The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-07-22
PAGEANT PLANS
First Time In America to Reproduce
Battle Scene

FIRST Time In America to Reproduce
Battle Scene
The Pageant to be given in Ben.
nington on the afternoons of August
18th and 18th and the evening of Aug
ust l4th and 10Th will be unique
among those given in this country as
it will be the first historical pageant
in which a battle has been reproduc.
ed. The Battle OF Bennington made
famous not only because il was a
brilliant victory for the patriots but
because IL was the first really aggres.
siye movement made by them in the
war of the Revolution, will be por-
trayed With the scarlet uniforms of
the British and Hessian soldiery the
war paint and feathers OF the Indian
allies, the quiet yet striking uniforms
of the Green Mountain Boys, this will
make a brilliant picture full of action
and pathos The battle will be only
one episode of the pageant however
The prologue itself will be quaint
and interesting episode.
The scene is laid in Old Portsmouth.
New Hampshire. the home OF Gov.
Bennng Wentworth, who gave Ben.
nington its charter and for whom the
town was named Longfellow has
made famous the courtship of Ben.
ming Wentworth and his marriage
with Martha Hilton. his maid OF all
work
The prologue Is in two acts. The
first shows Queen street. Portsmouth,
with its quaint inn with swinging sign
under which Dame Staners accosts
the slip OF a girl who bare-footed and
carrying her water pail through
Portsmouth street is certain that
some day she will ride in her own
chariot There will be much action
in this scene The British Regulars
and townfolk gathered about the inn
TO see the departure OF the stage
coach for Boston and the passing to
and fro OF the gentry of which at
that time there were many In Ports
mouth will make an interesting pic.
ture OF old time manners and Gus
toms
After the departure OF the stage
coach the handsome chariot of Gov
Benning Wentworth passes by with
out.riders tn scarlet uniforms. The
second act PICTURES the dinner party
an imromptu marriage OF GOV Went.
worth with his maid Of all work. In
this episode old zinc dances will be
introduced Now the scene reverts
To the wilderness and the arrival of
the first settlers who came on horse.
back and IN OK teams and goes on
through the early colonial life of
Bennington. and the interesting cpl.
sodes which centcred around the Cat.
amount tavern where Ethan Allen.
Seth Warner and the Green Noun.
tain Boys had their headquarters. An
episode TN old New England shows
the life of the English people IN the
lS,h century when Samuel Robinson
visited London to present the griey
ances OF the New Hampshire claim
ants to the king. The pageant brings
the history OF Bennington down to
goth century days
Clark's woods. whore the pageant
will be held forms "A natural amphi
theatre with background OF trees and
hills and II is accessible by the cleo
trio cars. Tickets aud AUTOMOBILE,
= spaces may be secured OF Or r. s
Pratt. Bennington. VT In connection
with the pageant there will be an
historical exhibit in the academy a
Old Bennington and an industrial eN
hibit from the beginning OF Vernon
manufacturing down to the presen
day will be held In Bennington. TIN
includes fine collection OF historic
Bennington pottery. The pageant i
in celebration of the one hundred an,
nftleth anniversary OF the coming o
the first settlers and six hundred pee
pie will take part In IT,