the blanket of blossoms
standing as gorgeous reminder OF
the generosity of the Japanese, who
presented the Capital with trees from
the royal gardens in Toxic.
While the Weather Bureau fore
cast more rain this afternoon, to-
night and tomorrow, David Saunders,
horticulturist for the National Cap
ital parks, announced the blossoms
were so far unharmed by the per-
sistent downpour.
He declared the cloudlike single
blossoms will remain until the end
of this week. or perhaps even into
next week, If they escape high wind
and frost. The mercury sank to a
cool 40 early today and rose only
slightly through the forenoon, but
there seemed little likelihood of a
freeze to blight the blooms.
While chilly beauty-lovers ogled the
snow-cup blossoms, the Citizens
Cherry Blossom Committee today ar
ranged a special indoor observance
of the blossom season.
Special exhibits Of japanese art are
being arranged in the galleries, mu.
seums and libraries of Washington
and the committee hopes through
lectures to bring the people here ar
increased knowledge and understand
ing of life in Japan.
The program originated with thu
District Of Columbia Committee or
the Cause and Cure of War and with
the Washington Council on Interna-
tional Relstions. Mrs Esther Caukir
Branauer. chairman of the Citizens
Cherry Blossom Committee, Is ir
charge OF arrangements for the
project.
Helping her are Mrs. Florence Brew.
er Boeckel, Mrs. Lawrence Koenigs.
berger, Mrs. z. r. Haas, Mrs. H. Chal.
mers, Mrs. Henry F. Sawtell, Mis-
Margaret Jones, Miss Adele Ritzen.
berger, DR.. Charles Carhart. Mrs. j
Austin Stone. Mrs. D. E. Yarnell anc
Miss Clara Saunders.
President Melvin c. Hazen of the
District Board of Commissioners hailec
the idea and said:
Every Spring the people of Wash.
ington and thousands of other Ameri
cans who visit the city are giyer
great and unusual pleasure by the
beauty of the japanese cherry trees
presented by Toxic to this city ir
1912. This year I am very glad tt
know that q committee of citizens /.
planning to express appreciation O.
this gift by arranging special exhibit!
OF Japanese art and literature in thl
galleries, museums and libraries o.
the city, and that there will be spe.
cial talks on life in Japan before many
Of the organizations of this CITY,"
The bloSsom-time crowds yesterday
came for the most part in private car!
and taxis. Three hundred pedes'
trians scorned the deluge. The traf
fic was handled perfectly and tn,
day saw no accidents and no arrests
Rubber-coated Metropolitan police.
men, at Fourteenth and Water streets
checked of 2,444 cars during the mid
day hour, when the traffic rose to it
height.
Many hundreds who made the pil
grimage to the famed beauty spo
parked their cars and stood, needles!
Of the rain, under the flower -canopiec
trees. Some, playing safe. raised UNI.
brellaS. Even with clouds obscurinf
sun that had no chance to shine
amateur photographers snapped rol
after roll Of film in their eagerness fol
a lasting reminder of the scene many
had Travelled thousands of miles tt
see
Trains, buses and planes bound fol
the Capital were jammed with visitors
Special excursions were held from
New York. Philadelphia and Balti.
more. Crowds overf1owed hotels anc
tourist camps.