Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-10-20
A PATRIOTIC PROGRAMME.

Plans for the Public School Observance
 of Columbus Day.
 When the American superintendents of education at their Brooklyn meeting last winter appointed their executive committee to take charge of the national public school celebration of Columbus Day, they instructed them especially to prepare uniform programme of exer- cises for all localities.
 This official programme is now pub ished. It provides specifically for morning celebration in the school houses, and suggestions are made for afternoon demonstrations in which schools and citizens may unite. The morning cere- monies are to be as follows:
 The schools are to assemble in their school houses at the usual hour on the morning of Oct 21. All the rooms under the same principal, so far as pos sible, are to unite in the same exercises Although it is a gala day, the discipline is to be precise, and the session is sup posed to exhibit the results of careful, painstaking preparations.
 The principal sees that everything is in readiness, gives his last injunctions and with his special guests waits the ar- rival of the detail of veterans who are to assist in raising and saluting the flag. The veterans are awaited at the gate by a color guard of pupils and are escorted with dignity to the main room and presented to the principal. Then the signal is given, and each room in turn, to drumbeat or other music, marches to the school yard, where the exercises are to take place and where seats have been arranged. The pupils are drawn up in large hollow square around the flag, and the veterans and color guard take their places at the halyards.
 The exercises are opened by the mas ter of ceremonies, who may be the prin- cipal or an appointed person, reading the presidents proclamation for the school celebration of the day, in which he urges that every school in the land shall fly the national flag. He orders the flag unfurled, and the veterans run it up the staff and lead the assemblage in three cheers for the stars and stripes. Then, led by the principal, the pupils give an impressive salute to the colors, pledging allegiance to the flag and to the republic for which it stands. This salute properly terminates in the sing ing of ''My country, 'tis of theer' by the whole audience.
 Following this unique ceremony and an acknowledgment of Divine Provi- dence come the specially contributed features of the official programme. The first of these is the song of Columbus Day by Theron Brown, the distinguished writer of sweet songs. This is to be sung | to the old and majestic tune of "Lyons." | N1,,o,S fOl1o E1,oo oe Day, which is a thoughtful and brilliant Reclamation prepared by The Youths Companion as it's special gift to the cele- bration. The final feature is the read ing of the ode of Columbus Day. This new poem, by Edna Dean Proctor, is a masterpiece. It will take high and per manent rank as an American classic The privilege of declaiming this noble address, and of rendering the superb ode, will be coveted distinction among the pupils of our schools, and the assign ment should be very carefully made.
 This concludes the uniform features of the official programme. Following these are expected to come the local ad- ditions, such as historic representations, patriotic recitations and chorals, with which the schools may elaborate the ex- ercises. It will also be the usual thing for addresses to be made by the eminent guests of the occasion, and for the familiar national hymns to be sung.
 Preparations for the creditable rem dering of this programme cannot begin too soon. The most careful arrange
 ments should be made. Persistent re-
 hearsing is imperative.
 The families of all the pupils should
 be invited. Citizens generally should be expected at the school houses on the
 evening of Oct. 21. Seats for the as-
 semblage should be provided out of
 doors, and suitable room should also
 be held in readiness for retreat in case
 of storm.