Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-24
rrrr DIES vtaNzRoHs.
Once in Sixteen Years Vine Dressers
of vevey Hold Festival.


From the Paris Figaro.
The great red curtains OF the three Dorio
porches swung open. The "Aisrche des Conn
battants de Marisnan''. began, played BY
shrili ffes, while the drums fairly thun.
dered and. at the sound OF this very an
Client. very primitive and at the same time
very thrilling music came company after
company of scarlet giants with crenellated
hats and immense white piumes. each giant
bearing a huge halberd. Having made their
triumphal entry. they drew up In solid
ranks on either side sof the stage. leaving
room for the passage of the official corr
tege. the abbot stalking ahead holding
aioft the golden croiser of a bishop, and fol-
lowed by his coEnselors. These crossed
the stage and took seats on the dadais OF
honor. They were all clad in rich costumes
of Louis xv's time.
All the musicians Joined IN a majestic
prelude, interrupted by brief pause dur
ing which-wi;h an effect as impre ssive as
surprising-you heard the booming OF can
non and the ciangor of bells Then
the orchestra broke into triumphai
march to welcome the inrushing throng
OF performers. and next in turn came
q parade of gayly decked vans and cattle
and sheep. filling all the stage.
Internationally standard bearers, with
the banners of the two-and-twenty cantons.
then formed In brilliant line and executed
the ancient lieu des drapeaux. after which
the entire host of performers intoncd the
invocation TO agriculture. and then the
abbot pronounced his address and crowned
the most deserving members of the guild
In the antique fashion, patriarchal cere-
mony that is jollier than IL was In the
oiden days, because 1t can't be taken seri,
ously.
And now the play began. why shouldn't
say the prem? The troupes of Pales
tspring time). Ceres (sunmer). and Bacchus
winter, alone remaining, sang the glorious
chorus:
Winter old, meath the tall dark Ar.
Sings as he watches the siumbering world.
These majestic ensembles were followed
by some charming episodes. The chorus OF
wood cutters, rhythmic and graceful. sing
ing their half-sad, half-joyous songs: the
march OF the huntsmen, and next the we'd
ding, one of the festivals traditional num-
bers, and one OF its prettiest. too. For
you can't imagine a loveler sight than the
wedding procession and the dances by the
forty-four wedding guests in their oldtime
SWISS costumes, SO picturesque and SO
varied. Those costumes, especially those of
the women. show what popular taste and
coquetry can do in the way of what is
charming and fetching, and make one only
the more regretful that the modern maj MIA
for having all things alike is banshng
these exquisite survivals OF bygone days.
The Lauterbach valse. bewitchingly DELI
cate and old-fashioned. was a most perfect
accompaniment for this really delicious
scene.
1t was Immediately followed by two other
moving tableaus-more simple. but equally
filled with rustic poetry. The laborers came
forward with a cart drawn by huge oxen.
and sang without accompaniment chanson
in the Jagol' patois a simple peasant song.
that seemed to breathe the fragrance of
the meadows and the leafy lane; the SOW
ers appeared. and for this scene the part
Rene Morax and the managers OF the fes-
tival fortunately realized that there could
be no need OF theatric artihce, for reality
itself was in this case a sufficient decora-
tive picture. The sower. as he sowed.
sang very simple and very grave song.
Other sewers came behind
This note of solemnity and OF hope once
struck, the winter came to its end. The
March du Printemps" rang gayly out,
and Pales came on with her jubHant troupe.
bifthe and blue and pink and mauye blend
ed most adornably. There were little girls
and young women, priestesses of the god
dess; little Vatican shepherds, older and
garbed In sheepskin, were leading their
f1ocks. while their dogs oficiously kept the
sheep from going astray. There were gar
deners. men and girls carrying arches of
MOWERS; there We're haymakers dancing
about fiower-laden hayrick; and lastly
there was Pales. the dark-haired goddess.
draped in white and pale blue, crowned
with roses and holding aloft her scepter
with smiling grace and majesty
At this point came one of the most i'm
portant ensembles Of the whole pageant
and Gustaye Doret rose to the full height of
ms genius as master of description and
decorative" music Mime. Troyon- Blaesi
of Toulouse was Pales priestess, and her
beautiful soprano blended wonderfully with
the exquisite orchestral accompa niment 1t
was one of the lovelest musical numbers
IN the entire program. though 1t was per-
maps Just a wee bit too long.
fascinating dance of little shepherds.
to the charming strains of "The Village
Soothsayer," and the music suddenly
changed to much simpler air. After the
'Coo-Coo Song the gardeners mowers and
haymakers sang and danced prettily. and
then Pale's troupe retired while Ceres
troupe came on.
There was perfect blaze of red and
god. The beautiful fiaxen- haired goddess
ga. sHilihg IN her chariot. and her red
robed priestess offered her pagan sacrifices
ana sang the exquisite incarnation:
beneath my beams the warm and trembling earth
Lies sleeping. Ger the ripe corn pours a tide
q gold and purple. while the festal Iamps
Shine bright against the approaching harvest time
Ihen the harvesters, men and madens,
IN pretty red and white costumes with
nower.decked hats, went through a series
OF varied picturesque dances, stopping now
and then to sing. And what a dainty
chanson was that of the cleaners!