Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-16
The Revival of
Pageantry,
Things You Want to Know

Gloucester gave a pageant of remarkable
artistic beauty. II took the form OF az
acted drama and was called The Canter,
bury Pilgrims" One OF the most mag
niflcent outdoor performances ever giver
in America was that which took place in
the stadium at Harvard last June. when
Maude Adams, assisted by 1900 performers
all of the principals being professional
actors, presented Schiliers Joan of Arc"
Fully 1900 people witnessed the perform.
ance, and every seat In the stadium wa,
sold many days before the pageant wal
enacted. This summer the center OF out
door activity will be the Far West. Tive
notable performances win be Margaret
Anglins presentation OF the Greek tragedy
"Antigone," at Berkeley, CAL ana Maude
Adams performance of AS You Like It,"
also in the open air.
California is accustomed to Spectacular
open air performances. but only to q lin.
tied circle of spectators. In fact. the east
might have gone to the Callfornians more
than thirty years ago to learn how ia
celebrate in the open. The bohemian
clubs high jinks" in the redwood forests
have been an established institution for
three decades. The Bohemian club is com.
posed OF about 1900 prominent San Fran.
cisco citizens who each year so to the red,
wood forests to indulge in revels In the
open, No better idea of the character OF
one of these revels can be given than ia
quote the description OF Percy MacKaye,
the poet, who wrote of the masque Sons
of Baldur'':
AFTER three magical dawns. three mys.
FERROUS moons and three divine midnights,
spent in fellowship with the noble pagan
brotherhood Of that natural monastery,
stepped in the sylvan seclusion of 3O01
years, found myself by moonlight seated
between two companions on one of the
ancient logs that form the seats of the
forest auditorium, facing the canyon hill.
side which formed the stage. Above us
the interninable tree boles touched the
stars. Around us, robed and cowled like
ourselves in red and black, huddled the
unbelievable audience Before US from the
glow-work lights of pit rose the inclusive
magic OF violins. Slowly then, as the over
ture waned, out of the moon-flecked dark
ness waxed an imaginary world OF plot
or theme or episode was only half aware
held by a grandeur that gripped the
throat and stung the spirit by Its keen
beauty. At times, almost intolerably, I
felt the impulse to put my brow to the
earth like an aboriginal, / remember that
for an instant-some 200 feet in midair-s
between the giant tree trunks, a spirit Of
rose-hued fire appeared suddenly and as a
spirit spoke to those on the stage beneath.
remember misunderstanding rs on view-
less rounds of a ladder let down from some
heaven of william Blake-little children
fluttering white in rhythmic chsnt and
choir. And again, the death of y ~ror
his soul as 1t flashed skyward tn tho
sequoia tops with silver flame. l.o to
convey a sense OF It! Impossiblel'
Pageantry has been fifty characterized
as poetry for the masses" 1t presents in
symbolic form incidents or ideas as the
case may be, appealing TO the Imagination
through the senses. This particular form
of celebration dates from the earliest time.
The Greeks were fond of it., and the
triumphai return of Rome's conquering
heroes, leading in their train the captivea
and the booty of their successful warfare,
were nothing more or less than martial
pageants depicting the battle and the con-
quest. The great pageant on the "Field Of
the Cloth of Cold" when the French and
the English monarehs embraced each = Ter
in great show OF outward affectin, was
probably the most gorgeous event of the
kind ever held. Dickens in writing OF 1t
describes how the white wine and the red
flowed like water from fountains. and that
} the warlike hosts of the two grand mon
dTcnS gave themselves over TO tne CeloDra-
ton of the pledges of peace.
} The fact that pageantry was allowed TO
become one of the lost arts" so to speak,
| for a number Of years does not mean that
such celebrations are apt to drop out OF
fashion again in the near future. On the
contrary, they seem 20 have come to stay
J and no surer guarantee Of this can DO
found than the fact that they have proved
| to be great business successes No form
of advertising has been found so effective
for cities as great pageants. The people
flock to the celebrations from all parts Of
the country and the enactment of histori-
> cal, educational or symbolic scenes is Q
/ matter of nation wide comment receiving
the Endorsement of educators, civic bene-
r factors and clergy. In future no exposi-
4 ton will be considered success unleEa
, some vast pageant is given to symboliza
and typify the event. The field for nov
city, invention and artistic effects in
pageants is unlimited, and the planning OF
4 such an event is a task worthy of the
most inventive mind and the most artistic
. perception
BY BREDERIC J. HAsKTM.
Tomorrow Prize Fight Legislation