Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-07-12
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA SUM-
MER SCHOOL.
Correspondence Of the Alexandria Gazette
THE PAGEANT.
Charlottesville, Va, July 10.

Three hundred years Of history por-
trsyed in three hours Of time. This is
the story in brief of the pageant enacted
at the University Summer School last
Saturday, in commemoTaiion OF the sigu-
ing of the Declaration of Independence.
More than one thousand persons took
part-the students and teachers Of the
University Summer School-represent'
Jog fifty different counties of Virginia,
seventeen states outside of Virginia, the
District of Columbia, Mexico snd China.
Nature aud the elements seemed to favor
the proceedings, which we're held out of
doors from 5 80 to $50 p. NJ. The
weather was ideal, and a more effective
setting of architecture aud natural
scenery, combined with historic Ossocis-
tious, could hardly be imagined. The
broad, green lawn, bOrdered by its dou-
BILE rows of trees through which cleaned
ont the white columns of the loag ar-
cades, was a most fitting stage for the
enactment of tho colossal drama. At
one end of the great rectsngle could be
seen a bronze statue of Homer, jOst in
front of the Ionic columns of Csbel
Hall. At the other end loomed up the
Corinthian columns that support the
southwest pediment of the rotunds-o
smaller but graceful pantheon. To al
this
"The glory that was Greece
And the grandeur that wns Rome."
vas added the almost classic beauty of
the surrounding bills and the more re-
mote blue-tinted mountains. Many Of
lesser heights are crowned with the
homes of famous men; and in plain
sight is toe little wooded mountain,
Monticello, where lived the man whose
pen has made the Fourth Of July famous
over the world and dear to every true
American heart.
The procession formed at Oabell Hall,
msrched up the west side of the lawn,
crossed before the rotunda to the east
side OF the lawn, returned greater part
of the way to Osbell Hail, then crossing
to west lawn marched up second time
and crossed ia front OF the roiunda.
Upon the rotunda steps was 6 gronp OF
the most notable characters, who re-
viewed the pageant and received the
delegations Of the various counties, states
and countries upon the second round OF
the procession.
The personnel of the receiving group
was az follows: Columbia and Uncle
Sam, George and Martha Washington,
James and Dolly Madison, Mr.. and Mrs.
Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Edwin a.
Alderman, frat president Of the Univer-
sity of Virginia, and Edgar Allen Poe
the most famous slumnus Of the tustitu'
ton. As the procession came up Coco
IQueen Bess and Sir Walter Raleigh
were seen at its head, and close behind
them Capt. John Smith aud POcahonlss
| True to legend and bis gallant character
Sir Walter cast down his cloak for To,
queen to walk upon as she mounted tn
step3 aud took her place among he
guests aud hostesses. The queen wa
personsted by Miss Elizabeth Pickett, o
Norfolk, niece of the famous general
| DR.. Edwin Minis, of the University Q
North Carolina, scted the part OF Raj
eigh, while John Smith and PocShonts
we're persousted by Prof. Thomas Fitz
hugh, of the Uniyersity of Virgins
and Miss Anna johnson, respectively
The group of worthless just named form
ed part of the delegation of Norfol
} county, Vs., and other famous person
ages in that company were Lord Dur
, more and John Marshall. "Women fc
q. SALE" recalled the famous cargo
- maids of 1919, and a match between on
{ of the business.like young women and
Young pioneer of the wilderness was 81
tuslly bsrgained out under the very nos
Of royalty. The entire procession vi
about 8 quarter Of mile long, snd too
up nearly two hours 10 passing the polT
of review, and, in consequence, out
,gsrd for the readers pStiercs, thong
l At the expense Of many interesting d'
tails. q connected recital of the who
proceeding must not be attempted. A.
cordipgly, only few OF the most prom
neut characters and striking featur
hsve been selected for notice, and theI
are not taken up necessarily in the
proper order. The counties OF Virgini
which were given first place in the pr
z cession, were arranged msioly in Il
: order of their organization, chronolog
cally, while the other states and Il
l. foreign countries we're given preceden
according to various appropriate circuu
stances.
u