Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-06-01
may FESTIVAL
WONDER Event
THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
PARTICIPATE IN
FETE

been so successfully preSeHISu 40 was
the May fete of last Monday after
noon at Marathon park Nearly four
thousand school children, prettily cos
tuned, carefully trained and entering
into the spirit of the program, partlci-
pated in this elaborate affair. The
May fete was greater success than
any one imagined it could possibly be.
Credit for the impressive and elap-
crate pageant belongs mainly to MISS
Marilla Zellhoefer, who directed II.
Assisting in executive work were =.
S. Snyder and Miss Gertrude Nc
Guine. :.
The large field had been marked off
into squares and aisles were left open
10 prevent crowding. Each teacher
had been furnished with section and
knew exactly where to place her
group of children. The color scheme
had been artistically arranged so that
the effect would be pleasing and wnlle
the colors used were bright, they
blended into beautiful comblnatlon.
In many instances especially appeal
ing effects were obtained by the SIM
pie use of streamers and arm Danos,
but every child was, at the same time,
costumed so as to form very essen
tial part of the scheme. The stage
for the fete was set in front OF the
grand stand, which was completely
filled. 1t is estimated that 7OOO or
5000 persons attended the event and
that with the children there were TO-
900 to 10000 persons on the grounds.
Band Assists
The program was opened by the
ssInyitation" played by the 12Sth In
fantry band of twenty-one pieces. Dur
ing the entire afternoon this organlza-
tion PLAYED for the various numbers
and the added pleasure from this unit S
assistance can hardly be estimated.
Miss Zellhoefer particularly apprecl-
ates the bands cooperation and its
willingness during the weeks preced-
ing the fete to practice whenever 1t
was found necessary.
At the close of this opening num-
Der the Indian dance was staged by
sub-primary pupils and some OF the
children from the first, second and
third grades of various schools. Each
school first formed it's own circle and
later all merged into single file,
weaving in and out through the
cleared space The second number
was the Marine March. One hundred
little girls, dressed in white and lined
I'D in boat formation, in the center
of which seven high school boys were
placed, created a novel picture. The
boat, named Wausau, moved toward
the center of the field on signal with
sort of rocking movement that added
a nautical atmosphere. When it reach
ed the center of the field the young
men in sailor uniforms, danced the
hornpipe
Before this scene was ended the
girls who formed the group OF the
Spirit of the Day dance moved down
to position directly behind the boat.
This group was led by Miss Wilma
Burt and the children were costumed
in red, white and blue. During the
course of the dance the girls used
gilded swords which had been con-
cealed in the skirts of their dresses
and as a climax each girl produced
two hidden flags and before breaking
the formation sang the Star Spangled
Banner. At the same time the flag
on the grand stand was being raised
and the entire audience rose in re-
Spouse to this patriotic introduction.
The dance and scene full OF flags, to-
gether with the national anthem and
fog raising, was one of the most i'm
pressive of the afternoons program.
Emblem March
The National Emblem March con-
stituted the fifth number on the pro-
gram. Several groups of high school
bows and large number of girls
from the high school and grades par
ticipated. "Welcome Sweet Spring
fhn cd MI
rendered by a large group Of chill
dren which served as Introductory to
the solo dance by Miss Laura Smith,
"Spring Dance, arranged to Mendel-
ssohn's Spring Song Miss Smiths
ability has been appreciated by Wau-
sau people before and in this number
she amply attested it again. Every
pose and gesture brought out the full
est meaning of the dance and the sim
pie dress and head band of flowers
made her costuming perfect for the
dance.
kindergarten classes next danced a
very pretty number, circle after cir
Gle participating. The children wore
streamers of bright colors, each school
using a different color or shades of the
same color. AS the children partici-
pating were tiny tots, the dance proved
one of the daintiest attractions on the
program.
The Dance on the Green in which
nearly one thousand participated was
a very beautiful number. The flower
girls did especially fine work, although
every unit participating in this num-
Der merits commentator. The field
was alive with life. Tae three ring
circuses seemed of small importance
beside the circust following in which
the lower grade pupils performed.
From the grand stand it looked as
though twenty rings were in play and
the children entered into the event
with so much vim that ii proved to
be just what the program stated
"a jolly circus"
The Poppy Dance
The Poppy Dance was one of the
prettiest of the afternoon. The girls
taking part carried hoops, arches, and
garlands of bright hued flowers with