Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1892-09-16
A PATRIOTIC PROGRAMME.
Plans for the Public School Observance
of Column bus Day.

Plans for the Public School Observance
of Columbus Day.
When the American superintendent
of education at their Brooklyn meeting
last winter appointed their executive
committee to take charge Of tie 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
lished. 1t provides specifically for a
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:
Tho schools are to assemble in their
school houses at the usual hour on the
morning of Oct. 81. All the rooms
under the same principal, so far as pos
sible, are to unite in the same exercises.
Although 1t is 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
III lCddllSSS, BAfCo llAc ldSb
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, it's of theep 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
70 the old and majestic tune of Lyons.
Then follows the address of Columbus
Day, which is a thoughtful and brilliant
defamation prepared BY The Youths
bratfon. The final feature is the read
ing of the ode Of Columbus Day This
new poem, by Edna Dean Proctor, is a
masterpiece. 1t 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 1t 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 begi1
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 b.
expected at the school houses on thu
evening of Oct. 81. Seats for the as
semblage should be provided out o.
doors, and suitable room should alst
be held in readiness for retreat in cas-
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