New-York tribune., 1916-02-26
Y. W. {. A. GIVES
JUBILEE PAGEANT
200 Girls Portray in Song
and Dance History of
Institution.

Twelve hundred girls told again last
night in song and dance the story OF
the fifty years Of the Young Womens
Christian Association. II was the long
heralded jubilee pageant. Portals of
Light" written by Miss Hazel Mackaye
and presented at the list Regiment ar
mory under the direction of Mrs. Will
lam Fellowes Morgan.
The galleries of the armory were
crowded with friends of the associa-
tion. who applauded roundly each OF
the picturesque episodes from the mo-
ment Of the entrance of the homeless
working girls Of 1866 to the happy
climax when the floor was filled with
a swaying multitude of gayly dressed
girls. dancing together in rosy light
from wide open portals. Through II all
True Service moved. the central figure,
gowned in symbolic blue and silver net.
She was Miss Ruth Davies. member
Of the Studio Club. the home which the
Young Women's Christian Association
maintains for young artists and other
struggling geniuses.
In the opening scene the girls OF
1856 in tattered garments wandered
about dismally in a cold blue light.
Then the founders of the Young
Women's Christian Association, IN
real 1866 costumes from grandmothers
trunks. entered singing. Their song
was interrupted, at the sight of the for
lorn sisters on the ground, and sing
ing gave way 20 deeds.
Then followed in rapid succession
dances showing the work Of the .asso.
citation to-day, how 1t embraces all
classes Of working girls. dressmakers,
milliners, business, factory girls and
nurses.
True Service did not believe in all
work and no play for her girls, and
presently she led them out into the
country where they danced with the
wood nymphs and learned how to
climb trees and pick blueberries with
the farmers daughters.
The second half of the programme
dealt with the growth OF the associa-
tion among the foreign born. New
Americans from Hungary, Poland,
Greece. Syria and Italy brought the
rich gifts of their lands 10 lay at the
feet of True Service who led forth the
American girls to shake hands and be
friends with the newcomers.
The pageant ended with a prayer
sung in low tones by the twelve thou
sand girls kneeling in front of the
portals Then they rose and formed,
hand in hand. an endless chain, while
the portals swung open and True Ser
vice stood on the steps with open arms.
More than five thousand persons saw
the pageant, among them most Of the
prominent social workers and philan-
thropists of the city. The box holders
were Mrs. Robert Bacon. Mrs. Willard
Straight, Mrs. william Fellowes Nor
gan, Mrs. Francis Mcneil Bacon, jr,
Mrs. Elliott F. Shepard, Mrs. Dave
Hennen Morris, Mrs. Finley J. Shepard
Mrs. Arthur Murray Dodge, Mrs. Her
bert Satterlee. Miss Arne Morgan, Mrs.
John Hanan, Mrs. Edward S. Harkness,
Mrs. Walter p Bliss, Miss Eleanor de
Graf Cuyler. Mrs. Benjamin Nlooll and
Mrs. Cleveland II. Dodge.
Associated with Mrs. Morgan on the
committee of arrangements were Mrs.
Frederick Cone. Miss Amy Hutton,
Miss Caroline B. Dow and A. Z. Gil
lett The leaders of the episodes were
Miss Mabelle NJ. Ford. Miss Ruby NJ.
Joliffe. Miss Elizabeth Durfee, Miss
Edith L. Jardine and Miss Evelyn Hill
lard. 49,,
The next service in connection with
the Jubilee vii be held at Carnegie
Hall on March 8, at 8 o'clock.