While showing Washington, D.C. on Decoration Day, we were on parade coming up broad historical Pennsylvania avenue [sic] and when passing the Capitol building our band played W. C. Handy's great hit 'Hail to the Spirit of Freedom.' We were cheered to the echo. President Wilson, who viewed the parade from an upper balcony, was seen to bow, smile and applaud by clapping his hands. We considered this as quite a compliment to the race, Prof. Handy being one of the foremost colored writers.