Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-05-31
CROWDS COMING TO
OUTDOOR PAGEANT
FIRST Performance at Island:Park
Next Wednesday
outline Of II Historical Episodes and
Cast for "The Contrast''-Park VIII Be
Brilliantly Lighted.


Brattleboro's great outdoor historic
al pageant, for which several hundred
persons have been rehearsng faithfully
a number of weeks under the efficient
direction of Miss Margaret MacLaren
Eager and an able corps of assistants,
will be presented next week on Island
park, at the east end of the Connec-
ticut river bridge, and 1t is expected
that several thousand visitors will at
tend the various performances 1t Will
be an event entirely unlike anything
that ever took place in this town ana
will have to be seen in order to pc
appreciated, as no amount of description
can convey an adequate idea OF its
beauty. This town Is rich in history so
that In choosing the events to be re-
produced the episode committee, or
which Mrs. George f. Barber is CHAIR
man, found an abundance of material
to select from. Island park is admirably
'sisuated for the pageant, Wantastiquet
mountain affording a beautiful back
ground and the river at its base being
particularly well located for the repro
1uction of Indian scenes. The grounds
will be brilliantly lighted, The Twin
State Gas & Electric company having
arranged with men to come here from
Boston to operate calcium lights. De-
tails as to tickets are given in an adj
The pageant is divided into two dis
tinct parts first, II episodes embracing
various events in the history of Brat
tleboro and, second, the production of
1.-The Contrast" written by the late
Judge Royal Tyler of Brattleboro, the
first American play ever acted upon Al
regular stage A little hall near the
pageant grounds will be fitted up to
represent the old John street theatre
New York, where the play was origin
ally produced. An excellent cast has
been selected for the pageant produce
ton. The first subscriber to the origin
al production was George Washington,
then president of the United Statee.
Royal Tyler was born in Boston. near
Faneuil Hall, about the year 1856 He
| graduated from Harvard in 1776 and
then studied law in the office of John
Adams In 1900 he was elected by the
| legislature of Vermont. chief justice OF
the supreme court. In 1901 Judge Tyler
| moved to Guilford, where he practiced
law, and later came to Brattleboro,
where he died Aug. 16, 1926. His writ
ings contain wit, spirit and neatness OF
style, and American literature cannot
be charged with poverty while it has
such treasures to draw from.
| Following is the order in which the
performances will take place: Wednes-
day evening at 8. the episodes; Thurs
day afternoon at $50, the episodes
Thursday evening at s. The Contrast
Friday afternoon at $50, The Contrast
Friday evening at 8, the episodes; Sat
urday afternoon at $50, the episodes
Saturday evening at s. The Contrast.
Those who are managing the pageant
feel a great deal of pleasure and salts
faction in the fact that they have beer
able to secure Brattleboro's noted so.
prano soloist. Mrs, Mary Howe Burton
of Clinton, Mass, who will represen
Brattleboro in the review of the pageant
She will wear a handsome gown special
w designed for the occasion by Mrs
Christie 3. Crowell. They are also spec
tally pleased at securing Edwin H. Mil
Ter Of Dummerston, who will sing 9TH,
Sunrise" in the first scene, in the roll
of the prophet. What the sprite of Wan
tastiquet saw will be illustrated in epi
sode by an allegorical dance by Mis-
Elsa Eager. This is a graceful ant
beautiful dance The dance of the child
rem in the scene with Mrs. Burton, als
the Swedish wedding. are particular.
attractive features.
1t is expected that arrangements vii
he made with the authorities of tn
public and parochal schools so tina
every pupil will have an opportunity t
see some of the performances. The pro
hts will go toward public playgroun
! for the children of the town