GAY DISPLAY OF FINERY IN NEW YORK'S EASTER PARADE

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 April 1949, Page 5

GAY DISPLAY OF FINERY IN NEW YORK'S EASTER PARADE

Anti-War Pickets Demonstrate At St. Patrick's Cathedral

NEW 'iOBK, April 17 (Rec. .30 pm).—While record-break-ing crowds of 1.500,000 persons in Easter finery strolled along Fifth Avenue today in New York’s traditional Easter parade, antiwar pickets demonstrated outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Pickets represented organisa-1 tions called “Peacemakers,”. “Fellowship of Reconstruction”? and “the War Resisters’ League.” They walked up and down outside the cathedral as thousands of worshippers inside commemorated the Resurrection i

The pickets shoved Easter paraders aside to clear a path in the crowded street, but their demonstration was halted when a United States Marine became involved in a fight with one picket. The police intervened and ordered the demonstrators to <jis-

pei'se. Two demonstrators refused and the police arrested them. Vast crowds parading slowly up and down to see and be seen had dear blue skies and a mild Spring day for their fashion show. Fifth Avenue, from 42nd Street to Central Park, was a sea of gay Easter bonnets jammed brim to brim. The crowds were densest near the Cathedral and traffic was stalled for blocks around. Flowers, feathers and even gas-filled balloons, festooned the hats. Dresses mainly were simple and dark. Some looked like last Spring’s models, but almost every woman had a gaudy new hat.