Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-08-19
COLUMBUS DAY PROGRAMME.
A PRELIMINARY OUT
LINE OF 1T.
By FRANCIS BELLAMY,
Chairman Of the ETecuttVe Committee of
the National Public School Cele-
brdtton of Columbus Dap.

A uniform programme for every local
lily 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 400th ami
versary. Accordingly the superintend-
ents of education, when they adopted
the plan of q national public school cele-
bration Of Columbus Day, instructed the
executive committee to prepare an Off
cial programme, identical for every city
and village III 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
A 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 befitting the an
niversary. These exercises may be sim
pie or elaborate, according to the re-
sources of the school. Many schools
will doubtless do little more than use
the official programme, adding to it the
old, familiar national songs and a few
speeches by leading citizens. Other
schools with larger are likely
to extend the programme with addi-
tional features, such as special music by
phnr11S ~ nrohnStra rhetorical nvor,ipoe
pageants, etc. The largest liberty for
individual ingenuity and taste is left to
all schools, and the executive committee
would encourage a local variety to be
given to the official programme.
The Omcial Programme
will consist of the following features:
!. RAISING AM SALUTING THE FLA
under the direction, wherever possible.
of a detail of the veterans of the war;.
2. THE Som OF COLUMBUS DAY
ito a well known tune).
8. THE ADDREss
ITO be acclaimed by the best speaker among
the boys).
4. THE ODE
TO be read or recited by a young LADY,.
8. "AMERICA"
(Which will in all cases be the closing
song.
The song, the address and the ode
will all be original, prepared especially
for the celebration by some of the best
of American writer's.
By the LIST of September this official
programme, IN a complete form, wiH be
published throughout the country, and
aiH also be sent to all applicants who adj
dress the chairman of the etecutire com
mittee.
Even if nothing be added to this pro-
gramme, except perhaps a few speeches
and some familiar national songs, the
ceremonies will be impressive and
worthy of the occasion.
But for schools which desire to AZ.
range a more enriched programme 3
number of other appropriate features
may be at the same time suggested by
the executive committee.
The Public School Houses,
it is to be remembered, are to be the
scenes of this morning celebration. AS
far as possible in each school house all
the oo1ns under the same principal
should unite in having the same exer-
cises. The parents and friends of the
pupils should be brought together.
Family interests on Columbus Day
should be made to center in the partic-
ular school house the children attend.
In the country the day ought to be
made a real holiday. Farm and house
hold work might we'll be relinquished,
and the families of the district might
come together at the school house with
their picnic lunches prepared to make
a day of memorable festivity. The COM
memoration exercises of the morning
being over, the afternoon might be de-
voted to games and to social reunions of
neighbors, which would make the day a
joyous II to millions of our hard work
ing population.
The Afternoon Celebration.
In nearly all cities and large villages,
however, the citizens will wish a formal
demonstration on Columbus Day which
may be in their own hands. Wherever
the citizens are to conduct a celebration
two matters should be especially ar
ranged:
First-That the civic celebration &C.
cur in the afternoon, so that it will not
conflict with the morning celebrations
which are going IN in all the school
houses.
Second-That in the afternoon cele-
bration by the people ample recognition
should be given to the public school
idea, which is to be the characteristic of
the day throughout the nation.
This afternoon celebration will vary
with each locality, but the citizens will
gladly accord to the free school institu-
ton the place of honor.
This leading position for the schools
In the afternoon celebration can be cas-
lily arranged: