New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-05
GL0UCESTER'S BIG DAY
President Sends Regrets-Thousands
See Pageant.

Gloucester. Mass. Aug. A spectacle unique
in the annals Of New England. and probably the
most elaborate of It's kind ever seen in this
country. brought TO close tonight the celebra-
ton of the first settlement OF Gloucester 2$ years
ago Seated in a natural amphitheatre overlooking
the haroor. five thousand persons witnessed the pro-
duction by cast of two thousand players of the
pageant The Canterbury Pilgrims"
Gloucester Day. celebration is annual fxt-
ure in the local calendar. but this year an
unusually elaborate programme was arranged.
and when it thought that the occasion would
be marked by the presence OF President Taft the
citizens We'd with one another TO assist IN the
plans and make the affair eclipse all previous
efforts The inability Of the President to come
here. on account of the pressure Of tariff affairs
IN Washington, caused much regret, and some
slight changes in the programme were necessary
at the last moment: but the arrangements a
whole were carried out on the scale originally
planned The city was decorated with flags and
bunting, squadron OF warships and the many
vessels of the famous fishing fleet in the har-
Dor were profusely decorated also. and a parade
In which the sailors from the squadron assisted
this afternoon served as a sort of curtain raiser
TO the fete OF the evening
The pageant was given at Stage Fort Park. a
peculiarly appropriate spot historically because It
includes the site Of the house OF Roger Conant the
nrst Governor OF the little Gloucester colony Percy
Mackaye is the author OF the play THE Canter-
bury Pilgrims" and he was assisted In the pro-
auction by Eric Pape one of the summer colony
OF artists here. who developed the artistic ele-
ments and was master of the pageant. and by
walter Damrosch director of the New York SYM
phony Orchestra. who arranged the music.
On an open air stage 175 feet long and $50 feet in
depth the principals the various acts and the
hundreds Of people making up the choruses faced
an audience seated in an immense natural amphi-
theatre. There curtain, but a dsply of col
ored fire screened the stage between the acts.
The music was by a band of sixty-hve pieces
ana large pipe organ built expressly for out-of-
door work At certain periods In the performance
the bells of the city churches connected electri-
caily with the organ. sounded their chimes. while a
salute OF artillery rom the warships was also a
feature OF one part of the play.
Governor Draper attended thu day exercises
The following telegram from President Taft was
received oy the committee during the afternoon:
am greatly distressed in not being able tn f1IdI
NY engagement TO be present at the Gloucester
Flgrlms: have been looking forward to the
Visit with much pleasure. NV enforced absence Is
vote on the tariff bill August 3 makes il abso-
lutely impossible for me to be absent from Wash
IhSton that day. l am sure all present will have
nifty.
All the invited guests present reviewed the
parade. The younger members OF the Taft fam
fly and four children of the late President CIeve-
land who came here from Tamworth " H. 70 see
the paseants. had on the reviewing stand.
Mrs. Taft came 10 Gloucester in an automobile
from Beverly this afternoon and took luncheon with
her sister. Mrs More. who had come earlier in the
day with the Taft children.