The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1921-02-26
NEGRO PAGEANT
PLEASES LARGE
AUDIENCE.
Open Door" Again Presented
to Highly Appreciative North
ern Audience.

Providence, r. l., Feb. 24.-An at
tractive spectacle was the pageant OF
the Open Door given at Infantry
hall last night before an audience
which taxed the capacity Of the large
auditorium and filled the galleries to
overflowing. With its elaborate setting
the beauty of its scense and the very
appropriate incidental music, the per-
formance from the start engaged the
Interest of those who went to see II
and held them gripped and tense un-
til the end.
The pageant symbolized the progress
of the Negro race from the days of
cannibal savagery to its present state
of civilized enlightenment The pro-
ceeds of the affair will be contributed
to the benefit of Atlanta. for the 50th
anniversary of which the spectacle
was first produced. Ralph M Cole
only speaking role as History" and
considerable proportion of the all
colored cast were residents of ProVi-
dence.
The programme opened with the
singing of splrituals by a chorus. un-
der the leadership of Edward H. S.
Boatner. The quaint melodic folksongs.
sung with rare modulations by sooth-
acteristic note of religious fervor dis
tinctly the Negroes was pleasing
revelation.
SOIOIst Given Ovation
Mr.. Boatner, who has a fine bari
tone voice, also sang several solos, in
the mournful 'Motherless Child" by
Burleigh, expressing a plantive appeal
to which the audience responded With
great ovation.
The pageant opened with the weird
strains of a Negro lament accompany
Ing the entry of King Ignorance and
his band OF savage followers. Follow
ing a procession of maidens. who
paid the king their tribute in the
fruitage of life, Miss Gertrude Allis-
ston, as the High Priestess, made a
majestic entrance. Attired in a cerise
drapery with girdle of green gold
and wearing a jewelled silver and
gold headpiece. she displayed a strilS-
ing type, and presented a rythmic
dance which brought forth great ap-
plause. An oriental dance by the fe-
male attendants was another most at
tractive feature of this part of the
programme.
Following this scene, the slaves
under the lash of Greed, while Hate
presented her son, Prejudice. Educa-
tion dispelled Ignorance, and, freed
from their shacllles, the slaves tore
down the barbaric curtain and enter
ed the open door, from which glad.
shining lives came forth to bless the
world.
But some lacked the purpose and
steady will to enter the door, and
Philander, with silly mockery of love,
led them back by the way Ignorance
had gone. Finally Truth, Beauty and
Love. who had been hiding for fear
of Ignorance came. forth as heralds.
bidding all to follow the. star and
enter the Open Door. before which
stood Education, a shining light high
in her hand.
The pageant was written by Alice
Holdship Ware and directed by. Ger
NOVag
school assisted with the dancing.
Rosalin6 M. Hurtubis assisted In pre-
pairing me oriental scene and Clar-
ence White conducted the orchestra.
Lament Opens Programme
The programme follows:
History Negro Lament, from Ban
White; Wild Men and King Ignorance,
Torch Dance German, Juba, Dett;
Gift Bearers-Tal1e Nabanji, Coleridge-
Taylor; Greed with Slaves, (a) No
Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray, (c) Now
is the Needy Time, (d) Free at Last
Ce) Christian, Hold Your Light; Hate
and Prejudice-Prelude C. sharp min
or Rachmanino4f; EdueationIHymn'
Kashmira. Clarence. Cameron White:
mattering-Pizzicati, Delibes; Those
Who Seek the Way of Wisdom and
Truth" hymn. God Of Our Fathers"
HnllanOeT--DanCe CdpII le, I1OSl
Of Shining Lives-sherpherd Dance,
German; Truth. Beauty and Love
Improvisation, Clarence Scameron
White; recessional-'Tift Every Voice
and Sing" James Weldon Johnson and
Rosamond Johnson.
Cast of characters: History, Mr.;
Ralph Coleman; Ignorance (this wild
men), Boy Scouts, Troop q High
Priestess, Mrs. Gertrude Allston;
Greed (subjects), Mr.. Harold Williams:
Duncan
dice; Education, Miss Alice Higgen-
botham; Incidence (folIowers) Miss
Evelyn Stevents; Smattering (follow-
ers), Miss Lola M. Wilson, Philander,
Miss Mildred Davenport; Philander's
companion, Miss Gladys Brown; Truth.
Miss Alice Miles; Beauty. Miss Gladys
Averett; Love, Miss Imogene Roun-
tree.