Evening star., 1942-04-06
Usual Tourists Miss
D. T.. Easter Parade;
Uniforms Take Lead
Not More Than $4,000
Visit Cherry Blossoms
At TidoI Bosin

1t was 4 perfect day for Easter
parading, but there were more uni
forms than top hats and the tourists
OF previous years spent their Easte,
back home.
Single cherry blossoms opened to
the sun around the Tidal Basin,
but the crowds who came to view
them were. nothing compared to
former years. Park police said
perhaps $4,000 cars crossed the inlet
at the basin where they made their
count, no more than 25,0C0 in
dividuals strolled among the trees.
This figure contrasted to the 300,-
600 people Of last year and . park
policeman thought it might be the
tire shortage combined with the
warning to would-be tourists to stay
home.
Maybe It's . Boycott.
Maybe they're boycotting the
trees because they're Japanese" he
ventured.
Hotel men couldn't recall an Eas-
ter week end with fewer visitors than
were here yesterday. The tourist
could have had his pick of hotel
rooms.
A compilation by the Greater Ma
tional Capital Committee OF the
Board Of Trade showed there were
Az vacant hotel rooms on Saturday
night and 8S5 vacancies last night.
Pretty young war workers in their
new spring suits and veiled hats
did most of the sightseeing. They
stood before the figure of Lincoln
and strolled on the Monument
grounds.
Not even the war could keep the
paraders of Connecticut avenue,
where bright reds-the color Of the
season-contrasted with Towering
purples, but people didn't just stroll.
They were on their way to church
or home from church.
Park Attracts Many.
In Rock Greek Park. people spread
picnic lunches, hiked in shirt sleeves
through the hills.
Blossoms hung on branches bowed
by snow just a week before.
Reminiscent of that snow In the
park were the trees showing white
wounds where the snow had torn
branches away.
Clouds held a threat Of rain in the
early morning, but by noon the sun
was full and by afternoon the tenn
perature had rised to the eighties
touching 50 degrees at 4pm.
The fashions were tempered to the
times. Suits were more conservative,
hats less hysterical. Women ap-
parently had shopped with an eye
to the future. figuring that perhaps
next Easter they would be wearing
the same suits.
Typical Of Natisn.
There was little yenow-yellow is
now used to dye khaki uniforms
Patriotic motifs were not as DOM
inant as one might expect, except
that. with red the chosen color,
there were plenty Of red hats, Navy
suits and the regulation white
blouses.
Washington's sober Easter was
typical Of the Nation. Everywhere
men were in uniform and in the
war production factories there was
no holiday.
Half q million New Yorkers, by
police estimate, paraded Fifth ave
nue. and, although this was the
largest Easter crowd on the thor
oughfare in 20 years, it lacked the
glamor Of other days.
The Vanderbilts, Astors and
Rockefellers stayed home. Men in
uniform paraded In their stead
Many Of the socialites who last wear
wore top hats this year wore uni
forms.
Along the West Coast Army re-
strictions prevented the usual crowds
from gathering near the coast and
In Miami, Fla, sunrise services were
held inland In fear Of possible SUBJ
marines offshore.
In Detroit and other manufac-
turing centers the order of the day
was Keep EN- rolling"