Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-09-07
DAY PROGRAMME.
PRELIMINARY OUT
LINE OF 1T.
Chairman If the Erecutiue Committee OF
the National Public School Ccle-
bratioa Of Columbus Day.
By FRANCIS BELLAMY,


A uniform programme for every local.
lty in America, to be used ON Columbus
Day. simultaneously with the dedica-
tory exercises of the Worlds exposition
grounds, will give a significant unity TO
Americas celebration of its 4oOth ami
versary. Accordingly the superintend-
ents of education, when they adopted
the plan of a national public school cele-
bration of Columbus Day, instructed the
executive committee to prepare an ON
cial programme, identical for every city
and village in the country.
The executive committee is now en-
deavoring to secure contributions from
the ablest American writers. The names
of the authors cannot be announced yet,
but the general plan for the exercises OF
the day is as follows:
The official programme provides for
Morning Celebration.
The pupils of our public schools are
TO gather on Oct 81, at the usual hour,
in their school houses. But instead OF
the regular recitations the morning Is to
!
be devoted to exercises BETTING the an
niyersary. These exercises may be SIM
nle or elaborate, according TO the re-
sources of the school. Many schools
will doubtless do little more than use
the official programme, adding TO 1t the
old. familiar national songs and few
speeches by leading citizens. Other
schools with larger resources are hkely
to extend the programme with addl-
tional features. such as special music by
chorus or orchestra, historical exercises,
pageants, etc. The largest liberty for
individual ingenuity and taste is left to
all schools, and the executive committee
would encourage local variety to be
given to the official programme.
The omcial Programme
will consist of the following features;
/. RAISING AND sALuTINo THE fla
under the direction. wherever possible,
OF a detail Of the veterans Of the warl.
. TIE soNG or COLUMBUS DAY
ito a well known tunnel
3. THE ADDRESS
10 be declaimed by the best speaker among
the boysl
4. THE ODE
Ito be read or recited by young LADY,
& AMERICA"
(which will in all cases be the closing
song).
The song, the address and the ode
viii all be original, prepared especially
for the celebration by some of the best
Of American writers.
BIZ the LIST Of September this Official
programme, IN complete form, aciH be
published throughout the country, and
,riu also be sent 10 all applicants trho adj
dress the chairman of the erecutire com
mittee.
Even if nothing be added TO this pro
gramme. except perhaps few speeches
and some familiar national songs. the
ceremonies will be impressive and
worthy of the occasion.
But for schools (which desire TO ar
range a more enriched programme 4
number Of other appropriate features
NAV be at the same time suggested by
the executive committee.
The Public school Houses.
it is to be remembered, are to be tn,
scenes of this morning celebration. A
far as possible in each school house al
the rooms under the same principa
should unite in having the same exer
cises. The parents and friends Of TIL
pupils should be brought together
Family interests on Columbus Da.
should be made to center in the partic
ular school house the children attend.
In the country the day ought TO b
made a real holiday. Farm and house
hold work might well be relinquished
and the families of the district nigh
come together at the school house wit
their picnic lunches prepared to max
a day of memorable festivity. The CON
memoration exercises of the mornin
being over, the afternoon might be de
voted to games and to social reunions G
neighbors, which would make the day
iovous one to millions of our hard WORK
ing population.
The Afternoon Celebration.
In nearly all cities and large Villages
however. the citizens will wish forms
demonstration on Columbus Day whic
\ may be in their own hands. Wherevt
4 the citizens are to conduct celebratio
4 two matters should be especially a
ranged:
d First-That the civic celebration o
s cur in the afternoon, SO that it will nj
y conflict with the morning celebration
3 which are going on in all the scho
i houses.
4 Second-That in the afternoon Gel
q bration by the people ample recognize
J, should be given to the public scho
z idea, which is to be the characteristic
: the day throughout the nation.
3 This afternoon celebration viii val
: with each locality, but the citizens WI
g gladly accord to the free school instlt'
i =. IL ..lncn nf honor