Evening star., 1939-06-04
100000 Due 10 Battle,
Mostly in Vain, 10 See
Royal Parade
Task Likely to Bankrupt
Ingenuity Of Unprepored;
Window Space 81 to $50
By CARTER BROOKE JONES.

BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
How to see the royal parade on
Thursday is likely to bankrupt the
ingenuity of those who have not
had the foresight or the oppor-
tunity to make special arrange
ments.
Uncounted thousands, caught
behind solid walls of citizens, prob
ably will be like the pussy cat in
the nursery rhyme. This cat, you'll
recall, went to London to see the
Queen. Asked what she did, tabby
replied that she chased the little
mouse under the chair, which
doubtless she. could have done at
home.
Also there's a feline adage to the
effect that cat may look at king.
But not Washington cat, unless it
has the acumen to climb a tree on
Pennsylvania avenue early in the
day.
Figure it out. A throng which
officials estimate at 100000 or more
will cram every unroped silver of
space between the Union Station
and the White House A fortunate
few-comparatively speaking-will
be in the front row, some others
close enough back, or tall enough,
to see. The mass of others, we'll
AS for special arrangements,
naturally they are limited. Mean
ing windows, balconies and roofs.
Yet choice locations still were open
yesterday, some at reasonable
prices. These are apt to be grabbed
within the next "a hours.
Window Space, 81 to $50.
Everybody owning or leasing a
bit of space above the route of the
royal procession is remington
nearly everybody, for there are
those with relatives and friends to
take care of, and still others ap-
parently indifferent to the chance
of a lifetime.
Window space is going at ST to
$50 head-by which is meant,
literally, a head, not a window.
vantage points in the seedier por-
tions of Pennsylvania avenue are
charging more than the big hotels.
But the proprietors are not the
only ones interested in the renting
OF observing space. The Secret
Service is quite interested. In fact,
these Federal agents, in cooper
alton with the Metropolitan Police,
are requiring every window seller
to supply in advance the names of
those who have taken space More
over there'll be Secret Service men
and police detectives wandering
about the various premises watch
ing the watchers.
AS every one must know by this
time. King George VI and Queen
Elizabeth are scheduled to reach
Union Station at II m. The parade
will start about IS minutes later,
after ceremonies at the station.
Escorted by symbols of the might
and glory of America. their majes-
ties will move up Delaware avenue
to the Capitol, turning around there.
The cavalcade then will wind into
Constitution avenue, turn into Penn
sylvania avenue and continue along
that thoroughfare of pomp and
tradition to the Treasury, veering
south to enter the White House
grounds at the southeast gate.
Front of Station to Be Roped Off.
The front of the station will be
blocked off, leaving only the west
side entrance where the taxis ply,
open for persons concerned with
catching or leaving trains at this
historic moment. But the big plaza
will be open to the public back of
the military lines, and those de-
string to launch their visual attacks
on the parade from that point are
advised by police to arrive by $50,
since it is likely to fill quickly.
Going up Delaware the royal en-
tourage will hug the Senate Office
Building. affording senatorial stafts
an excellent view from the upper
windows.
The grounds Immediately adja-
cent to the Capitol will be roped of
but space farther back on the hill
will be open.
Public parks and public buildings
will attend the procession until it
gets we'll into the Avenue. There
wouldn't be much point in selling
space in the hotels about the Union
Station. They're too far away from
the line of march to afford more
than a confused view of the pro-
ceedings, unless one used binoculars.
The Standard Oil Building, 262
Constitution avenue, will enjoy an
unhampered view of the pageant
an opportunity of which its en-
ployes. their families and friends
will take full advantage. But this
won't interest the populace.
Once you pass John Marshall
place, however, you begin to find
real vantage points-lofts with win
dows, modest hotels, vacant upper
store rooms, balconies-and you en-
counter a wide variety Of proffered
prices and, sometimes, none at all
or complete indifference to oppor-
tunity.
A Look at S. Per Head.
Take the small cafe in the 400
block of the Avenue, which fea-
lures hot dogs and hamburgers. The
proprietor was not one to overlook
the situation. There are two lofts
above him, each equipped with four
spacious windows. He's selling space
at IS a person and allowing five per-
sons to window.
Your reporter inquired and was
shown up dark and tortuous stairs.
But a man was busy installing lights
and cleaning up the lofts. There's to
be chairs for every window sitter
The second floor windows command
q magnificent view of the Avenue,
those on the third floor an even
better one.
The affable proprietor said he had
sold one window seat to the wife OF
q former Secretary of State.
Some tell me I'm not charging
enough" he added, "but I don't like
to soak people. Well, you take q