The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-04
PAGEANT TO HONOR
CATSKILL PIONEERS
John and Betty More, First
Settlers, Central Figures
Of Historic Spectacle.
DINNER BY MRS. SHEPARD

RoxBuRY, n. Y. Sept. 3.-Fully three
thousand people witnessed the More
Roxbury pageant here this afternoon In
connection with the twenty fifth annual
reunion of h descendants OF John and
Betty Taylor More. the first settlers
IN this part of the Catskills.
The pageant. with a cast OF 400 peo-
pie. was presented on the grounds Of
kirkside Park, the summer home Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Finley J. Shepard. In the
shadow OF the Jay Gould Memorial
Church. The entire affair from the
SCOTTISH scene to the finale moved with
out a hitch, rejecting credit on Miss
Margaret MacLaren Eager. who directed
the production. and Miss Elsa VI. Eager,
the director of dances.
Mrs. shepard Hostess.
Following a Scottish luncheon served
at the summer home of MIR. and Mrs.
shepard TO the members Of the More
FAMILY the opening scene OF the pageant
took place at ,. O'Clock. when John
Frisbee Bouton and Miss Elizabeth
Gould. as John and Betty More, with
the parishioners OF the village church at
Rothiemurchus, Scotland. were seen en-
their way to church. Other scenes
quickly followed. showing the departure
OF the Mores for America. The ma
tional dances OF the Scotch were por-
trayed to the music OF Harry Ladders
kihie bagpipers, engaged by Mrs. Shep-
ard for the occasion.
Forty girls representing the New
World gave a symbolic dance. and the
legend OF Rip Van Wrinkle was presented
followed by a scene showing the arrival
Of the Mores at Harpersfeld and the visi.
OF Col. More n the noted Indian chief
Joseph Brant. The episode was sue
ceeded by the signing Of the articles OF
association in 1875.
The episode In which DR.. Luzerne CO.
willie and Joseph Brant. the Indian
chief, appeared. notifying the Mores
that he could not control the Indians and
advising them to depart for Catskill the
burning Of the More home and the es-
cape of the family through the wilder
ness to Catskill. CAV the spectators an
idea OF the trials OF the early settlers.
The next episode. a day in Catskill
during the Revolutionary war, with the
mounted couriers approaching the set
Element to warn the natives. the de
parture OF the minute men to defend
their possessions, m the quaint costumes
and portrayal of the home life OF tho
Revolutionary period marked one of the
most interesting scenes Of the pageant
John Burroughs HOnOred.
During the interlude a tribute wa.
paid to John Burroughs. whose summer
home. Woodchuck Lodge, overlooked the
site where the pageant was produced
Sixty young women and girls appeare
in the guise of a vision OF nature.
The pageant then developed into the
discovery OF the present village OF Rox
bury. and the scene when Israel Inmar
induced Abram Gould and the settlers
from Connecticut to locat at Roxbury
In this episode the descendants Of Mar.
More and John Burr Gould (the father
OF the late Jay Gould) enacted the
marriage Of their ancestors. which tool
place in 1927.
The most interesting scene TO man,
OF those present was the reel and contr.
dances which followed the ARRIVAL o.
the bride and bridegroom on theii
pillion. and the wedding party in theil
old stage coach.
The town meeting OF the period wheI
the two CONS OF John More ran agains'
each other for Office was "A true por
trayal Of the early days of the Cats
kills, and hes finale and family group
ing OF the More family with which tn,
pageant ended marked the closing OF tn,
brilliant spectacle.