The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1907-08-23
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Pageanttis is prevalent in the Brit
ish Isles at the present time, and II
would not be at all surprising If the
craze for the brilliant shows illus.
trative 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 not
go 80 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-clad
nights concerned in II, but the red
skins in their war paint, from a 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 it's 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 exposltions
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
WIN AhAiNNhNo AlbAAl NlAlNn W IHOOot
material for such spectacular shows,
but surely the early settlements on
American soil, the Indian fights, the
colonial wars. the revolution, the war
of 1912, afford a wealth of material for
vivid tableaux OF fascinating interest
which would present an epitome of
progress and development well 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
lish pageants. because the folk who
have made American history were not
given to putting on style. At the
same time their costumes were by no
means lacking in picturesqueness.
1t is estimated that the 12 pageants
which make up this years program
will cost $1,250,000. The Bury st. Ed
munds pageant continued through six
days. The ancient town is so chock
full OF history that II could provide
far more episodes than the seven
treated by Mr.. Louis Napoleon Parker
the dramatic author, and the orlgi-
nator of the historic pageant idea.
They begin with scene representing
the villa Faustinl and the revolt of
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 the
sainted monarch was intrusted. Here
II is shown how Canute comes to
Bury, dispossesses the secular priests,
introduces the Benedictine monks.
and founds the monastery, with Uvius
as first abbot Later is interviewer
the story of the famous Abbot Sam
son, dealt with by Carlyle in Past
and Present" After the meeting of
the barons at Bury, where they swear
to force King John to ratify the
charter of Henry l.. comes the muir
der of Humphrey, duke of Gloucester.
The last episode. entitled THE Dawn
of a New Age" brings the pageant up
to 1850. 1t shows Mary Tudor pres.
ent at st. Matthew'S fair. Later 1t
: deals with the dissolution, the dis
persal Of the monks and the sale of
the abbey for $2.O65; also with the
foundation of the first OF King Ed
ward Wis 30 grammar schools.
aAverpool has just celebrated the
seven hundredth anniversary of its
foundation with a pageant. The an
Client town of St, Adams, which suf.
fers from an embarrassment OF riches
In the matter of historic associations,
also had its pageant, as did Carts
G.soke castle, Isle Of Wight. whore