The Washington herald., 1910-01-23


turesque events Of the year will be the
historical pageant Of London, which Is
TO be the central feature of the Festival
of Empire" at the Crystal Palace in the
summer
After months OF careful research by a
committee, over which Mr.. G. Lawrence
CONNIE, the clerk of the London county
council, and himself distinguished an
1iquary, presides, the full list of scenes
has now been completed. These have
been handed over in rough form 10 Mr.
Frank Lascelles the master of the pa
geant, who will be responsible for their
arrangement having two historians to
guide him in the details. Mr.. LasceIles.
# Will be recalled. produced most sue
cessfully the Canadian pageant for the
Quebec tercentenary celebrations. The
chairman Of the general council of the
pageant is the Earl of Plymouth, and
associated with him are the Duke or
Fife. the Duke of Devonshire, Lord
StrathCona, and others.
More than an idea that will contribute
20 the success of the undertaking has
been borrowed from Wagnerian opera.
The pageant 70 be produced at the Crys-
tai Palace is 10 be in twenty-fOur scenes,
arranged in a cycle OF three series. after
the Wagnerian method. steam cloud
curtain will be used to close each scene
In all, no fewer than 15.000 persons par
ticipate in the display.
Begins with Earliest Date.
Opening with the dawn of history. the
pageant first presents a scene of pre-
historic London, with the great forest
10 the north. King Lud the legendary
founder of the city, is the only character
staged for whose authenticity no respon-
sibility is taken. Afterward come the
Romans. who lay the true foundations
Of Londinium. 1t is shown under two
phases-by the sacrifice offered TO Diana
and then bya picture of the later Roman
age, when Christianity had been intro
duced, and the strategic importance Of
the capital came to be realized and it's
Notifications undertaken.
Saxon London is to be reconstructed, a
striking incident being the meeting of the
citizens in the "Folkmoot'' The Danish
invasion provides perhaps the most
dramatic scene in the pageant The river,
up which the Vikings sailed. cannot be
brought 10 the Crystal Palace but the
lakes i'm the grounds will be utilized. and
spectators will witness London Bridge
break in the middle and the defenders
hurled into the water.
The scene closes with the passing Of the
dead Olaf up the river. King Harold
marches out toward the south TO meet
William of Normandy. after which the
conQueror enters with his army. Medieval
sports and a brilliant scene depicting a
tournament in Cheapside before Edward
III and Queen Philippe are later stages
Of London life with which Part / closes.
The Pilgrims Ride.
Very picturesque will be the ride Of
Chaucer's Canterbury Pilgrims. with
which the succeeding part opens For a
civic pageant. typical of the most ex-
travagant and luxurious period Of Eng
lish history. Charles Ricketts, has been
invited 20 design the costumes. Wat
TyleTs rebellion furnished some stirring
scenes, then King Henrik returns
from Agincourt with all the opportunities
for military display which such an event
affords.
The close OF Che wars Of the Roses is
shown by the return of King Henry VII
after the defeat and death of Richard at
Bosworth Field Then the dawn Of the
era Of great discoveries. the ''Merrie Eng
land Of the early years OF Henry WIS
reign. and the spacious days of Great
Elizabeth which follow are all to be pre-
scented in turn.
IN its later history, London becomes
more drab. but there is yet a strong
appeal to be made through the eve. The
third, and concluding part Of the pageant,
leaving Shakespeare and his players at
the Globe Theater-tO be accurately rem
resented-wiH indicate the foundation Of
the East India Company. with the return
OF Capt. Lancaster
Scenes from virginia.
The central episode in the subsequent
beginnings of the empire viii be found
in the connection of Virginia and the
new colony with the city, exemplifed by
the masque given in honor Of Princess
Pocahontas. the famous Red Indian prin-
cess, who was married to an English
man.
Plague and fire depict the passing Of
Old London, and with closing scenes Of
the capture Of Quebec, and the death Of
Wolfe and MOntcalm. of Capt. Cook Ieav-
ing Deptford on an expedition to the
South Seas, and Of the passing of Ma
poleon. the pageant comes 70 an end with
an allegorical tableau depicting THE
gathering of the colonies around the
mother country"