Evening star., 1936-03-21

"HE placid Potomac, which has
mirrored the majestic beauty
Of Washington's famous jap
Il anese cherry blossoms for many
Spring seasons. may have destroyed
the blossoms this year when it flooded
its banks in wild rampage. But the
Capital still hopes that at least some
of its Towering trees may have with
stood the onslaught and will burst
forth in full flower to symbolic the
peaceful quiet that follows storm.
April and the Japanese cherry bios
soms of Washington that have be-
come famous throughout the world are
anonymous, and there were many in
dications the pilgrimage this year from
all parts of the United States and even
from other countries would have ex-
ceeded any heretofore to this shrine of
O -gladdening gift of nature.
Just when the delectable spectacle
would be at its height was yet too early
to forecast, for the record running
back more than decade shows a
spread of several weeks in the appear
ence of the blossoms that ring the
spacious Tidal Basin and the Speed
way back of the White House. The
event is made uncertain now by the
recent disastrous flood.
But when accurate forecasts are
possible they will be broadcast in every
conceivable manner and in time for
all who want to see the display to start
for the scene-if there is to be any
display. To assure this the alert
ear-to-the- ground men of the Depart
ment of Agriculture will be tuning in
daily on the trees to detect the first
suspicion of rising sap that fore
shadows swelling and ultimately burst
ing buds.
Various other American cities have
blossom displays which attract large
groups of beauty lovers, for whose ben
eft festivals and pageants of various
kinds are produced. Among them,
however, the japanese cherry blossoms
stand unique-a breath-taking out
pouring of loveliness effected with ma
ture's utmost simplicity. On this oc-
casion the Japanese Ambassador and
his family, the latter often in the garb
Of their native land, regularly make
somewhat ceremonial visit to the trees
and are newsreeled and still photoed
to a standstill, but beyond this and the
snapshooting of pretty girls powered
by the blossoms, celebration Of cherry
blossom time in Washington is con-
fined to motoring or walking through
the deeting fairyland.
TN A WORD, here is an event, paral-
leled nowhere in the western
world, noteworthy because in a city
accustomed to prodigious events and
awe-inspiring spectacles, such as presl-
dental inaugurationS, state funerals
and great military parades, none at
tracts a greater outpouring Of people.
And the mute appeal of the buds is
made all the more impressive by the
background of ma jestic glittering mar
BILE and granite architecture against
which they so quietly appear.
The spontaneity of the homage the
blossoms receive is not the least OF the
charms of the occasion. After a sue
cession of those glitterinc warming
days that tell Washingtonians Spring.
time has reached down into the earth
with an infusion of warmth, the buds
almost leap into being. AS simply and
as naturally, hundreds of thousands Of
men, women and children, President
and potentate, prince and peasant, are
drawn hither. And when they have
delivered their smiling message to
mankind the buds may wither and fall,
but they never actually die. die" is
an utterly inappropriate word it be-
comes evident when one learns In
washington that the blossoms Of every
year live on forever in the conscious
ness of those who have seen them.
Presented to the people OF the
United States as q visible, annually
recurring expression Of the warm re-
gard of the people of Toxic. the jap
anese cherry trees are the most cele-
brated Of the many varieties which
beautify the great parks and boule-
wards of the Capital.
The history Of the cherry trees dates
back to 1909. when Toxic, as lasting
token Of friendship, sent the first con-
signment to this country. Upon arrl-
val, however, they were found to be
pest-infected and it was necessary to
burn them. But Toxic refused 70 be