Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-04
STAGE IS SET FOR
HISTORIC PAGEANT
Shakespeare and Dignitaries of
His Time Will Live Again To-
Day at Westhampton.
TRIBUTE TO BARD OF AVON
Prominent Men and Women in
Cast of 1000 Who Will Ap-
pear in Spectacle.
TRIBUTE TO BARD OF AVON

Set among the verdant wales and the
sloping hills of the campus OF Rich
mond College. at Westhampton, tho
stage for the local celebration Of
Shakespeares terccutcnary is ready.
The pagcant-a passing show of Shake
sneare's life and time-wilI begin this
afternoon at 2:3O o'clock. when will
start the procession from Hampton
Court to the tournament field. show
ing In the first section Queen Eliza
beth's entrance into London at the be-
ginning Of her reign, her attendant
courtiers and ladies' in waiting.
Mrs. John Shelton Williams, who
bears striking resemblance to Eng
lands first great Queen. will take the
part Of Elizabeth. Following will como
sections showing incidents in the life
Of Shakespeare at Avon and London,
the death of the Queen, and Shake
speares return 10 the village where
he was born. Here he died. and the
last section will sho~ the closed
parish register listing the death. In
the perfunctory style of that day-the
passing of the man who encompa sscd
the realms Of thought and builded
greater than he knew.
wESTHAMI'TON AN IDEAL.
SITE FOR BIG SPECTACLE
If one who had known and lived with
Shakespeare had sought to-day to
select in America a spot where his
name and time could have been brought
in review, Westhampton would have
been his choice. It is remindfuI Of
England, of Avon's stream where
40
must. like other boys. have whiled
his time away: of tho commons which
surround London, where. perhaps, the
bard wandered OF summers aftcr-
noon with her who was nearest mis-
affection; of the hedges in the long
lanes where the hawthorne blossoms
and the pansy rears its head OF the
park, remembered of all Londoncrs
where. perhaps. the hoy William played
on the green and drew the Juice of
sword blades between his teeth
Westhampton has it's lanes and it.
by-ways, the groves of oak which
Shakespeare knew. and. here and
there, small spaces where the butter
Gun and daisy grow, as Shakespeare
must have known them if ever he
wandered afeld; elders and red maple,
a patch Of cedar, and wide exDanse
of water. He was horn on the banks
OF the Avon. and when he went to
London he learned the Thames and
must have seen in its farther reaches
such water lilies is grow to-day near
the banks Of Westhampton Lake
COLLEGE BUILDINGS RECALL
SCENES IN OLD ENGLAND
The college buildings, too. might
ind 1f
recollection a few in old st. Johns
wood, some on the upper Thames, and,
in way, bring back To memory
Wordswor,h's Prospect of Eton Col
leGe." which Shakespeare never saw.
westhampton is amply fitted for the
part. On its grassy lawns, in it's
groves of trees and down by the lake,
WITH the city as fer background,
may be portrayed In proper style every
incident in Shakespeare's life. from
'ne tme he first wandered down to
Avon until he went to London and If
tradition be true, held horses for y
tip. y short concrete bridge crosses
the runway from the lake. and it does
not take lonS stretch of imagination
to believe for the moment thai q is
London Bridge, with Ludgate Hill
stretching away.
Ludgate Hill rises to the fore and
at the approach the walkway is unad
with shops, shops with dormer win
dows and small window paues. as mn y
DC seen in some quarters of London
to- -day. President T.. w. Roatwr;,,.
of Richmond College. who is to in,
personate Shakespeare, may, in his
dual personality, wander down "a ,hs
night 200 years ago he stood here apf,
watched heavy laden barres ,oi, ,
stream and saw Tndia's vessels yccr
OF ior the East India docks
WILL REPRODUCE
FAMOUS OLD THEATLRs
scenes and sites, as we'll as Incl
dents in Shakespeare's life. will bs
portrayed. One will soc whitehall
Hampton Court. the Globe Thcater and
the Boar's Head Tavern. in each ot
winch scenes from some Shakcspearcan
pay VIII be reproduced The college
campus is diademed with stages.
Where there is no play there will he
reproduction of the country sports and
dances OF Shakespcarc's time. OF ar
chery and other contests in short "A
reproduction OF the life and custom
Of the time
Ihe campus will be peopled with
the commons and dignitaries of the
past. complete list OF all the parti-
clpants comprises about 1000 names.
queen Elizabeth. who delivered favors
as She dispatched heads, will be among
the throng. King James. represented
by G. Jeter Jones, will walk among
the commoners, and Queen Anne. i'm
personnted by Mrs. George l.. Street,
Jr., will minglc as the Queen never
did. Shakespeare, impcrsonatcd by
President II. w. BoatwriEht, of Rich
mond College. must do ns the real
shakespeare did. He must he jolly,
good fellow, woll met nj tavern or
theatcr, conviVial at tho ordinary and
hospitablo at all times. He must be
prepared with Hamlets sad soliloquy
and with recital of broken Walsey's 8
woe. He must utter Lear's long lament
and shiver at Shylock's demand for
a. pound of flesh.
Stress is to he laid on the Shakes