The Port Gibson reveille. [volume] (Port Gibson, Miss.) 1890-current, 1912-11-21
The Pageant 81 The Claiborne
County Pair.

says: "A pageant ~ tne sense
in which it is commonly used
since its present day revival, il
either the representation of series
of scenes or episodes, usually con.
uected with the particular locality
in which the performance takes
place, or it is q spectacular and
ceremonial procession, tYpifyips
some period or event. or series Of
events" Probably Claiborne is
the first County in Mississippi to
use this method of instrncting and
delighting in connection with a
Fair. Siuce the first Claiborne
Fair was held the Parade through
the streets has been a beautiful
and attractive feature; but this
Fall the parade took the form of a
'sspectacular and ceremonial pro-
cession. IMPLYING periods and
events of history, given in a some-
orderly series.
The idea originated with Miss
Hattie Person, and involved much
ingenuity upon her part and upon
the part of each lady who took
the responsibility of carrying ous
the design OF sbe Aoat assigned
her. Also the individual actors
deserve much credit for performing
their parts SO joyously and for
bearing the expense, which in
some instances was considerable,
many Of them, as in the cases of
the lady who represented Queen
Isabella and of the Chamberlain
Hunt Academy boys who repre-
sented "Signing the Declaration OF
Independence" having gorgeous
costumes ordered from New Or.
leans or Natchez.
There were fourteen floats in
ali, each drawn BY horses or mules
or oxen. as best suited the period
or design. One Aost represented
The Old World, consisting of
twenty Greek maidens, clad in
flowing white robes, seated upon a
decorated platform drawn by four
oxen, each OK with white rose
wreath around his neck. The 9TH
er thirteen were scenes of Ameri-
can life and history, one being
local, viz: Samuel Gibson, the
founder and first settler of Port
Gibson, in his sunday dress, rid
ing alone in state in a numbering
heavy old coach, smiling and bow
ing and looking complacently at
the town in whose cemetery be
has been sleeping since 1877.
A sign indicating the subject or
scene portrayed preceded each
float. Stalwart horsemen in pic
turesaue attic forming and guild.
ing the procession, added to the
beauty and interest of the occasion
As the pageant, after having pas
sed through the streets, passed
the Grand Stand, the band played
music especially selected and ap
propriate to each scene. For In
stance. The Pilgrim Fathers, "Old
Hundreds" for Colonial Virginia,
"God Save the Kings" for Blazing |
the Trail, 'sOld Dan Tucker" for
The Men Who Wore the Grey,
stDixie." The floats then formed |
a circle around the Athletic Field |
in front of the Grand Stand and
witnessed the Folk Dances-Greek
maidens dancing and the Robin
Hood dances. Then Pied Piper
in Unique qarb stepped forward |
with bis magical music followed
by children dressed as flowers, |
fairies, butterflies. pages, Indians,
Brownies. Then the Woodmen of
the World Camp from Herman
vile. Miss, appeared upon the
field, dressed in pure white, with
their orders emblem in hand. and
gave very beautiful drill.
Miss Person wrote ia the Port
Gibson ReveiiIe . week before the
Fair:
"The return OF Pageautry Is one
OF the sigpificans phases OF mod
ern civilization. The Pageant
makes : deep elemental appeal to
the dramatic instincss the imaglna-
lion and sbe spirit d play thar IS.
and ought 10 be, deep rooted 10 u.s.
all. Il strikes The keynote OF