The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-25
LIBERALS HISTORY
TOBEPORTRAYED
IN BIC PAGEANT

! John Barrett. chairman of the spe-
cial committee on arrangements for
4 the patriotic pageant to be held on
the Fourth Of July by the score or
more of allied nations aligned against
Prussianism and autocracy, met with
his committee today at the Pan
American Union headquarters and
mapped out further plans for the
demonstration OF Democracy Trium-
phant."
The pageant is not going to be
| froIic. It is to be an occasion when
all races may voice their aspirations
for liberty-a prophecy OF freedom
for all the world. Even Roumania
and Serbia, with all their sufferings
and sorrow, are to voice their ideals
in beautiful concrete form.
CoIored People to Aid.
Besides invaluable musical assist
ance in the great choruses. the con-
tribution of the colored people of the
District OF Columbia to the pageant
will be a symbolic representation Of
the history of Liberia.
The colored people, the last to gain
their liberty in this country, will be
given first place in the pageant. Their
faction" will be the opening feature
of the Fourth of July pageant.
The story OF Liberia is to be por-
trayed in five episodes. showing the
progress of Liberia from the seven
teenth century to the present time
Primitive. ancestral life in west
Africa is depicted in the first cpl
T. h. Fararrnmnd natives hutg
will be shown with women at work
and children at play. Tom-toms call
to worship, bringing an assemblage
Of villagers A priest and group OF
attendants enter and perform Mo-
hammcdam ritual
Slavery Portrayed.
With a tableau OF worship the ia
bIeau ends, to be followed by episode
II. showing a group OF slave traders
to whom the natives are betrayed by
Berbers. The natives are carried
away to be slaves.
The only scene laid in America is
Episode III. 1t pictures group OF
slaves coming cotton-laden from the
fields. The older slaves, weary, lin
ger to rest, while the younger dance
and frolic. The overseer enters and
the cotton is weighed.
weak old slave. abused because
his basket did not hold sufficient cot
ton, is defended by a strong young
woman, who, when reprOved for in
terfering, removes her bandana,
standing revealed as the priestess
who had followed her people from
their native land
Sing Song Of Hope.
It is then that the slaves rise and
sing their song OF hope. Rise. Shine
for Thy Light Is Come"
Later episodes show the landing OF
the Pilgrims at the new settlement
which they name Liberia-Land OF
Liberty. They adopt a flag display
ing the stripes OF light and valor.
with the single star Of hope. There |
is shown the primitive stockade, with |
flag and cannon. outside Of which !
African natives are peacefully trading |
with the Americo-Liberians.
Mathilda Newport will be shown as
the national heroine OF Liberia. In
earlier actions" she figures as the
priestess.
The committee in charge OF the Ii
berian section Of the pageant an /
nounces the following dates for re-
hearsals for the colored people who |
will participate:
Dates for RehearsaIa.
Minor Normal School-Tuesday, |
June %, 100 p. m: Thursday. June
%, 7:30 p. m, and Sunday. June 50, at
: 80 p. m.
Randall Community Center-Tues-
day. June IS. at p. m: Thursday,
June %. at s p. m, and Tuesday. July /
., at S .. m.
Dunbar Community Center i
Wednesday, June 26. and Judy 3. re-
hearsals for children and persons who
will take part in tableaux: Sunday, I
June 50. at $50 p. m, general re-
hearsaI for singers and actors.
Garnett School-Tuesdsy, June IS.
at s p. m.
Birney Community Center-Tues-
day, June %. and July .. $50 D. N.
for choruses; Wednesday. June &c,
and July ., at $50 p. m. for dramatic
action.