Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-09
War in Pacific
Restraints DC.
v-EDay Joy
Capitol Marks
Big Victory in
Somber Spirit


Somber Spirit
Washington last night celebrated
the victory OF Allied arms over Nazi
Germany-but with restraint. In
this war-conscious Capital the men,
DRY Of the Nations dead and the
realization that bitter fighting still
lies ahead in the Far East tempered
the gaiety Of most people.
But the city was not without phys
ical manifestations of victory and
a partial relief from the tension of
the 40 months since Pearl Harbor.
For the first time since then the
great white Roman dome of the
Capitol was bathed in light as of
old. And across the Mall the tall,
noble shaft dedicated to Washing
ton stood in. the glare of search
lights. Theater marques and show
windows were Illuminated, too, for
the first time since the '1brown-out"
order.
Some citizens danced and drank
and made merry, but even In the
night spots" there was little
boisterousness. Those who had
feared that victory would result in
an alcoholic spree found this ap-
prehension groundless.
Attend Celebrations.
More sober-minded Washing
tonians attended one of several vic
tory celebrations held in the city's
schools or drove through the Mall,
drinking in the beauty of the Cap
itol and Monument.
The cocktail lounges at the Will
lard and the Raleigh, first stops
for Government workers on their
way to make an evening Of it, did
not fill up any earlier than usual
after S pm.
Hammels Restaurant on Tenth
street NV, steakhouse where
queues form nightly in the street,
closed down. George Homan, the
hite-haired, rotund bartender, had
served notice that he would not
work on We day; he remembered
the two armistice celebrations in
1918.
Young women in uniform streamed
northward from the temporary
buildings south of the Mall, deter
mined to celebrate. Two young
women marines said they were on
their way to the Statler for cocktails.
There just has to be some ex-
element tonight" said one.
!, At the Madrillon some attempt
was made to strike a holiday note
by playing war songs. Except for
the Army Air Forces song, they were
all from the last war. This, as has
often been observed, has not been
a singing war.
Peter Borras, the Catalan proprie-
tor. accepted We day Fluctuations
with q reservation.
There is still Franco" he said,
but IT won't be long now"
Soldiers Denied Passes.
The men who had been fighting
the war were not greatly in evil
derce. Uniforms In the night spots
were not In the ma ority. Some
overseas service ribbons on officers
chests were noticed but enlisted men
in nearby barracks had been de-
MED passes. AS a result there were
far fewer people in the newly lighted
streets than on a usual Saturday
night.
Henry King, orchestra leader at
the Statler, said his band was not
playing war songs because he had
been told not to-"
1t was much the same in the
Congo Room of the Carlton across
the street and at the Shoreham and
Wardman Park. The curfew did
not halt merriment. People lust
didn't seem in the mood to celebrate.
'Liyeliest spot during the night was
the cocktail lounge Of the Mayfiower.
The songs of the different services,
as played by the dance band.
brought loud cheers from the tables.
A crowd in the corridor still was
hoping to get tables at the curfew's
stroke.
400 at Roosevelt School.
One OF the largest celebrations in
the city was held at the Roosevelt
High School, attended by 400 per-
sons. 1t covered "a wide range of
emotions-serious speeches, moth
ers' tears and jitterbug dancing by
the teen-age crowd In the schools |
gymnasium.
John Cabot White, president of
the Arkansas Avenue Community
Association, presided.
The invocation was pronounced
by the Rev. j. j. Queally, rector of |
the Episcopal Church of the Trans
Led by Mrs. w. w. Deal, the group
sang 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner"
accompanied by the High School
Band. They responded periodically
as 1t. William E. Kirschbaum of
the Army led pledge of allegiance
to the flag. Afterward Mrs. Deal
sang 1.-THE Lords Prayer"