Putnam patriot., 1914-08-28
POmiret Old Home Festival
To Be Held Sept. 9th and 10th

COHlnleN0OFallOn pt the -uVtn atlhANSA-
 sary of the settlement Of Pomfret. A
 beautiful site for the occasion has been
 secured through the generosity of Mr.
 and Mrs William Y. Chapin. They have given the use of their estate, pan-
 worth lodge, for the festivities. Huge
 tents for the exhibition Of tSe old
 towns products are to be erected on
 the sweeping lawn to the east. X gen
 uine old-fashioned New England din- ner is to be served from the kitchen Loan Exhibition of ancient and his
 torical treasures is te be displayed in
 the house, while an elaborate pageant
 will be staged on the lawn at the close ] of both days of the festivities.
 The pageant promises to be of the
 greatest interest and beauty. It is in it's portrayal symbolic 'of the New
 World On an eminence appears the figure of New World The aborigines
 approach seeking promise of protec.
 tion, and promising fealty. The Pii- grims come. The Indians spring to arms, quick to protect their deity, de
 fend their tribes, and preserve their home inviolate. New World com. mands toleration, sympathy, kind ] ness. Led on by a stately and digni-
 fled figure representing the Church, as
 il sought foothold in the New World,
 the Pilgrims come, heroic, determin-
 ed band, They establish themselves
 in the benign protection of New
 world. A magnificent figure World-appears, surrounded by a
 magnificent court. She reminds the Pilgrims that their allegiance is hers;
 that however far from the place of
 their origin, they are bound to be true to 1t, and its traditions. With haugh-
 ty command she persists despite the denial of the Pilgrims, She com.
 mands New World to eNpel the rebel lious subjects. New World changes from her attitude of youthful modesty
 and serenity to one of queenly deter imitation. She asserts her magnif-
 cent right and power to rule. Old World, appalled,, gathers her court about her in deiection, and withdraws.
 Now come stalking upon the scene War, ,attended by Famine and An
 guish. Peace, Joy and Prosperity fol-
 low. The children of Prosperity and
 Joy dance across the scene bearing gar
 lands. A group representing Social
 Prosperity dash upon the scene. Ig-
 nofing New World, Che Church, Old
 World and her court, needless of all the gloom of War and her following,
 as of Peace and her train, they follow
 their own pursuits, absorbed in their
 own gaiety. They dance a rollieking
 They laugh and coquette, and make idly merry. Now comes a splendid group of sturdy Workers. They are of
 magnificent stature and carriage, and represent Labor. They salute New World and lay their treasure-the la
 tent work of their hands, at her feet. The New World now believes itself to be complete, and settles for a period
 of quiescenee. Familiar strains are heard. One by one the airs of all na- tions now represented in the locality are heard, and as they are played, rep resentatives of these nations appear. When they are all gathered together
 the Star Spangled Banner brings to their feet al who are assembled, act of patriotic song.
 Quiet follows. The immediate pres ent is yet to be shown-the typical
 phase of Pomfret's present day life
 The pastoral serenity, the wealth of Agriculture is symbolized by a dance interpretative of Beethoyen's Pastoral Symphony.
 The Piper, spirit of Sunlight, calls
 out the shepherds and shepherdesses, who, leaving their work in spirit of merriment irresistably responding to the Piper-to Joy-to 5unshine-begin
 to dance to the merry notes. Their
 dance in an excess of frolic and fun be-
 comes hopelessly confused, and is re. pestedly set right by the Piper, the
 wholesome, joyous, beautiful sunshine | of the world. After wild froic, the | darcers sink down exhausted, but the
 Piper wins them out again and yet | again. The third time, faint sounds of distant storm are heard. There are rumblings of thunder. The dance and galety is broken by ominons peals, ,and l the Piper leads his followers to shelter, | returns, draws the storm after him
 and disappears. The storm breaks with great wind, followed by lightn- ] ing, thunder and rain. Finally it passes, leaving peace and freshness. Back rushes the Sunlight, the Piper calling to the glistening world in q song of Thanksgiving. The Meadows,
 the Brooks and the Woods join in the
 Hymn and the symphony ends, a scene of Pastoral Peace.
 So ends the Old Home Festival, a
 celebration in three parts: first rally of old friends, reunion Of descend
 ants with greetings and feicitations, | reminiscences,- ,-the back ward glance;
 second, a survey Of material achieve
 ments, and the changes wrought by them; lastly, a presentation typical of i the birth, the growth, and the life of Pomfret-in it's essence and spirit.