The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-05-29
LOUIS PAGEANT
BIGGEST THING
OF IT'S KIND
Seventy-fve Hundred People
Join in Great Masque, Pre-
sented on the Largest Stage
in the World.

81. Louis. Mo, May 29.--The pa
gcant and Masquo of 81. Louis. which
was given here last night IN cOmmcm-
Grafton OF the founding Of this city
one hundred and nfy years ago, re-
CURED for ~ production probably
the largest stage In the world and a
cast Of 1900 persons.
The production was in two distinct
parts-the pageant by Thomas Wood
Stevens. head Of the school Of dra-
ma OF the Carnegie Institute. Pitts
burgh. Pa; and he asque by Percy
Mackaye.
The Pageant began shortly before
sunset. aud continued until dark. AZ
ter a short intermission, the masque
was given under electric light The
pageant was "a series Of thirty living
pictures. portraying important events
In the history Of 81. Louis. Fifty-siN
hundred men and women took part
IN this presentation.
The pageant opened with a scene
depicting the mound-building era Of
81. Louis. which h ON the site of
many Of the old mounds. The move
ment began with long lines OF men
and women bringing earth In baskets
and building "A mound In which they
buried the chief of their tribe. The
Immense stage represented the site
OF the present city OF ST. Louis. Be
tween the stage and the hill to the
south on which the spectators sat WAS
a lagoon. 15O feet wide. reprcsenting
the Mississippi river. The spectators
were asked to imagine themselves as
seated on the bluffs on the Illinois
shore looking across b Mississippi
river To the site Of 81. Louis as the
history Of the city passed before them
As the mound builders buried the
chief OF their tribe, buffalo hunters
approached and persuaded them to
give up their mound building ways.
Indians hen appeared on the stage
the year 10y was supposed TO he
1539-and gave characteristic dances
and war scenes. Then came a repre-
sentatiOn OF the expedition of DE So
To with his Spanish gold seekers. Faith
err Marquette. the French missionary
then came up 10 the pageant stage
the city sitc-in a canoe. and after
him LaSalle and fifty-l0ur traders
und Indians.
Thus far 1850 persons had appear
ed on the stage In the few scenes al
ready portrayed. The movement end
ed as an Indian prophet fOretOld the
future OF his race.
I The next movement opened with
the portrayal OF the founding OF the
city by Pierre Laclcde., the French
settler. who was represented ~ plan
ming the town and leaving his four
te~on-ycar-old son, Chouteau. to build
~ Gradually the town grew as the
French settlers came In, and then
the Spanish troops were represented
as coming to TAX possession under
the first Spanish governor. The dedi-
cation of the first church was re-
enacted.
Ia 1850 Indians attacked the set
Element, and this attack was portrayed
on the stage last night. a school
mistress appeared ON the stOckadc
and fought with the men In rcpulsing
the Indians.
The movement closed with a repre-
sentatinn of the transfer Of 81. Louis
Ia the United States. ON one day. aC-
cording To- the historians, 81. Louis
was under three flags-Spanish,
French and American. The raising
Of three flags and the lowering OF
two leaving the Stars and Stripes,
was portrayed In the pageant. a
Waterman then appeared on the edge
OF the stagc-supposed to he the river
bank-and foretold the growth of the
city.
The last movement of the pageant
portrayed the history OF 81. Louis uu-
der the American flag. First came
the starting from 81. Louis of the
Lewis and Clarke expedition to the
northwest 10y way Of the Missouri riV-
er; thcn u portrayal % the day Of fur
traders and settlers bound for the
west. About two thounand persons
appeared In this scene, then came "A
re-cnactment of the scenes when Gen
eral Lafayette visited 81. Louis in
1894; the return Of a battery from
the Mexican war; the coming Of the
German immigrants In 1913. and the
reproduction OF the torch light pro-
cession that marched through the
streets of 81. Louis In 1855 al the an
lnouncement OF peace between the
north and the south.
After a brief intermission. The cleo
tric lights on the stage were turned
IN and the masque-a symbolic inter
probation Of the history OF the city
began. The masque opened with the
dream 81 CahOkia, who represented
the spirit of the mound builders civ
ilization. lie woke to find his em-
plre gone and himself Knocked by
heat. cold, wild nature forces, buffalo.
and wild cat. forest and flood. lie
asked the stars " there were no hope.
and was told that the Mississippi rive
or would bring "A white child who
should restore civilization. This child
struggled the with forces OF nature.
hut they retreated as the discoveries
approached, who named the child St.
Louis.
81. Louis. leading on pioneers, min
crs and rangers struggled with the
forces OF nature. and finally fought
the spirit Of gold aud the war demon.
Then came representations Of vice.
plague, despair. ana rebellion; all The
children Of Gold. st. Louis then
called on other cities TO help him,
and ENJOYS sent by the mayors Of 9TH
er American cities, appeared on the
stage 10 represent those cities In the
symbol Of a league of all 20 conquer
Gold.
An elaborate musical setting had
been arranged for the masque by
Frederick s Converse, ans there was
much incidental music In the pageant
A hidden chorus OF five hundred and
a band Of i00 took part In the produce
ton.
Throughout the pageant, the actors
and actresses we're gOwned In cos
tunes historically accurate. All the
actors were citizens OF 81. Louis who
gave their time voluntarily 10 tina pro-
duction OF the spectacle.