Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-17
Va. Historical Pageant
(By Mary Washington Bald


heinz constructed on the site for the
Virginia Historical Pageant, when
will be staged in Richmond during
the week beginning May Y. ms
tower will be at one end OF the I'M
mense stage on which more imam
600 men and women will depict the
characters of the early settlers OF
Virginia each night during the pag-
cant drama.
DR. Thomas Wood Stevens, noted
throughout the United States as the
producer of successful pageantss,
has written the drama and will dl-
rect it
From the historic tower will come
a stentorian voice announcing the
sauence of events throughout the
VARYING scenes of the pageant drama
So clearly will the scenes be pre-
sented. under the rays Of wonderful
electrical effects, that the spectators
cannot fail to grasp the chronology
cal order of the episodes. There Will
be stirring portrayls from Colonial
History of Observation-Disclosures, Po-
cahontas and Captain John Smith
vieing with each other IN rlvetting
the attention Of the vast cavalier,
Berkeley. barring his breast and
shouting to the patriotic Bacon: "A
fair mark, sir, shoot!'
The Colonial Period closes; the
voice from the tower prepares the
audience for the episode OF the
French and Indian War, and the rise
of gallant young Ofhcer-George
Washington. Then comes the period
of the Revolution, eliminating IN
the surrender of CORVALLIS at
Yorktown. The Ante Belum period
with it's charming quaintness IN
costuming and in stately manners
is followed by the Civil War cpl
sodes, startling in pyrotechic eff
fects The pageant progresses to
the present day, the eplogue giving
a setting that closes the drama, IN
/ symbolic form.
( The entire state will De represent
ed in the Virginia Pageant; and many
other states are giving intelligent
interest and help that invariably
spells success in popular move
ments Calls for publicity have been
received from newspapers in nearly
every state in the Union. The Lon
don Times. through the British Con-
sui in Richmond, months ago re-
quested that all news stories released
to American newspapers also be
furnished for publication in Eng
/ land. The cancellation stamp of the
Pageant, granted by Congress, is
now in use. advertising the great
event wherever Richmond letters go.
Besides the pageant drama, given
each ewing al the mammoth open
air theatre near Joseph Bryan Park,
there will be daily parades during
Pageant week. They will consist
first, of handsome floats typical of
the political and social history OF
Virginia as well as its commercial
development; secondly, equestrian
delegations, as the knights Of the
Horseshoe" who will come from
Orange County, thirdly, War Neter-
ans each having conspicuous places
in the parade on the days given
their respective periods.
The Confederate Veterans, the
United Daughters of the Confederacy
and the Sons Of Confederate Neter-
ans will make a feature of the pa
rade on Thursday. which will also be
Flower Day. the floral features
being under the direction of the
James River Garden Club, its presi-
dent, Mrs Thomas S. Wheelright
serving as chairman of the special
floral committee. On Friday, Span
ish-American and World War Day,
there will be 2200 Spanish-American
Veterans parading in uniform, and
ladies of the patriotic societies of the
time will follow the soldiers, while
the American Legion with represen-
tatives of all the World War organ
izations will form fitting climax
for that days parade.
One New York firm and several
Richmond contractors are already at
work on the floats. The number of
Virginia counties, business firms, pa
triotic and historic organizations
wishing to have handsome floats in
the pageant parades is growing
daily. Witk one hundred pledges in
hand. the committee is assured
/ there will be not less than 250 beau
tiful floats for pageant week, rep
resenting the patriotic organizations
on days DEVOTED to their special
epoch. Some cites, counties and bus
mess firms will appear every day, as,
for instance, Henrico County, notable
in Virginia History from Colonial
times to the present. Newport News
will have two floats; one, a minia-
ture Of the good ship, Sarah Con-
slant" will appear in Mondays pa
rade; the other, miniature sea
going vessel Of modern times, will be
in the parade on Saturday-"Great-
err Virginia Day" The tobacco en-
terprises of the state approaching
the place tobacco had in Colonial ana
Ante Bellum Virginia, will be repre-
scented by costly floats showing the
story Of weed" from the remote past
to the improved methods of manu-
facture in this day.
The Colonial Danes have selected
as their scere:-The Indians led by
Pocahontas, saving the Colony in
1910 by bringing baskets of corn to
the starving children of jamestown.
The Confederate Memorial Literary
Society Will have a float represent
ing the portjco of the White House
q. II l.