Evening star., 1941-04-11
Good Weather
In Prospect for
Fete Crowds
Cherry Trees Pop
With Blossoms as
Thousands Arrive

Continued mild temperatures today
brought more blossoms popping out
on the cherry trees ringing the
Tidal Basin, and the prospect of
fine weather for the thousands of
visitors expected to flood the Capt.
tai over the week end.
The Capitals Easter attractions
this year include the annual Cherry
Blossom Festival which starts at
2:30 pm. tomorrow, the yearly
Easter Egg rolling event on the
White House lawn Monday, and the
convention of the Daughters of the
American Revolution to be held
next week.
AS consequence, transportation
facilities, housing accommodations
and eating establishments are eX-
pected to be taxed to the utmost
and special arrangements to handle
overflow crowds are being made.
Light Showers Possible Sunday.
The unknown factor is the
weather. Although the forecaster
would not hazard a definite long
range prediction, mild temperatures
and somewhat cloudy weather were
in prospect for tomorrow, with some
possibility of light showers Sunday
afternoon. Yesterday, the tempera-
ture reached high of 6S3 degrees
highest recorded this year.
First arrivals to view the display
of cherry blossoms were beginning
to reach Washington today, with
thousands expected over the special
facilities arranged by bus. railroad
and air lines tomorrow and Sunday.
Hotel accommodations for those who
waited until they arrived were
simply not to be had in most in
stances. The Board of Trade,
sponsors of the Cherry Blossom
Festival, said its housing bureau
would be able to meet the demand,
however, from its list of nearly 1000
listed rooms in rooming houses and
private dwellings.
Queen Nancy Strong and her court
will move into power when the
Cherry Blossom Festival opens at 2:3O
pm. tomorrow. After a trip in a
flower -bedecked boat across the Tidal
Basin Miss Strong will be crowned
queen by Senator Overton of Louisi-
ana. At 3 pm, the Columbia Light
Opera Co. will give a performance
of Music and Blossoms" which will
last approximately 40 minutes. An
exhibition drill by the 18th Infantry
on the Polo Field will follow. The
pageant will be repeated Sunday at
2:3O pm. The drill will not be held
again, however.
Prepare for Egg Hunt.
At the White House, police and
gardeners were making usual prepa-
rations to handle the huge throng
of youngsters and adults who an
nually attend the egg-rolling on the
spacious lawn. .-----..=.
Given fair weather, much larger
crowd is expected this year than at
tended last year, when more than
1000 passed through the White
House gates despite temperature
that reached a high of only 81 de-
rrees about / o'clock in the after
noon. In previous years crowds in
excess Of $4,000 persons have brought
baskets and hundreds of thousands
OF eggs to the party.
A special feature OF the occasion
this year will be the presence OF
approximately 140 British refugee
children living in Washington and
vicinity, who have been invited by
Mrs. Roosevelt to attend the annual
children's party at the White House.
Altogether nearly ITO youngsters Will
attend the party.
The White House gates will be
opened at 9 am. Monday for chill
dren u years old or under, and
adults with children. At pm, as
usual, the gates will be open to adults
anxious to see the festivities.
Public School Vacation Starts.
More than 10000 District school
children today were enjoying the
first day of Easter vacation, which
will end April 81. In many OF the
schools the youngsters were asked
to help keep the city clean during
the holidays by guarding against
careless trash disposal.
Mrs. David McCoach, jr., wife OF
the District Engineer Commissioner,
was named to head the list Of
patronesses of the Official Cherry
Blossom Ball at the Uline, Arena at
8 o'clock tomorrow night. Promi-
nent Washington women were in
cluded in the list of patronesSes.
The ball will open with the Co
lumbia Light Opera Co. singing the
two official songs, Cherry Blossom
Time" by Gene Ford. and Cherry
Blossom Time Along the Potomac, y
by E. H. Oberholtzer. Music at the
dance will be furnished by the
orchestras of Dick Stable and
Bunny Berigan.
ALI police leaves have been cam
celed over the week end and metro
politan and park police were CO.
operating to handle the traffic to-
morrow and Sunday.
Traffic around the Tidal Basin
roadway will be one way. 1t is pos
sible to enter the area from Lincoln
Memorial side or from the Four
teenth street side, in the vicinity OF
the Washington Monument. Nc
entrance will be permitted at Seven
teenth street nor at the Basin road
which intersectS Fourteenth street
at Maine avenue.