The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-25
TWELVE PAGES.


FROM an out side point OF view, Jhefa
is not the slightest doubt that the most
interesting event in the Millennial
Festival proceedings will be the great
historical pageant designed and stage
managed by Paul Vago, the famous
Hungarian artist. The procession, which
will be of extraordinary length and I'M
paralleied splendor will contain every
historical feature, male and female
famed in the history of the gallant king
dom. Not ouly will this pageant be a
living history of great men; it will also
form complete encyclopaedia of me-
d1aeval postum 9, each historical figure
being surrounded by retinue, in which
will be found all the popular types Of the
epoch in which he flourished. Paul
Vago has spent years of his life devising
and composing the pageant, and he has
drawn each figure as 1t should be. One
OF the most striking features of the pro.
cession will be in the fact that whenever
1t be possible q real descendant of the
man or woman represented will play the
role, and in more than one case the origi-
nal costumes, exhumed from many an
/
will be worn on this occasion. 1t is easy
to understand how much such a specta-
Gle will appeal to the intensely patriotic
and ardent nature Of the Hungarian
people. To them the name of each of
their heroes is a familiar household
word; and the most distant mountain
villages will send Populations and repre-.
sentatiyes to see this marvellous sight.
The procession will wend Its way
through the whole town, and the pro-
ceedings connected with the historical
pageant will cover several days.
The actual Exhibition itself covers an
area OF 5o0 900 square yards, and it was
only after much elaboration that the
plans designed by one of the best Austri-
an architects were finally followed. One
feature of great interest in the grounds
of the Exhibition will be the reconstitu-
tion of old Buda, the city which was a
| Roman colony down to the fourth GEN.
fury. Every monumental building in
the country is reproduced In this small
space The Exhibition is divided into
two sections. the historical and the mod
ern The historical contains the art
treasures and relics illustrating the past
political, religious, military and private
life Of the nation. Francis Joseph /. has
been most generous In lending priceless
treasures. and, indeed, may be said to
be the chief exhibitor, the more SO that
he has commanded the heads of Austrian
archives and treasures to give temper
airy loan of all they possess relating to the
history of tho sister kingdoms. Even
the Sultan..of Turkey has been prevailed
upon to send precious memorials of all
those of his illustrious predecessors
who in the past materially influenced
the destinieH of Hungary. The modern
section will prove less interesting, for it
will simply contain the kind Of exhibits
to be seen in similar shows.
An elaborate programme has been
drawn up of each days proceedings
( Gymnastic and other athletic clubs will
arrange races, regattas and shooting
matches, in connection with which will
be offered valuable prizes. An uninter-
rupted series of international congresses
will take place. where scientists, actors,
mountainesrs and journalists will be
represented.
6 The Emperor Francis Joseph, has is
sued invitations to every Court in Eur
ope, and it is feryently hoped that the
beautiful Empress will consent to take
a certain part in the proceedings. In
any case, the Archduchess Stephanie
and her tiny daughter will be very much
in evidence, and the former will act as
hostess to her authoritarian in entertain
ing guests.
Emperor William of Germany will
be an extensivesexhibitorsa. as the reign
ing Austrian family is descended from
Count Rudolph Of Hapsburg. who was
elected Emperor Of Germany in 1879.
There are scores Of arehdukes in Aus
tria and Hungary, and ell Of them have
arranged to take some part in the expo
sition. Many of them have had separate
pavilions erected in the exhibition
grounds for the display of their treasures,
the most handsome of these structures
being the pavilion OF the Archduke Jos.
eph.
To those interested in the way the war
riors of old carried on their warfare the
exposition will have peculiar interest.
Armor and other implements of warfare
used by the brave Magyars who com.
prised ths army of the invading Prince
Arfad. when he defeated Zvatopluk,
King of the Slavs, will be shown.
Later on Arfad, whose fame as war
rior made his will the law even outside
OF his own domain, purchased vast areas
of land, tho nominal price paid being
seven white stations. All the stations
in the world-white, brown, black and of
every other oolor-would not buy one
hundredth part of that territory today.
It will be graphically shown how the
hardy Northmen of Europe overran Italy.
Spain, Hungary, Austria and the best of
Southern Europe in this Middle Ages,
oonquering municipalities, humiliating
the mobiles, leyying tribute right and
left and tearing the whole country wide