Gilpin observer., 1908-06-11
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Philadelphia is to have a pageant
to celebrate Founders week next
October, which occasion will mark
the two hundred and twenty-iifth an
niversary of the establishment of the
city of Brotherly Love, and it is ex-
pected that this gorgeous display will
attract more attention even than did
the celebration 25 years ago. There
will be. according to the elaborate
plans which are being formulated. a
week OF parades of various kinds, mill
tary. naval civic and those by vari-
Gus societies, but, while each in turn
will be viewed by admring throngs,
the historic pageant really will be the
show piece. So much is expected of
it by those who have 1t in charge that
they proudly announce that it will
be the first historic pageant ever seen
in the United States. OF course by
that is intended that this will surpass
all that have gone before.
Details of this imposing show are
not available at this time, which is
five months before the event, but suf-
ficient is known to predict a process
sion Of much magnificence and of
greater historical accuracy in the mat
ter Of costumes than has been hereto
fore seen in professions in this coun-
try. At present the programe pro
vides for 40 floats and about 5000
characters properly costumed to rep.
resent the times portrayed by the
pageant. which will comprise quite
three centuries, beginning with the In.
dians and continuing through the
Dutch. Swedish and finally the Eng.
lish regime on the Delaware.
There will be floats representative
OF the principal historic Incidents con.
nected with Philadelphia since the ar
rival Of Penn in 1852. These will in
clude the landing of the proprietary
governor, the making of the treaty
with the Indians at Shackamaxon, the
early life and manners OF the col
onists, the beginning of the revolution
in Philadelphia and the revolutionary
period in the city. together with floats
showing the Liberty Bell and Jeffer
son writing the immortal Declaration
OF Independence. The bell, of course
will appear in propria persona.
pleasing feature of this part OF
the pageant will be details of cont
mental troops. The famous Troop OF
Horse, now known as the First City
troop, will be shown escorting Wash
ington through the city. and 1t is ex
pected that some of the original uni
forms will be used. Another float will
show Robert Morris. the financier OF
the revolution, who raised the neces
sary funds to carry on the war when
things looked dark for the Americans
and the Battle of Germantown also
will be portrayed in tableau. While
the anniversary of the battle falls on
October 4, as that is the day of the
beginning of Founders Week cele
bration, the event will not be cele
brated this year until the 9Th of the
month.
In similar manner the city during
the war of 1912 will be treated of In
educative and artistic floats. II is in
teresting to note that the financier ol
the government in this conflict. as
was also the case in that of the civil
war, was Philadelphian In the
war of 1912 Stephen Girard came tc
the rescue of the country when no in
vestor appeared to want its loan. The
flnancier will be duly commemorated
by float. The period OF the Mexi
can war also will be treated by floats
Tho civil war period will include some
representation of Jay Cooke. the finan
cier Of that struggle. and a most inter
esting feature of this part of the pro
cession will be details OF men. about
20 each, correctly uniformed to repre-
sent every one of the Philadelphia reg
iments which enlisted for the war.
At this time only the merest outline
Of the extent OF the historic pageant
can be given, but II is said that the
cost Of this feature Of the celebration
will be not less than $4,000, and that
estimate, in view OF the elaborate pro
gram, seems to be conservative.
As the pageant IL In the hands Of q