Evening star., 1940-07-04
Weather Puts
Damper on 4th.
Celebrations
Programs CurtoiIed,
Others Are in Doubt:
Few People TroveI

Few People TroveI
Rain and gray skies ushered in
July in the District today, but
early forecast by the weatherman
was for clearing during the after
noon.
The damp weather did not
altogether discourage the usual cele-
bration of the Fourth and several
scout cars were dispatched to silence
illegal fireworks shooting. Inspector
Edwards issued special order to
the police to be active in the enforce
ment of regulations to prevent the
discharge of fireworks.
The downpour of yesterday and
the accompanying chill cut into the
usual Fourth of July exodus to local
beaches and resorts and tranSporta-
ton officials said normal conditions
prevailed.
Unseasonal temperatures forced
postponement of a morning parade
in Takoma Park, Md, and the field
schedule at Hyattsville, and once
more complicated the uniform
problem of the District police. In
spector L. I. H. Edwards issued or
ders to his men to get into summer
blouses and helmets on what is
usually a gray-shirt day.
Fireworks Displays Scheduled.
Fireworks displays are scheduled
tonight on the Monument Grounds,
in Wesley Heights and Takoma
Park.
Meanwhile President Roosevelt, at
his Hyde Park On. " home for the
week end, appealed for a "declara-
ton of national unity" to supple
ment the historic Declaration of
Independence.
Thousands of Fourth of July Gel
ebratlons throughout the land also
stressed the need for national unity
and national preparedness. Con-
gress took recess, giving the men,
bers chance to participate in vari-
GUS Independence Day programs.
Medical and highway officials all
over the country urged care in use of
fireworks.
The crimp the weather put in the
holiday travel was indicated by both
the dispatcher at the Greyhound
Bus Terminal and the station mas
ters Office at Union Station. Both
said the traffic was Just normal.
The dispatcher said the fact that
the holiday comes in the middle Of
the week also probably had a lot to
do with the unusual lag.
Although the parade was post
poned in Takoma Park, according
to Parade Marshall E. Brook Fetty,
former Secretary of Commerce Dam
lei c. Roper was to deliver his sched-
uled address at II am. in the Ia
koma Park-Silver Spring Junior
High School on Philadelphia ave-
nue.. The Hyattsville program will
be held Saturday.
whether many of the athletic
events scheduled by various organ
izations this afternoon would be
held was problematical, but it was
stated that the 10-mile modified
marathon for The Evening Star
Trophy would be run.
A Fourth of July feast for under
privileged children and homeless
men was arranged by the Gospel
Mission at BIO Fifth street NV. in
place of the usual picnic in Rock
Greek Park. A thousand sandwiches
were made ready, with 300 bananas
and other goodies, to provide for
some $50 persons.
Another event was scheduled to-
night by the Greek Orthodox Com
munity of SITS. Constantine and
Helen at Sixth and C streets S.W.
The program at pm. will feature
a march of the Presidents, with
these participants: Nicoleta Papas,
George Washington; Jennie Apos-
tolacos, James Monroe; Josephine
Gellepi, Thomas jefferson; Happy
Basilicos, Abraham Lincoln; Anna
Prlngos, Theodore Roosevelt; Bessie
Benos, woodrow Wilson, and Geor-
gla Giannarakas, Franklin D. Roose-
welt.
A special program was planned at
the Boy Scout Camp Roosevelt to-
day beginning with an inspection by
George G. Freeman, camp director.
Ickes to Speak.
The Monument Grounds fire.
works will follow a program of
massing of colors by Army troops
and National Guard and Reserve
organizations and a speech by Sec
retary of Interior Ickes. They will
be set off about 8:35 p.m., if the
weather permits. Some 10000 seats
are on sale at downtown stores and
hotels.
Under the auspices of the Wes-
ley Heights Community Club, a
fireworks display will be set off
at 8 pm. on the grounds of Charles
Glover at Nebraska avenue and
New Mexico avenue NV, opposite
American University.
The Takoma Park exhibition will
climax a day of athletics and pa
rades and will be held in rear of
the Philadelphia Avenue School
at 8 pm.
A warning note was injected yes
terday by the District Society for
the Prevention of Blindness, which
pointed out that in a summary of
Fourth OF July injuries for last year
compiled by the American Medical
Association the District had the
next to worst record in the coun-
try. Last year 81 injuries in the
District were reported by hospitals,
clinics and private physicians.
|Stor Receivino