Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-08-24
y'HvANDS GREAT I
pEN AIR DRAMA
Roman Days in Britain vividly
Recalled by st. Adams
Pageant.
MANYTHoUSANDS TAKE PART
Act Gu Caesars Arrival OH Identical
Erld Nearly Two Thousand
Years Ago.

The music of trumpets foated from
three trlnts In a wide and silent mea-
dow, writes James oDonnel Bennett
describing the historic pageant at st.
Adams Herts, England, in the Chicago
Record Herald. A bit OF Roman wall
that the Tenth Legion built 20 centuries
ago shone white and gray in the sun
and shadow of afternoon. Far across
the meadow single copper beech bent
softly oefore the breeze, like signal
that VAS burning low. Beyond the
beech tree stretched vistas of oak and
elm.
In and out among the scheens of TO-
liage there flashed figures clad in Grim
son, and sometimes little troops of
huremen moved rapidly down tho
woodland aisles, pressing their he'll
need heads close against the necks
Of their horses as they passed be-
neith the low-hanging bpughs, then
vanished behind hillocks that encir-
cid the meadow. Flecks of cloud
nmted dreanily across the blue sky.
Tie solemn Norman cover of an an
Gent abbey, consrcrated by martyrdom
ard victory and learning and pious
works, looked down rrom a hillside
UPON the silent vale. The flag of Eng
Ind waved from a mast that rose
above the tower. and threw a splash Of
crimson against the blue of the sky.
THE PLAYERS APPEAR.
Again the trumpets sang. and 1000
PEOPLE lent nttentively forward In the
tiers of seats that overlooked the mea-
dow and the vistas OF woodland. Drums
and viols throbbed softly Strains of
invocation and of war crept into the
prelude, now Kissing sharp and clear,
now sinking into a sweet pastoral re-
yerie, in which only the breathing OF
flutes was heard The distant slopes
swarmed with bare-legged Britons--
men whose tawny locks streamed over
their shoulders as they ran; women una
kempt, wild, splendid, broad bands of
silver cncircling their bare arms, skins
~ beasts their ralment, heavy clasps
and bosses OF beaten metal their
acornment. Children, half naked, ran
az their side.
THE STORY THEY TOLD.
The throng paused al the edge of the
meadow disposing itself beneath the
trees. a file OF monkish figures mean
while was moving slowly into the na-
tural amphitheater before the tiers OF
seats. 1t was the choir. The singers
wore long robes, some OF red, some of
blue. The arms of St. Adams were ems
broidered upon the full length of each
garment. Cowls covered their heads,
They moved across the green in long,
slow array, then burst into their song
OF welcome and of promise:
ladies fair and merry gentlemen,
'e pray you of your courtesy attend.
They would have the people give heed
to Il story of Roman conquest and
Druid mysteries and Christian miracles.
of Boadicea's rebellion and death, OF
the good Queen Eleanor's funeral, of
the revolt of the brave peasants OF st.
Adams in Wat Tyler's time, of a bat
Tie in the long struggle between the
houses of York and Lancaster, and.
finally, of the visit OF Queen Bess and
her court to their beloved city which
cmperors and kings have shewered
with honors these 1000 years. The
song ended, the people began to un-
roll the scroll of their honorable his
tory.
THE CHOIR ASSEMBLIES.
The great choir settled itself at the
feet of the 1000 spectators. The Briton
horde descended to the outer edge of
the meadow. the children with their
dogs, the men with their hunting
spears and implements of war. Arch
druid, Druids. bards ovates, and at
PENDANTS moved from beneath the dis
tant oaks, slowly crossed the outly-
Ing fields and. chanting hymns of woe
and sacrifice, entered the arena. They