The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1907-08-17

dESdnJlIS is pIeNdIeHl Ill Tue bliC
ish Isles at the present time, and II
would not be at all surprising if the
craze for the brilliant shows, illus
tratire of historic incidents, would
spread to this country. In fact among
the spectators of these spectacular
celebrations there are none more en-
thusiastic than the American visitors
to England and they go away asking
the question: why should not Ameri
ca have ITS historic pageants, too?
To be sure, Americas history does moi
60 so far back as England's, but what
there is of it is extremely picturesque
and by no means lacking in thrilling
scenes. There are no armor-claC
nights concerned In it, but the red
skins in their war paint, from a spec
tacular view would be just as effect
i've.
Historical pageants have become sc
popular in England that though the
first OF them was held only two years
ago, no less than a dozen have beer
given this summer in as many differ
ent towns of John Bulls tight little
island, Next year there probably will
be twice as many. Before many years
have elapsed it is likely that every
town in England with any claim tC
historic renown will have held its open
air theatricals, depicting memorable
scenes in its annals.
The secret Of the popularity Of thi:
form of entertainment is not far tc
seek They afford realistic glimpses
of the past such as can be obtained
in no other way. They present les
sons in history in the most attractive
form. They encourage civic pride
and local research into the manners
and customs of old times. They are
far more interesting than ordinary
exhibitions with their monotonous
repetitions Of things most of us have
seen before.
The matter of fairs and expositions
has been rather overdone in America
and ii is certain that any new form
OF popular entertainment would meet
hearty approval, and why not the his
toric pageant AS We have said
America has not the long lie Of his
toric incidents from which to choose
material for such spectacular shows
but surely the early settlements or
American soil, the Indian fights, the
colonial wars, the revolution, the wal
of 1912, afford wealth of material fol-
vivid tableauX OF fascinating Interest
which would present an epitCme Of
progress and development we'll worth
seeing
The making OF the necessary cos
tunes for American pageants would
be a much simpler and less costly un
dertGNing than making them for Eng
lish pageants, because the folk who
have made American history were no
given 20 putting on style. At the
same time their costumes were by ne
means lacking in picturesqueness
Il is estimated that the II pageants
which make up this years program
will cost $l,250000. The Bury St Ed
munds pageant continued through sl
days. The ancient town is so chocl
full OF history that it could provide
far more episodes than the sever
treated by Mr.. Louis Napoleon Parke,
the dramatic author and the origi
nator of the historic pageant idea
They begin with a scene Representing
the villa Faustini and the revolt O
Boadicea. They continue through the
story OF the martydom of King Ed
mund. the tale Of the great monas
terry and the negligent secular priests
in whose keeping the body OF tht
sainted monarch was intrusted. Here
1t IS shown how Canute comes e
Bury tispossesses the secular priests
introduces the Benedictine monks
and fCuncs the monastery, with Tyiu!
as fir-t abbot Later is interviewer
the story of the famous Abbot Sam
son, dealt with by Carlyle in Pas
and Present" After the meeting @.
the tsrons at Bury, where they sweal
- force King John to ratify tn,
charter Of Henry l., comes the muir
der Of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester
The last episode, entitled The Dawr
OF New Age brings the pageant u.
to 1850. 1t shows MARY Tudor prea
ent at st Matthews fair Later 4
desls With the dissolution, the dis
peysal OF the monks and the sale o
the abbey for s2.0G5; also with tn,
foundation Of the first Of King Ed
ward Wis 30 grammar schools.
Liverpool has Just celebrated tn,
seven hanlrcdth anniversary OF II,
foundation with pageant The an
Client town Of g. Adams, which suf
fers from an embarrassment Of richie.
fl the matter Of historic associations
also had It's pageant, as lid Carts
t!oofo castle. Isle Of Wight. wher,