Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20
FOLK KFESTWAL,
P[ANF0R JULY4
Great Patriotic Pageant Faith
cred by Directors of
Drama League.
COMMITTEE IS NAMED
TO PROMOTE SCHEME
Proposed Procession and Ceremonies
on Mall Expected to Be of
Inspiring Character.

At a meeting yesterday afternoon of the
directors of the District center of the
Drama League a decision was reached
in favor of the holding of pageant in
this city on next independence day, as a
means of fostering the patriotic spirit of
the community and Introducing the fes-
tival idea in Washington on larger
scale than has heretofore been at
tempted.
After detailed discussion of the SUBJ
apparently there will be no organized
effort this year to hold central fire.
works display on the ellipse in continual
ton OF the custom of the past few sea-
sons. something should be undertaken to
give the people of the city a distinct
celebration, and the proposal to conduct
a folk festival or pageant on the Mall
or elsewhere, including features COM
memorative of historical events, and as
far as possible participated In by resi-
dents Of all sections OF the city, was
heartily approved.
Committee Appointed.
AS a step toward the consummation Of
this plan committee on ways and
means was appointed consisting of Miss
Ethel Smith. chairman, Mrs. Glenna f.
Tinnin and ellison Gardner. This COM
mittee will Immediately communicate
with the members of the safe and sane
Fourth committee. of which Commits
sioner Rudolph is chairman, to insure the
fullest possible cooperation. and it is
likely that it will also consult with the
nir-i fznt ttoy, af< tot Of
feet the most efficient working combina-
ton of forces.
The expense Of the pageant. which will
not be large. according to present esti-
mates. will probably be met out of public
contributions. The money will be needed
chiefly for costumes and accessories
Nothing can be done toward raising this
fund. however. until a definite plan has
been adopted, for not until then can any
distinct idea be gained of the actual cost
of the undertaking. Already assurances
of liberal individual donations have been
received.
Director Will Be Named.
As soon as practicable after working
organization of civic forces has beer
formed, whether with the already exist
ing "safe and sane Fourth" committee
as nucleus, or with the Drama League
committee as central point of activity,
director will be named for the man.
agement of the pageant who will outline
general scheme for the festival. In
this connection several names are under
consideration Mrs. Tinnin, who has been
named as a member of the ways and
means committee of the Drama League.
has had a wide experience in the organi-
zation of such festivals, her latest
achievement in this direction being the
beautiful tableaus given on the south
steps of the Treasury In connection with
the suffrage parade Of March 3.
1t is believed by members OF the
expense a public entertainment distinctly
appropriate to the day can be provided
for the pleasure and patriotic stimu-
lation of a great multitude OF people. 1t
Is possible that one feature Of the pa
geant will be an historic procession
through the Mall eliminating in a cere-
monial climax on the ellipse or at the
base of the Washington Monument. All
such plans. however, are only tentatively
under consideration, as everything de-
pends upon the scope of the program
later to be outlined.
Inspiring Event Expected.
The expectation is that practical steps
toward the actual organization will be
taken early during this week and that
within a few days the general program
will have been taken under definite con-
sideration. The time remaining for the
preparations is short, but it is believed
that with active cooperation between
the various organizations that are likely
to be enlisted. especially the public
schools, the preliminary work can be
well done in season and that Washing
ton will have this year. for the first time
in it's history, an Independence day cele-
bration of impressive character, patriot
icaIly inspiring and helpful toward the
preservation of the traditions of the day.