The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-06-24
BY Forbes w. Fairhairn.

London. June 22.-=The great peace
is going To be fittingly celebrated in
England. Stupendous plans for trans
forming this island. scared and torn
by five years of warfare, into place
of merrymaking for three days in
August, are being formed by the
government peace committee. Eng
land. Ireland. Scotland and Wales
VIII blaze forth AS never before with
jubilation that the greatest war in
history is at last ended
Lord Curzor. Sir Alfred Mond and
Fdwari Short compose the commit
t@c appointed by the government to
supervise the peace program. The
first official step of the committee
was the setting aside of August 8.
and for the national celebration.
Meanwhile, details Of tho celebra-
tons are being outlined. Suggestions
for tho merrymaking have been
solicited by the committee, and form
nearly every town and village in the
kingdom answers have been received
everything from parades IN church
services have been suggested. and
hundreds of ideas for the festival are
checked daily.
Pothaps the most impressive of all
the ceremonial display will he the
Thames paCeant. staged under the di-
rection Of the league of arts for ma
tioDal and civic ceremony, of which
Sur Frank Benson IS chairman. This
win te a welcome on the Thames for
the British mercantile marine. whose
men daily during the war exposed
their lives to danger.
Equally attractive VIII he the ma
tional hcnnrc display An endless
chain Of blazing lights from John
o'Groats 10 Lands End will fash their
welcome message of Peace, Good
Will on Earth on The day officially
fixed for tho cele bration of peace
The lofty crags of the Grampian
rang viii pass the news: Scafell Pike
Will catch it UP and send it south in
q fire of glory till the Devonshire
peaks answer: and finally. out at sea.
marinerq off the Cornish coast will he
told that right has triumphed over
might. And in every British commun-
ity in foreign lands honfres will be
lgh. cd and flares will herald the dawn
of new world.
a Varied Program.
Suggestions already approved for
both local and national celebrations
include services in the churches,
cricket matches. teas and dinners.
bonfires. all flags lowered for ten
tons dead heroes. open air Shakes
pearean plays, the Thames pageant.
National .Hallelujah day parish cere-
monials, medals for scholars. massed
choir performances, brass bands.
town decorations, open abr thanks
giving. parades OF all men and wom-
on who served in the war. sports
aquatic festivals. carnivals and fire.
works.
Arart from the Thames pageant.
London is planning huge Shakes
poarear and choral festivals to be
staged in parks and open places
throughout the city suggestions for
the most part following the lines of
historical forms of rejoicing. On the
first of the theee days jubilation
there will be n procession OF units
every branch of the mill
tary. naval and air forces. including
tho women's organizations, national
volunteers. special constabulary and |
other branches Of war activity.
on Pail Mall, London's parade, |
there will be n decorative scheme |
that will surpass all vet attempted |
1t will show the history of tho home |
and will he an emblematic affair with |
'riumphal cars and elegant symbols. |
The king and queen will attend a /
thanksgiving service In Westminster |
Abbey. AZ the same hour thanksgiv- |
ing services will be held throughout |
the empire In the evening the royal I
family will attend IA gala at the Covent |
opera.
The chain OF fire encrcling the
kingdom is assured, according tot
Canon II. ID Rawnsley, secretary OF
the central committee beacon and
oonares. support from every part of
and Scotland has hnap RIO.
,eived AND requests for rockets,
iares. hand.ghts are already being
filed with supplies furnished by the !
admiralty and the war Office. !.
Just as our beacons in time OF
peril told in red the approach OF
danger. 30 every height on peace I