The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-08-05
The Pageant Of Thetford

The town OF Thetford Vermont is
Co give a great outdoor pageant on
August IL, IA and 10, in celebration
OF the one hundred and iiftieth anniv-
STsary Of its founding.
The pageant will be performed on
the banks of the Connecticut River,
qt one of its most beautiful points
and the site has been carefully chos-
en- with view to taking advantage
OF The natural beauty of the scenery.
The Vermont and New Hampshire
hills rise on each side, the intervale
stretches away into long vistas most
effective for horseback approaches,
sEs fhe river winds along the edge
of ehe pageant grounds, forming a
naEi of the great stage. A grove OF
N,ines interspersed with white birch
GsS wiu be used as back curtain and
che banks of the river, as well as the
river itself, will afford an attractive
entrance for the nature spirits who
Will appear in the symbolic dances,
Che Indians in their canoes, and the
earliest settler who came up the riv-
esr in ais search for a home.
The pageant will have cast OF
gs5out sive hundred men, women and
a.Isttlren. drawn exclusively from the
six Villages making up the town OF
Theyford. Historical events in the
Esast Of the town will be alternated
with tnterlude of symbolic nature,
RIrinripally expressed in dramatic dan
Gses gwen by the young girls oil the
villages and of the summer camps
Gnraaed in Thetford. These dances
are under the direction of Miss Vir-
fgi15s Tanner, solo dancer at the Bos-
ton Perfect City Pageant. The music
G16x been especially composed for the
occasion by Mr. James T. Sleeper and
Sra orchestra of over forty is actively
engaged in rehearsal. Mr.. William
ChNmcy Langdon of New York. is
rrnslSsFer Of the Pageant A large num-
Orr OF quaint old costumes, implem'
@n1s wagons, and other properties
lhsyyz been gathered from the home
;sfnaIls of the vicinity, and the parts
win he taken so far as possible by
thz descendants of the early settlers
VVhs are 10 be impersOnated
Sc far the Pageant OF Thetford
Goes not differ materially from the
Numerous other pageants that are be-
tn.z given in this country this year
Rsageapary Is in the air these days,
an5 nc less than twenty-five Of these
ssreai outdoor dramas are occurring
In The United States during the pres
e1f summer In fact, Thetford is one
OF sShree Vermont towns who are Gel
elratfng their anniversaries in THIS
way. The Pageant of Thetford, how
ever. is interesting many persons OF
f7rnminence--soc workers, stud
esn1s aud grave men of affairs be-
cause il is not merely representa-
Zion Of the history Of little town;
81 ss an actual dramatization OF the
rural problem and an attempt 10
work out some solution OF that PROB
Rem. The historic scenes will be so
Cfr-,patized as TO show the severe
oFfGculties under which the country
toan Is established and grows. The
sSpisuhea win illustrate the enect OF
the coming Of the railroad, the intro
Snriion OF machinery, and the IN
s.reasif.. graz lty OF The educational
vroblem Every phase OF the rural
Drablem VIII be presented dramatl-
s.allS ana plcturesquely without sac
Pifcine the 'Deanfy aud interest OF
tho pageant as such. The final cpl.
ts0dns will foreshadow, IN charming
pictures and action, the bright future
Toward which the country town may
work and toward which Thetford, IN
particular. is already looking ana
working. ~
The most significant part OF the
Pageant OF Thetford is that II is be-
cunning simply the center of an ener-
yefic campaign for the development
~ she towns resources. Reused by II
The Farmers Of the community are
taking advantage of the aid when
uhe II. 5. Department OF Agriculture
Is landing In sending an expert to ad'
N1is,V With the farmers on the man
tagcmsut of their land In accordance
with the latest scientific methods,
ana rNcy are entering upon a closer
c,DOperAtion with each other in re-
ssreaf 20 buying and selling. The wo'
lsOen d, tue community are planning
Ia Cestahnsh the "Thetford Kitchen"
Tor 't.lacing upon the market their
Uarlo,n. products. The boys are or
Fsaaszior lnto Boy Scouts. The girls
mr. nrming one OF the first groups
~ .Cirl Pioneers the new organi-
E.fIOn NO1 Kits ANiA'tlNhNAAN -
F.,r Scouts movement. The Thettord
Academy rs taking on new life, and Is
r,lnunlng 10 add courses In agricul'
tuuge and domestic science to its cur
--iu,imm. The orchestra which Is be
.ir formed for performing In the Pa
axrasr wn become the permanent
ssrtNs,s,ra % the town; the same Is
srne az tho great chorus OF voices
l7ss s,nder rehearsal In fact, Tibet
f-frsl "a typiuh agricultural town,
l,N,,es shat IN solving her own prob
Is5n sshe viii help other rural com
rrranitips in Vermont and elsewhere
~ ssrner upon new NE ACTIVITY, anu
Eszy,eterity. The results are being
W. Cd with Interest by students OF
nv !, and living conditions In the
V-sfrd states. Ex.President Roose.
~ aas sent a special message oil
t-vurrhhilaiion and encouragement to
tA,, r,ruplc vi Thetford expressing
a. .t.agtN.nMrR nf their