Evening star., 1949-02-06
District 10 Welcome
Thank You Train in
Ceremonies Today

Frances thanks for the food filled
Friendship Train-a car of gifts
and an eternal flame for the Tomb
Of the Unknown Soldier-rolled into
Washington last night.
The Thank You Train, in addi-
tion to the car bearing gifts for
Washington, included nine other
cars destined for southern States.
1t was pulled into the Fourteenth
street NV. yards, near the Bureau
of Engraving, for the presentation
ceremonies which begin at 10 am.
today. Actual presentation will be
at pm.
Before the program proper starts,
the Metropolitan Police Band will
play for Is minutes until 3:45 pm.
when the colors will be massed by
the American Legion National
Guard of Honor.
Barkley to Appear.
Drew Pearson, who had the idea
of the Friendship Train, will be
master of ceremonies at the well
come and will introduce M. Louis
Cast, head of the French delega-
ton accompanying the Thank You
Train, French Ambassador Henri
Bonnet, and the principal speakers,
Senator Vandenberg and Vice Presi-
dent Barkley.
Although the boxcar itself and
half the cargo will 60 to Hawaii,
the Districts share of the gifts will
be extensive, for this car, like each
of the 40 others, is packed with
about 10000 items.
Eleven French delegates are &C
companying the train here and one
OF them. M. Jumot, will take part
in the presentation of the first gift,
which will be accepted by Salvind
o. Olson. chairman of the National
Capital Mercy Train Committee.
AS soon as they are catalouged by
the Smithsonian Institution, the
gifts will be displayed in the WIN
dows of Woodward & Lothrop.
The almost endless list of gifts
includes a three-foot doll for each
State. Each doll represents the
craftsmanship of Frances greatest
industries, with the hair dressers
providing the coiffures, the fashion
designers the dresses and the shoe
manufacturers the shoes. These
dolls are temporarily being shown
as collection in New York.
Gifts For States.
Each State is to receive a seeding
tree for planting, a rare Sevres
china vase and a reproduction of
the historic document of the CITY
OF st. Die where the word America"
was first printed.
A quick glimpse at the District
list showed such items as a tov,
soldiers uniform, wash towel. optic
instrument, railroad posters, napkin,
basket. game, tea set, spectacles
wooden shoes, goose skins, scarf. IA
dozen brooches, Croix de Guerre
smoking set, baby napkin, funeral
wreath, underwear. kennel, doll hat.
Two egg cups, wedding dress, a squir-
rel (stuffed) and a hammer.
There will be paintings, historic
hags. unusual documents, a sword
OF Napoleon and other arms of his
time, statues, porcelain figurines,
French costumes, engravings, bust
of BENJAMIN, Franklin, a statue of
washington and other semiprecious
gifts.
The train started as an idea of the
railroad veterans, expanded to in
clude serUcemen's organizations. and
finally mushroomed into the full
hearted effort of 100000 persons.
Members of Congress and the
cabinet will attend the ceremonies
as we'll as the District Commissioners
serving as honorary co-chairmen.
Harry Karr is executive secretary
OF the committee, Charles Stofberg
assistant to the co-chairman and