The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-03-24
chester, Pa, HAS Own
LEAGUE OF NATIONS
CeIebratisn Unisus In Annals Of His
terry u That Historfc Section.

Celebrates Unisus In Annals Of His
tory II That Historfc section.
Chester. Pa. March 23.--This Ole
city on the banks Of the Delaware
river, where George washington was
notified that he had been elected frs
president Of the United States. wrote
an entirely new page In It's history
today. Here its foreign born. Ions
dominant in the older portion Of the
tx tx s43tsd e tAYe Escans to give e
Chesters league Of nations.
Long before the doors OF the Edge
mont theater were thrown open. the
streets In every direction were filled
with Italians. Greeks. Frenchmen
Russians. Poles, Belgians. Welsh and
Syrians in national costume awaiting
the signal to march to the theater. Be.
and children Of other nationaIities
stood on the sidewalks and from time
to time cheefed their friends about te
parade,
Many work filled weeks had beer
spent In preparing for the great event
Under the direction Of Charles F
Weller, executive head of war camp
community service in Chester. Miss
Elizabeth Burchenal who Is In charge
u AluCIlCAut&AtIUH WUIk IUE tIiC Eel
vice. had been organizing the national
groups. assisting In selecting thei,
nationality committees, arranging theil
dances and rehexrsing them for the
pageant which was devised and writ
ten by her sister, Miss Ruth Burchenai
OF New York city.
The orchestra Of the Edgemont thea
ter had been divided into eight parallel
sections. stretching from the stage to
the last row Of seats. Each section
was marked ont with flags of the ma
signed. Half an hour OF community
singing led by William +. Kelsey in
spired the audience.
Governor william c. snrou, who In
addition to being Pennsylvania exec
utive. Ia chairman OF community ger
Vice for Chester and vicinity. er
addressed the foreign born az fol-
lows.
Across the ocean. q .ae of ma
tiops in forming. To We Il iastinp
league there must 1riendIiness and
understanding i ~een the peoples
War has prer ii the way: IL has
made Il scr of nations, brothers In
work an sacrifice, for international
ideals
80 ..s new found hrotherlfness be-
cen nations and peoples, II Is now
buF uulF TO pErSsFNc anu advance Fbf
this purpose our community service
for Chester and vicinity presents Ches-
ter's league Of nations, an interna-
tsonai assembly. an official reception
OF foreign born people and by their
older fellow citizens.
We are all immigrants. 1t In not
very long since the older citizens OF
America came here--personaily or In
the persons OF our ancestors We are
hyntfyaro In ~ fr v>nfi To
each other.
I'm this dramatizatior today OF
Chester's league of nations one re-
r,eated phrase has especially Impressed
me. As each group OF foreign-b born
ncorle comes upon the stnge. their
leader SAYS to the woman irnpersonat-
ing Chester: 7 bring you some of my
people: their loyalty, art and labor.
To which Chester replies, We wei.
come yon. We need your loyalty. ar,
and labor
America does not desire only 10
teach you our customs and standards
OF living. Equally we want you ia
teach us We need your help in learn
ing the great art OF living--of living
toyously, fraternaliy. loving music
and DRAINS. preserving the play spiri,
OF golden childhood and responding
youthfuily 10 all Of iife's large school
ing
we have fought together in the
war for democracy and inte-na-
tionaitsm. AZ good comrades we have
tough. and iabored TO make Americani.
have all helped the world to under
stand that the hearts OF the people
everywhere are beating together In
more and more faithful accord with
the ideals Of democracy and frater-
nifty which America cherishes. which
Chester's league Of nations IL de-
signed to set before us In a simple
convincing way.
Led by the mayor OF Chester and
by the governing committee CT corn
Ynunity service--which was appointed
from Washington for such purposes as
these--the older citizens OF the com
monwealth welcome most heartily YOU
who have come among us helpfuliy
with large yet enlarging social vision
to offer America Though community
Ss-@ssxs Is g. sas s4testtys ar aEa 1a&sr,r
Az the conclusion of the governors
speech trumpeta sounded and Old
Glory. escorted by returned soldiers
sailors ana marines, was carried IN
while the audience OF 5000, standing,
sang America" Another blast OF
srumpets announced the appearance OF
an angel who. looking upon the races
before her. summoned Chester. Mrs
(3&y SVChidHCs chairman OF IHN
committee IN charge, represented Ches-
ter and made a short address on Penn
Washington and Lafayette. closing
with these words: And You. newcom-
ers. shall be made welcome"
Then Chester summoned twenty-five
of the city's representative men and
women including Industrial workers
Led by Governor Sproui ana Mayor
Mcdowell they took their stand about
Chester. m she Welcomed the foreign
groups. Each group In turn marched
through the audience ana az 1t stood
under an arch inscribed Chester" its
leader said. Chester. I bring you some
of my people: their loyalty. art and
labor"
Chester replied. we welcome You
We need your loyalty. art and labor. =
When all the groups had reached the
stage the trumpets sounded again and
then each group In turn took the CEN
ter Of the stage around its national
fiag. The orchestra played the national
anthem OF each group and the audience
stood while II was sung on the stage
ana In the body Of the house.
Then al those on the stage came
forward and OLD Glory was again