Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1921-07-06
Barton Celebrates
PAGEANT HUGE SUCCESS
Baseball, Band Concerts, Parades. and
I AerOplane other Features.


i I Aeroplane other Features.
The Barton Historical Pageant, Civ
en- for the fourth and final time Mon
day evening at the Pageant grounds
near Barton village, marks new
epoch in the form of entertainment in
Orleans county.
TO take from actual records the
high points Of a towns history, weave
about it the detail necessary to make
of it complete incident and then
weave the different incidents into a
series of episodes which shall amuse,
entertain and instruct is no small un-
dertaking, no small expense and no
small success when a whole town
works for one end and the weather
man smiles.
The seating capacity of 1900 was
taxed at each presentation except on
Monday afternoon and the audiences
were very appreciative as the ap-
plause. On Monday night at least
200 persons could not get standing
room. Friday nights audience con-
tanned between 500 and 600 children
who were admitted free and the total
paid ATTENDANCE approximates $500.
The immensity of the performance,
the splendor and perfection of the cos
tuning, the gorgeousness of the light
ing effects was pleasing surprise to
many, and there was not a dull mo-
ment from the opening when Pan
called the elements of woods and noun
talns to mingle in dance, to the
grand finale when every particiran4
more than 300 in number, appeared or
the stage in costume to join in sing.
ing America.
| Miss Madeline Randall, who directed
the dancing, took the part of Pan, ant
was the only talent appearing on tn
stage from outside Barton. Cornelius
Buckley, as the spirit of the IndiaM,
and Fred Kinsey as the spirit of the
! pioneer, were wonderfully realistic
characters in their costumes.
The legendary French-Indian scenc
was one most enjoyed by many and
exceptionally well done and effective.
Following this scene, which was SO
full of action and excitement, came
the spirit of the Pilgrims. In the for
mer was an Indian dance, the pipe CT
peace, the Indian children at play, the
! departing of the Frenchmen by wat
er, all splendidly acted, while in the
Pilgrim scene there was simply a
Ebody of Pilgrims singing hymns and
praying.
Following the Pilgrims came Rog-
er's Rangers, depicting the story Of the
first coming of the white men to this
region, and skirmish with the In
dians. This is true to history scene
as we are told Rogers men reached
Crystal lake in a starving condition
but here caught fish. e.,
The interlude in which appear Yer
mont and the 13 states was one of the
most beautiful of the acts. Thirteen
women depicted the 13 states and as
the states were named a star was
lighted. Here appeared the historical
characters of Ethan Allen, Seth War
ner, DR.. Jonas Fay, Ira Allen and
Thomas Chittenden.
| The scenes in which the chartec of
the town of Barton was granted, the
coming of the first families, the or
ganization of the town, the Runaway
pond incident, smuggling incidents
and the Lafayette reception were all
characters, many costume effects and
much historical information regard
ing the town of Barton and its early
| history which is worthy of mention.
The charter episode takes it for grant
ed that Col. Barton, Asa Kimball, John
Paul Jones, Daniel Owen, Jonas Fay,
Ira Allen and Elkanah Watson, were
all present at Gov. Robinson's house
when the charter was granted, and the
unconfrmed report that Col. Barton
changed the name in the charter from
Providence to Barton is related. Rep
resentations of the first families were
realistically portrayed by groups, the
Mays and the Owens being the only
actual descendants of the Pioneer
families now in Barton. The first
town meeting was held over again,
no doubt in more or less true repre-
sentation of the original. The first
marriage in town was also represent
rider came down the Barton river
valley to warn settlers that that Long
pond in. Glover had broken away gave
touch of realism to this incident of
early history. The smuggling scene
is full of life and action and brings
one to his feet with the tensity of the
| situation so well acted. The reception
of Gen. Lafayette, who came to DAN
vile in 1925 to release Col Barton from
prison is based on fact. The scene
was perhaps the most pretentous of
all. The stage coach and four, the
gay French aids to Lafayette, the
dancing OF the mlnuet at the home OF
Mr.. and Mrs Fuller where the recep-
tion was held with song by one of
the guests was wonderfully pleasing
scene.
In the next interlude Agriculture
called the spirits of earth, air and
water to her aid and the depletion is
most pleasing part of the whole.
In the Civil War scene appeared a
crowd of men and women among
whom were leading spirits who believ-
ed that Barton should organize COM
pany of men, which they did, electing
officers, among whom was George w.
Quimby, from whom the Barton G. A.
r. post is named. The symbolic
Union" scene is most effective one
when the blue and the gray are united
while the chorus sings patriotic songs.
The merry husking bee was perhaps
the most popular and amusing in the
whole pageant. The finding of the
L.