Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-20
PAGEANT GIVEN
AT WYNNEWOOD
Philadelphia Orchestra Fur
nished Music for Charming
AIlegory by Wellesley Club

Music by the Philadelphia Orchestra, di.
rccted BY Mr. Kanrch. Of Boston; dancing
by more than 100 high school and coIIogo
girls, costumes that are n riot of brilliant
color against background OF great naturaI
besuty--tsnt this an imposing array of
FACTORS Tor the success ot pageant? Such
are tne clements which make up the won.
derful open-air fete which the WellesIev
Club Of Philadelphia, Ia singing TO-DAY on
the spacious grounds Of Dr. and Mrs
Thomns @. Ashton at wynnewood who
nave 80 generously thrown open their coun.
try estate Red Leaf, for this occasion.
In these days when all sorts of women
are doing their BIT" you may be sure that
couege girls are not going to lag behind.
which Is entirely unique, and are contribute
ing not only 20 the funds OF the Red Cross
and Emergency Aid, but 10 the pleasure of
the general public az we'll 1t has been the
aim OF DR.. Emile r. Gregory, who has SO
ably headed the pageant committee, to give
an inspiring entertainment in these days
when wholesome recreation is so greatly
needed as we'll as to aid the stricken
women OF Europe's war-devastated regions
For college women TO stretch the hand OF
ald 10 needy women across the seas IL
surely a splendid aim, especially IL they
can do so by giving to US spectacle OF
rare artistic merit.
''''N''pS n bchulllul CRmpuS mas Deen
the scene of many open-air performances,
but none has surpassed the Tree Day
pageant of 1916. IL H. in fact, the story OF
Wellesley's life and development as a col
lege. The allegOry is very finely conceived
After the entrance OF the mistress Of cere-
monies. Miss Dorothy Spellssey, who typi-
fes the College Beautiful, and her aides
Wellesley Mrs L. q. Hughes figure
reiled in gray chiffon over blue, enters hest
tatngly as the young and struggling col
lege Faith and the attending Virtues, in
coral robes, meet her and encourage her
Their joyous dance OF freedom is inter.
rupted by Prejudice Ignorance and Couven-
ton who, In somber costumes, accompan ed
by Doubts and Fears In batlike garb bar
the way But Faith dspels them and
leaves the young Wellesley free TO meet
Wisdom and Honor, two stately figures
NJ IS Harding and Miss Van Dyke who now
advance across the green. They symbolize
the college departments Of study and the
Student Government Association.
Next Strength, in hunters green, with
bow and arrow, and Play in Pierrot cos
tune dance down from the hill to personify
the athletic and social life of the college
Now Wisdom invokes the different branches
Of study, personhed by groups Of dancers
in symbolic costume. The classics are
brought to life by the dance of nymph and
fawn. Miss Schaeffer and Miss Perkins, in
pure pagan JOY. The sciences are repre-
sented by Astronomy, dainty figures I'm sky
blue, who toss silver balls; Chemistry,
quaint figures of alchemists In effective
dances; Botany, n group of dancers In pale
tints carrying flower garands; History, a
Renaissance soldier and Philosophy with "a
torch to light the way, Art, Poetry and
Music. All these are single figures in pro-
cessional effect. The modern languages
French, German Spanish and Italian. in
striking national costume, give chacteris-
tic folk dances
Suddenly all the groups sweep together
and mingle in a joyous ballet, now going
faster and faster, till all is a circling mass
of brilliant hue. Just as the whirl and mo-
ton Is at It's height the climax OF the
pageant is reached, for down from the hill
sweeps Fire Niiss Gehris), accompanied by
row after row OF Smoke and Flame dancers.
1t Is highly dramatic moment, and sDecta-
tors watched with tense interest the scat.
tering of the ballet by the onslaught Of
Fire. As many Of us will remember, the
highly effective acting is reminiscent OF the
fire Of March. 1914. when College Hall was
destroyed.
The figure of Wellesley is overwhelmed.
Her companions are now Grief and De-
spair, who soon, at the touch of Faith,
change to Hope and Promise and lead her
TO meet I'm the golden figure OF the New
Era Miss Waters) future OF renewed life
and power.
Such is the charming allegory presented
at Wynnewood this afternoon. II is won
derful in conception and execution, in dance
step and color scheme. II is needless to add
that the orchestra's performance was OF the
highest value for the artistic scheme OF the
whole TOO much praise cannot be given
10 DR.. Emile II. Gregory, who headed the
executive committee; to Miss Harriet NJ.
Blake, OF the Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr,
and Miss Constance Gill; OF Overbrook Of
the publicity committee, and to Miss Helen
HARRISON, who as chairman OF the costume
| committee has worked indefatigably to
secure the proper colors, which were so
effectively used. The dancing was taught
by Miss Sarah Schaeffer and Miss Emma
Salon. Probably the finest solo work OF
the afternoon was done by Miss Marion
Waters, as the New Era, who danced with
| splendid vigor and grace, and by Miss
Helen Gehris in her spirited rendering OF
| the lNrn dnnce