The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-08-26

NEN--+NNNNN
ish Isles at the present time, and II
would not be at all surprising If the
craze for the brilliant shows, illus
tratiye 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 90 away asking
the question: why should not Ameri-
ca have its historic pageants. too?"
To be sure, Americas history does not
go SO far back as Engiaii's, but what
there Is Of It is extremely picturesque
and by no means lacking IN thrilling
scenes There are no armor-clad
nights concerned in It. but the red
skins in their war paint, from spec
tacular view. would be just as effect
i've
Historical pageants have become so
popular in England that though the
FIRST Of them was held only two years
ago, no less than a dozen have been
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 to
historic renown will have held its open
air theatricals, depicting memorable
scenes In its annals.
The secret Of the popularity Of this
form Of entertainment is not far to
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 It 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 line Of his
torIc Incidents from which to choose
material for such spectacular shows
but surely the early settlements on
American soil, the Indian fights. the
colonial wars. the revolution, the wal
Of 1912, afford wealth OF material for
vivid tableaux OF fascinating interest
which would present an epltome 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
dertaking than making them for Eng
iish pageants. because the folk whs
have made American history were NO
given to putting on style. Al th'
same dime their costumes were by NJ
means lacking in picturesqueness.
Il is estimated that the 12 pageanti
which make up this years program
will cost s1.250.0OO The Bury st. Ed
munds pageant continued through ST.
days. The ancient town Is so chocl
full Of history that Il could provid
far more episodes than the sever
treated BY Mr.. Louis Napoleon Parke
the dramatic author, and the origl
nator Of the historic pageant idea
They begin with scene Representing
the villa Faustinf and the revolt 0
Boadicea. They continue through tn
story OF the martydom Of King Ed
mund. the tale OF the great monas
terry and the negligent secular priest
in whose keeping the body OF tn
sainted monarch was intrusted Her
It IS shown how Canute comes {
Bury. dispossesses the secular priests
introduces the Benedictine monkl
and founds the monastery, with Uvlu
as first abbot Later Is interwove
the story Of the famous Abbot San
son, dealt With by Carlyle in "Pal
and Present" After the meeting {
the barons at Bury, where they swea
to force King John to ratify tn
charter OF Henry l.. comes the mu
der Of Humphrey. duke Of Glouceste
The last episode. entitled THE Daw
Of a New Age" brings the pageant u
10 1850 It shows Mary Tudor pre-
ent at st. Matthews fair. Later
deals with the dissolution. the di
persal Of the monks and the sale {
the abbey for s2,065; also with th
foundation Of the first Of King b
ward Wis 80 grammar schools.
aIYerpool has just celebrated q
seven hundredth anniversary Of Il
foundation With a pageant The q
Client town Or st. Alhans, which 81
fers from an embarrassment Of richs
In the matter of historic association
also had its pageant, as did Carl
traaso castle. Isle Of Wight. whei