The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-28
NEW FOURTH or JULY
Suggestions For Regeneration or The
Fourth-Adopt Pageantry for Five
Years

10y feIcy MdCkdye In Inc July 'CeH-
tury')
Leadership by artists, participation
by the peopIe-these are the factors
which should make of pageantry the
regenerating art for the new Fourth.
and SO, whether, rs in Pittsburg on
q large scale. or In the smallest coun-
try community on the least scale,
pageantry holds for the people a ! ch
promise of alIeviation and expression.
To achieve its promise, however, the
highest standards OF art must be de-
voted tol the widest democratic serv-
ice. To this end, for all who may plan
to adopt pageantry for Fourth of July
purposes, | venture to make the fol
lowing practical suggestions, applica-
BILE to any community:
Organize permanent pageant COM
nljttee Of unimpeachable citizens.
Appoint subcommittee. the chair
men of which are artists, or of artistic
bent, In their several special de-
partments.
Plan to adopt pageantry for five
years Continuity of effort is essen
tai: the regeneration of the Fourth Is
worth It.
Choose for master of the pageant
only an artist who comoines high
standards in art with democratic
sympathies
! Raise money, If possible. wholly by
Public subscription or vote. To raise
! il wholly by the gifts of few rich
citizens excludes the vital principle
OF complete popular participation. Let
every school child give five cents; ev-
cry householder or club member twen-
ty-five cents
Establish pageantry traditions, To-
cal and national Do not seek novel
ties for their own sake, but only fea-
tures technically excellent in the art
| involved.
Adopt the theme of Liberty as the
underlying motive Of all pageants- II
Is the essential idea of the Fourth
and susceptible OF great variation.
Revive antics and horribles on an
artistic basis They will lend color
and variety, and they are our only ma
tional tradition in Independence day
/ pageantry.
Revive oratory. subordinated TO pa.
geantry purposes.
Enact plays for children, outdoors
and indoors, on independence day
themes. This may be done through.
out the year and may be correlated
with the pageant on. the Fourth.
Search the library archives for local
state and national folklore. Rich ma
terial exists there. Make much OF
the tradition of your own locality
Teach the children to reverence the
heroism of self-sacrificing pioneers.
Encourage the writing and singing
of ballads or carols, and the compos-
ing of music to them. also further
the arts and crafts among children
Avoid waste of material. Let all
costumes and pageant properties be
made with the view to their perma-
nent preservation by the community
Substitute for floats, which are
static, expensive and usually inartis'
tic. features more dynamic. artistic
and nopular, for which the people
themselves may prepare: such as pan
tomimes. dances and choruses.
Let the public schools. churches.
playground associations, social clubs
and societies prepare for the pageant
at least six months In advance ana
lei them take real fun in doing SO
Use only American material; but IN
so doing conserve all the riches which
ether countries have brought to us IN
our newer citizens: the folklore, mus
IA. costumes. pantomimes, puppe'
shows. histronic gifts, and, above all.
the temperament. which are inherent
lp our Immigrant population.
Conduct all convenings and rehear
sails with the aims of strengthening
Fellowship and democratic cltizenship.l
Keep these aims constantly befote
the people through channels OF the
press. pulpit and schools.
On some such basic as the above
the new Fourth, regenerated by page
antry, may create its counterpart I'M
festival at the winter end of the year;
and another generation may partici-
pate In the rhythmic expression of al
great people, at last aware OF It's civic
IDEALS, In the perennial ait festivals
of Christmas and Independence day