Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-08-10
PAGEANT AT THETFORD.
Interesting Program TO lie Carried out
II csihents CO-Opernting.

The town of Thetford. Vt. is to give
a great outdoor pageant on August IL,
Il and Il. in celebration OF the 10th an
uiVcrSary of its founding
The pageant will be performed on the
banks of the Connecticut river. at one of
its most beautiful points. and the site has
heen carefully chosen with view to
taking advantage of the natural beauty
of the scenery. The Vermont and New
Hampshire hills rise on each side, the
intcrvale stretches away into long vistas
most effective for horseback approaches.
and the river winds along the edge of the
pageant grounds, forming part of the
great stage. 4 grove of pines inter-
spersed with white hirches Will he used
as back curtain, and the banks of the
river as well as the river itself. will af-
ford an attractive entrance for the ma
turc spirits who will appear in the sym
bolic Dances the Ir!ia7s in their canoes,
and the earliest settler who cam up the
river in his search or 70 home
rho pageant will have = cast Of about
$40 mon. women and children. drawn ex-
clUsivoly from the six villages making
up the town OF Thctford Historical
altcrnatcd with interude Of symbolic
nature, principally expressed in dramatic
dances given by the young girls of the
villages and of the summer camps located
in Thctford These dances are under the
direction of Miss Virginia Tanner solo
dancer at the Boston Perfect city
Pageant. The music has been especially
composed for the occasion by Mr.. James
T. sleeper. and an orchestra Of over 10
is actively in rehearsal. Mr. william
Chauncy Langdon of New York Is mas
ter of the pageant. large number Of
quaint old costumes. implements. wagons
and other properties have been gathered
from the homesteads of the vicinity. and
the parts will be taken so far as possible
by the descendants OF the early settlers
who are to be impersonated,
so far the pageant OF Thetford does no.;
differ materially from the numerous oth-
er paseants that are being given In this
country this year Pageantry Is in t.c
air these days. and no less than % OF
these great outdoor dramas are occurring
in the United States during the present
summer. In fact, ThetfCrd Is one OF
thee Vermont towns woo are cclebrat-
pageant Of Thetford. however. is inter
esting many persons Of prominence, -
so,lsl workers. students. and grave men
Of afralrs.-bccausc it Is not merely rem
resentatton Of the history OF a little
town; 1t IS an actual drama tization OF the
rural problem and an attempt 10 work
out some solution OF that problem. The
historic scenes will be so dramatized as
10 show the severe difficulties under
which the country town Is established
ara srowE. Tho episodes viii illus,ra q
III effect OF tho coming of the railroad.
the Introduction of machinery. and the
increasing gravity OF the educational
problem. Every phase OF tho rural prob
lem will he presented dramatically and
p'cturcsquely, without sacrificing tho
beauty and interest II the pageant n.
such The final episode will foreshsdow
in charming pictures ard action. the
bright future toward which the country
town may work and toward which Thet-
| FORD, in particular is already looking ant
work lg.
Tie most significant part OF the page
| ant of ThetfOrd is that II is becomins
| simply the center OF an energetic cam
| paiGn for the development OF the towns
resources. Reused by II. tho farmers o.
| the community are taking advantage o
| the aid which the United States depart
ment of agriculture Is lending in sendin;
an expert to advise with the farmers OF
| the management OF their land in ac
| cordance with the latest scientific meth
| DDS, and they are entering upon close
| CO. operation with each other in respec
|
community are planning to establish tn
| netford Kitchen" for placing upon tn
| market their various products. The boy
| are organizing into Boy Scouts TIL
| girls are forming one OF the first group
| Of Girl Pioneers" the new Organization
| for girls corresponding TO the Boy Scou
| movement. The Thetford academy
| tpkiaS on new life. and Is planning [
add courses in agriculture and domesti
| science to It's curriculum. The orchestr
which is being formed for performing 1
the pageant will become the permanent
| orchestra of the town the same Is tru
| OF the great chorus of voices now unde
rehearsal In fact, Thetford, typics
| agricultural town, hopes that In solvin
| her own problem she will help othe
| rural communities In Vermont and else
| where to enter upon new life, activity
and prosperity Tho results are bein