Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-08-21
NEWARK HISTORY
SHOWN IN PAGEANT
BY 5000 CHILDREN
Playground Youngsters Enter
tain Vast Crowd in Branch
Brook Park.

Five thousand children from the
city Fairgrounds re-enacted incidents
in the early history of Newark at the
tenth annual playground exhibition in
Branch Brook Park yesterday after
noon. More than ten thousand per-
sons witnessed the exhibition. Many
school teachers and principals and
others interested in educational work
attended
Although the children had not re-
hearsod in a body at the park, the
drills and dances were executed with
wonderful precision, and won much
applause The costuming was simple
but effective.
The exhibition took place in the CEN
tire section OF the park, on the large
plot used for baseball diamonds. Ca
noes with spectators thronged the OPP
posite side of the lake. In spite of
the threatening condition of the sky,
the weather proved favorable.
Extra trolley cars were provided by
the Public Service Railway Company
on the Bloomfield and Roseville lines
10 accommodate the crowds. Music
was provided by Suenderhafts band.
through the courtesy of the Common
Council The exercises were under
the direction of Randall d. Warden,
physical director in the public schools,
assisted by playground instructors.
A number OF photographers, anna
teur and professional snapped the
juvenile actors in picturesque scenes.
and two movie" men recorded the
pageant on films.
Indians in CamD
The pageant opened with a realistic
Indian village on the banks of the
temporary "Passaic river" Basket
weaving, grinding and other oc,
equations of the American aboriginies
were in progress. and braves" let out
blood-curdling war whoops.
Hendrick Hudson then arrived in
Newark Bay" on the Half Moon, and
the Indian braves padded out to see
the vessel. Puritans from Connecti-
cut landed on the shore, lead by
Robert Treat" and held a council
with the Indians, taking land in ex-
change for gifts.
The settlers" then occupied them
selves in clearing land for homes,
and several cabins and TIE First
Presbyterian Church were built.
The Puritans then marched to
Church. with prayer book in one hand
and musket in the other The first
Of the dances, a windmill dance, was
then given by more than a thousand
girls in dainty blue and white Dutch
costumes.
A scene in Newark's first school
was given by the children of each
playground and the schoolmasters
had great difficulty in preserving or
der. Lessons, games and a drill took
place. Scenes in the life of the early
settlers were then transferred to the
river" where a fitting bout took
place between two husky young set
tiers in bathing suits. Farmers were
shown landing produce. A harvest
time solo was given by A. G. Balloon,
principal Of the Franklin School
Speech for Freedom.
Military Park in 1776 was repre-
scented in the next scene. One patriot,
mounted on an improvised platform,
was cheeFed Justify as he protested
against the tyranny of King George
III. A drill of the patriots was
shown.
General Washington led his ragged
army through Newark, the wounded
anu D1OOuy SoiuleES ledilIS OH TIC
shoulders of companions. The army
was preceded by a reproduction in
life of The Spirit of 49, which called
forth much applause.
The purple coat of General Lord
CORVALLIS then was seen in the dis
lance, and he led his army of red
uniformed soldiers through the city"
A dance of colonial maidens was given
on the Village green"
A scene in Camp FTelinghuysen in
1851 was given, the Union soldiers
erecting tents and taking part in
drills. An Indian club drill was given.
The sailors hornpipe, which followed,
was the most beautiful of the dances
given by the playground children, and
was presented by about two thousand
of the girls.
A pageant of automobile and wagon
floats, representing Newark Indus
tries, closed the pageant. The floats
showed the children at blacksmithing,
baking and at other occupations.