Evening star., 1941-04-14
100000 See Blossoms
As Capital Enjoys
Ideal Easter Sunday
RooseveIts Attend Church
At St. Thomos' Heor
Peace Prayer

fedCe froyer
Washington enjoyed the perfect
Easter Sunday.
A bright sun shone all day on q
city where colorful blooms were Wis
ible everywhere. Hundreds Of thou
sands of citizens of prosperous
community turned out to join a
record throng of visitors in bril-
liant Easter parade.
No traffic fatality nor serious ac-
cident was recorded during the day.
In every place, from the tiniest park
to the big area where the cherry
blossoms were on view, from the
smallest chapel to the great cathe-
drals, there were great holiday
crowds.
The park police reported that
nearly 300, 900 persons saw the cherry
blossoms. They counted 1851 auto
mobiles passing the Tidal Basin
area during the daylight hours and
estimated they carried $4,000 pas
sengers. An almost equal number
floAOCu Vic olCd O1i 4OOts
Blossoms at Best.
The blossoms were at their height
yesterday and will continue to make
their best show all this week Un-
less there is freakish weather, the
blooms will still be there next week
end.
1t was estimated that between
200, 900 and 300, 900 out-of town Wis
itors were in Washington over the
week end. 1t was impossible to get
an exact count, but every single
hotel room in town was engaged
and the Board of Trade Housing
Bureau had found rooms for thou
sands in private homes.
The maximum temperature yes
terday was 78 degrees and gentle
southerly wind made it an ideal
day.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt led
the church goers when they at
tended services at st. Thomas Epis-
copal Church. They heard a prayer
for the defeat of tyranny and ag-
gression" and for the United States
to have vision to see and courage
to do whatever is right"
Peace PRAYER Offered.
Thousands lined the streets near
the White House and near the
church to see the presidential party.
Mr.. Roosevelt appeared solemn and
thoughtful during the service. He
was the first to receive communion
and it was after this part of the
service that the Rev. Howard Will
kinson offered this peace prayer"
"Oh, God, the creator and father
of all men, we lift our prayer to
Thee for the nations of the world
,sat this time. OverTule by Thy al
mighty power the forces of tyranny
and aggression, and uphold. we be-
seech Thee, those who are struggling
for the maintenance of justice and
human liberty.
Give to all of us wisdom and
strength to do our part in this day
of world crisis. Grant that our coun-
| try may now have vision to see
and courage to do whatever is
right, and that peace with righteous
ness and justice may be established
for the sake of all mankind"
Mrs. Roosevelt wore a frock of
hyacinth crepe topped with light
weight, hem-length violet wool coat.
Her bonnet was a wide -brimmed,
shallow crown violet straw trimmed
with a spray of flowers in purple
tones. 1t had q wisp of veil in
back. Her gloves were violet color
and her bag and shoes were navy
blue. On her coat lapel was fabric
chrysanthemum in purple tones.
Accompanying the Roosevelts to
church were Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Toombs and Mrs Eliot Pratt of New
York. Mr.. Toombs is the architect
of the Warm Springs Foundation.
Parade of Easter Finery.
When church was over the great
parade of Easter clothes began in
all parts of the city. Down Con-
necticut and Massachusetts, avenues
down Sixteenth street moved the
fashionable, sporting the lates
styles. Over hundreds of othel
small streets and through the park.
moved the crowds in Easter best.
The Board of Trade reported tina
it had found room for every ont
who had applied, but didn't havt
many rooms to spare"
The Cherry Blossom Festival a
the Tidal Basin was the event which
drew most, but at every monument
and park in town, where a coun
was kept, records were broken.
The Botanic Garden held an ex-
tended open house for Easter Wis.
itors, and approximately $1,000 per-
sons passed through the doors tc
see the spring display of Creole
lilies, narcissus and other flowers
That number approached one-day
record, and was the largest since
the $4,000 who came to see the re-
cent azalea show.
Officials said many visitors were
professional growers and gardeners
some of whom had come long dis.
tances to see the show. Scheduled
to close at pm. the institution re.
mained open until to accommodate
the crowds.
$500 Visit Dumbarton Park.
More than $500 people strolleo
through the newly y-opened Dunbar
ton Park over the week end anc
saw an exquisite display of wild.
Aouere IL, ,,eer - f,yr.l eef&irns ~ a