Spring Comes to Washington

On the day of the vernal equinox, whether it wants to or not, spring comes to the District of Columbia. On that day, each year, shivering photographers, muffled to the cheekbones, escort a beauteous damsel to the Tidal Basin and tell her to go climb a tree. Usually the Cherry Blossom Queen, posing as regally as possible while sitting on a knobby tree branch, gets runs in her stockings, barked knuckles and a ruffled temper.

To reign at next month's festival, the District Commissioners last week chose Nancy Alden Strong, 17, debutante daughter of Lieut. Colonel & Mrs. A. G. Strong. Her first duty: to brave the blasts of spring. Miss Strong, with no illusions about her job, showed up in a fur coat, carrying an extra coat--a pink sports number--for the pictures. Problem, as usual, was to find one of the famed cherry trees that was at least budding. The photographers and the Queen shinnied vainly up & down many a cold tree, peering for buds. At last they found one, and the 1941 Queen made history for the photographers by uttering the first pleasant remark they could remember in the circumstances. "Hi, bud," said Nancy brightly, "where are the others?"

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