Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-04-03
Throngs Visit
Blossom Areas
DespiteCo|d
Ignore Chill Winds
To See Pageant and
Queen Of Festival

ASIlG-IiCdIICU SlSIlbocCIS w
the thousands disregarded to-
days biting weather and
thronged the Tidal Basin for
the 1854 Cherry Blossom Fes-
tival.
Although Park police delayed
their official estimate of the
crowd. it was clear the penetrate
ing cold had not diminished in
te1est in the springtime celebra-
ton that annually attracts hum
dredS of thousands to Washing
ton.
The mercury retreated steadily
from a morning high of SIS de-
greeS, but the crowd continued
to grow as the hour approached
for the first two pageant per-
formances at the Jefferson
Memorial on successive days.
Even Colder Tonight.
Winds of 25 to IS miles an
hour brought the cold weather
from the Northwest. BY tonight
the mercury will be down to
around 26. Tomorrow will be
sunny, but cold. for the second
pageant performance.
Reigning as festival queen this
year was Miss Frances Mae
Fisher. a Westinghouse High
School senior named to repre-
sent the State of Kentucky. The
pretty 17-year-old brunette. who
lives at 1919 South Stafford
street, Arlington, was picked for
the regal role during festivities
last night at Hotel Statler.
Long before the queen and her
court of beautiful princesses
arrived at the Tidal Basin, the
sightseers bundled in warm
winter clothing bucked chill
winds to inspect the feathery
pink and white blooms of the
japanese cherry trees.
Trees in Full Bloom.
They came by every means Of
travel-on foot, in cars. by bus
and bicycle. They were well
rewarded despite the wintry
blasts, for the trees are at the
height of beauty and they
sparkled in today's brilliant
sunshine.
1t was a fine day, too, for the
countless camera fans. who
stretched and squatted beneath
the fairyland boughs to frame
their pictures. The number Of
photographers on hand indicated
that last years record of IL mil
lion snapshots was seriously
challenged.
Miss Fisher won the right to
preside as queen of the festival
during a colorful ball held at
the Statler. She cried with JOY
when the big wheel of fortune,
spun by Chief Justice Warren.
stopped on the slot inscribed
Kentucky"
Growing This Afternoon.
Miss Fisher, whose eyes match
the brown of her hair, is only
5-feet 2-inches tall, and weighs
10 pounds. She was to be
crowned at 2 o'clock today dur
ing the elaborate Festival and
Pageant in front of the Jeffer-
son Memorial. The pageant,
THE Mikado," features the
National Ballet, the Air Force
Orchestra, Singing Sergeants,"
and the George Washington
University Glee Club. 1t will be
repeated at 2 pm. tomorrow.
Following their entry into the
Presidential Room of the Stat
Ter. the princesses. pretty in their
evening gowns with corsages.
assembled the large stage while
their uniformed escorts from the
military services stood to one
I
Chief Justice Warren, before
turning the wheel, made a small
speech:
IF there Is a gentleman in
the house who believes he has a
better job than / have. then let
him arise" the Justice remarked
smilingly. This is a great job.
1t requires no Drawn. no brains
and no discreation. If it did I
don't think I'd have the courage
to do it. This is a selection
without any responsibility what
ever"
Laughter, Then Tears.
| Miss Fisher was standing near
the left end of the stage when
the Wheel of Fortune suddenly
spun her into the limelight. She
saw it herself. for all eyes were
on the wheel. When she knew
she was the queen she put her
hands to her face. and her
laughter soon gave way to tears
Continued on Page A-28, Col. 81
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