The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-09-05
start Of a Big Movement

The out door pageants held In Yer
mont this year mean much more than
mere spectacles for the amusement
OF the audiences attracted. Those at
Bennington and Thetford, celebrated
this week, have been admirably man
aged, widely advertised and histori-
cally educational. The Thetford
pageant Is particularly valuable be-
cause of the interest taken In 1t by
those from out of the state. William
Chauncey Langdon and Miss Edith
Brownell of the Sage Foundation.
New York, planned the Thetford page
ant with an idea Of connecting the
past with the present. The occasion
is employed to awaken the interest
OF the people in their past history and
to carry the awakened spirit to the
consideration of present day condit-
ions with the hope OF improving them.
Thetford was chosen as typical
community which has suffered with
thousands OF others throughout the
country from the gradual loss OF pop
ulation, owing TO the movement from
farm to the city. Thetford was pros
porous between 1912 and the Civil
war period but its population, accord
ing TO the 1910 census, is the lowest
since 1891. This Is condition that
| Is found In many rural communities
Throughout the country and the Sage
Foundation is interested in finding O
practical remedy. The decline OF ru
raj communities is giving serious
concern TO thinkers and students o.
Iaifairs. The country is increasing 81
rapidly in population, the demand To-
food stuffs is growing so fast that thu
depopulation of the farms Is becom
ing to be question that is not coDan
ed to the inhabitants OF the rural con
munlties themselves. The people o
the cities cannot live without foo
and the original source OF food Is tn
land
II the land is not titled intelligent
lily, II crops are not produced, the foo
supply must necessarily decline i
volume and rise In price. The ma
of wealth does not fear for his ow
personal comfort for his money wi
enable him to buy food even at price
never before heard OF but the inte
ests of few men OF wealth are entir'
lily divorced from the interests OF IN
workers of the world When th
workers lack food the business Of th
captains Of industry is affected an
they cannot escape the considerable
of the causes that produce the result
as much as some might wish to. I'll
wealthy man may not desire TO re
lognize the fact that he is his brother
keeper, but circumstances force hi
to. The wise ones see the situate
and already movements like the Sal
Foundation are being set under wa
TO discover II possible. methods
making life In rural communlti'
more attractive, more productive al
more satisfying. II Ia not Who'll
philanthropic. There is an underl
ing stratum of enlightened selfshne
In Il.
And 80 the pageant OF Thetfo
has been seized upon as an opportu
fly TO make beginning In typic
community that has been gradual
slipping backward. II Ia hoped th
the result will be nsplrational-th
new thoughts and new ambitions W
be aroused In the minds OF those WI
come under the spell OF the beautif
scenes that are enacted on the ban
OF the Connecticut. II Is said that q
signs are most encouraging. The pI
jectors aim TO bring about commu
ity OF spirit. The boys OF the COMMIT
ty are organized as boy scouts, &
girls are banded together In an
ganlzation OF similar nature. the "
men are cooperating In the sellil
the delicious products OF their kite
ems and the men In making purchas
OF materials and necessities. Rep
sentatives from the United States A
ricultural bureau have gone over 1
territory and advised with the far
ers as TO the treatment OF the &C
the planting OF crops and other nj
tiers of practical import. Represen
tives OF the state have also lent
willing and energetic hand and I
combined result has been a wond
ful awakening.
Many a resident Of Thstford loo