The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-08-14

carpeted glade surrounded by natural
forest, the first presentation of the
Bennington Historical Pageant Sat
urday afternoon was a greater sue
cess than even its most enthusiastic
promoters had dared to dream.
Seats for over 2000 people had been
erected in the natural amphitheatre
and the audience filled nearly all the
seats and overran the shaded slopes
on each side while on the plateau in
the rear were over fifty automobile
parties representing all the New
England states, New York, New Jer-
sey and Pennsylvania. The scene
was as gay and brilliant as the his
torical tableauX presented were inter-
esting and inspiring.
The Pageant opened promptly on
time at o'clock and the entire pres
entation took a little more than two
hours The stage was a green turf
ed slope leading to a narrow shelf
like plateau and back Of that the
forest, while tall trees on either side
sent shifting shadows over the beau
tiful scene. n
The stage entrances and exits We're
parks cut through the natural he'd
ges that encircled the natural set
ting on three sides. The Catamount
tavern which was erected at the right
of the stage" was hidden by screens
cleverly designed Of "twigs Of the
wilderness" during the scenes in
which the tavern had no part.
The electric railway company han
died the crowd as we'll as its power
would permit. This point of the com
pany's lines is farthest from its pow
er stations, but the company utilized
six cars and ran its cars from North
Adams directly to the crossing adiac-
ent to the lines. Superintendent w.
T. Nary of North Adams and George
e. Green of Hoosick Falls were on
the ground and personally looked af-
ter the handling of the cars.
The Pageant was opened by Cover
nor John A. Mead who spoke briefly
but fittingly. The governors party
in Box A included his secretary, Maj.
II. r. Kingsley, Col. d. L. Morgan, DR.
w. Il. Putnam, Il. d. yelling and j.
c. Colgate The band concert proceed
ing the opening was special feature
provided at the expense of public
spirited citizen.
The various costumes, typical of
the periods depicted, played an impor-
tant part in lending color and vivid
ness to the scenes. The combination
of color was especially effective, and
each scene, taken as q whole, pres
ented picture in which the contrast
OF colors was at once striking and
pleasing. The gay coats OF the Brit
forms of "the Bennington mob" and
the dark skins of the Indians gave an
added touch OF color.
Governor Benning Wentworth, re-
splendent in satin breaches, lace ruff
fles and powdered wig. mingling with
the townspeople in the street at
Portsmouth, made scene, realistic
and perfect as to setting and color
scheme. The market women in their
gay homespuns and white kerchiefs
were in pleasing contrast to little
Martha Hilton, in her tattered gray
dress and sandals, which served only
to enhance her natural grace and
charms which did not escape Dame
Stavers, complacent in blue gown
and white cap and apron in the
dance on the green in this scene, the
bright colors of the costumes were
intermingled most effectively. Mrs.
Merrill Hitchcock who was one of the
stage coach party in this scene, had
unique costume. She wore a green
calash and old fashioned shawl over
gown OF that period.
Perhaps the finest costumes were
to be seen at the dinner AMI marriage
of Benning Wentworth to Martha Hill
ton. The guests, standing around the
dinner table in brocades and satins,
the ladies with high powdered Golf
fures and the men with their powder
ed wigs made q brilliant picture but
they made n more striking appear.
ance in the graceful figures OF the
minuet which was danced on the
lawn, with the dark green of the
woods for a background
Mrs Hall Z. Mccullough who took
the part of the bride, Martha Hilton
wore a simple gown Of white, white
cap with a touch OF black velvet and
a red rose at her throat.
Among the guests, Mrs Il. W. Brad
ford wore n gown of lowered SILK
with cream colOred
silk skirt The bodice was
cut low in the neck, trimmed
with touches of Nile green. Another
guest. Mrs. Flora NJ. Graves, wore
lavender satin, with trimmings Of old
lace and underskirt OF
white Mrs. II. r. Cush
man was gowned In delicate
shade Of pink, with an underskirt OF
yellow; Madame Atkinson, Mrs. !.
II, Ross, wore pink satin with trim
mings of the same; Lady rcpperell
Miss Hazel Mcleod, wore a quaint
dress of cream satin; Mira. Lear, Nj.
G.. Il. Donnelly, wore lowered silk
with q skirt of white; Lady Lear
Miss Caroline White was attractv,
In pink lowered silk with a pinl
skirt; Lady Sparhawk, Mrs. Colllnl
Graves, wore a gown OF lavendar vel
vet with trimmings of old lace Lad!
penhallow, Miss Anne Shields, wal
gownad in white silk with a skirt o
blue silk. Mrs Phillips, Mrs. A. J
Holden, wore pink, trimmed with ole
lace. Miss Langdon, Miss Maud Beld
en-. wore gown OF pink satin, Mis-
Langdon, Mrs n r. Turne
wore gown with
lowered silk pannior over a skirt o
white silk with trimming
of black velvet; Madame
L,oring. Mrs. y. ID. Bennett
wore gown OF lowered yellow sin
with a yellow silk skirt and laoI
trimmings; Lady Iallowell Mis-