Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-07-07
MAY REPEAT
PAGEANT

Labor Day Suggested for Second Per-
fermancs Of "The Makers Of Amer
iea'-Laruely an Augusta Produe-
ton
The Chamber OF Commerce has been
asked by scores Of people, who were
unable to see the pageant produced
Tuesday ~ q Fart Of the Fourth OF
July celebration. II q second perform
ancs might be arranged for some later
date. II was pointed out that q ma
jor:ty of the 5000 people who focked
to see II were unable to see the stage
or hear the voices. In fairness to
them = larger place with plenty OF
room for both performers and specta-
tors should be chosen. The Muster
Field or Ganneston Park have been
recommended and Labor day has been
most frequently mentioned a. the date.
~ the costumes are already bought
the only additional expense would be
for the music and the programs. an ex-
pepse which could be met by taking a
silver collection at the time.
In producing the pageant, 1.-THE
Makers OF America" Augusta scored
distinct accomplishment not only In
adding the element Of dignity and pur-
pose to q well planned celebration Of
ths Fourth OF July, but also in teach
ing the true meaning Of patriotism
ana In forwarding the work Of Ameri-
carization in this city. Never for one
minute did the committee in charge
forget the true purpose Of their under
taking. namely to convey to the people
the principles upon which free Ameri-
ca rests and the lofty place that 1t is
her privilege to hold among the ma
lions of the earth. That these ideals
anc principles could best be conveyed
through pageantry was the briief of
the members Of the Augusta American
ization Association who were directly
responsible for the production Of the
pageant
This association was organized by
the Augusta Chamber of Commerce at
the suggestion of the w. c. T. U. and
others in order that all the organiza-
lions interested in patriotic work
might function as a body in planning
program of Americanization work
for the city. The success Of the effort
is largely due to the untiring work of
Miss Anna c. Beale, president of the
association, who attended a confer
ence on Americanization work last
summer as the representative Of the
w c. Il. L. Very few cities in Amer
Tea are as well organized as Augusta
for patriotic work and the association,
now become an established fact in the
| life of the city, will be heard from fire.
quently in the future.
( The pageant itself is also largely an
Augusta product. 1t was taken, with
I the full consent Of the author. from a
/ so-called civic ritual designed for
school and public use. a simple exer-
4 else, concise, well worded, and quite
praiseworthy. This ritual was far
from being a pageant for it contained
no folk dancing or solo dancing and
the splcndidly portrayed scenes show
Ing the blendinE of the nationalities
/ made no part of the original play.
| Practically every member Of the
committee made valuable suggestions
! that were incorporated into the final
production. but the majority of the
! changes and additions were made by
I five people, Miss Adele Fitzpatrick of
/ Hallowell. author of Impulse III,
George c. Clarke, upon whom respon-
sbility for producing pageant
worthy of the community rested, II.
/ Price Weber, the veteran actor, whose
/ knowledge of stagccraft was inval-
| liable in producing the groupings, Miss
| d. Estella Clarke of Portland. who
| came to Augusta at the request of Sec
/ rotary Clarke to take charge Of the
| dancing, and Ralph Brown. loaned to
the committee by the courtesy of the
d. W. Adams Company, who directed
the play and planned the costumng.
Norman L. Bassett made many val
liable suggestions in the proper stag
ing Of Impulse ~.
The spirit Of cooperation which was
| displayed was most gratifying, for
everyone stood ready to assist The
singers, the band, the accompanist,
leading Augusta people who took the
various parts. the school teachers who
secured the children, and the parents
who showed their interest by provid-
ing white dresses for their children.
and the members Of the d. A. r., who
made the costumes. and the superin-
tendent of buildings, Charles Brown,
who loaned a piano and permitted the
use of the beautiful State House
grounds. and scores Of others who
loaned materials. all deserve credit for
the success of the day.
II has been suggested that a pageant
be presented every year by the Asso-
citation and. having tried the commune
~ and found It interested in pagean-
try. deeply concerned in matters pa
triotic and squarely behind the asso-
f,,il Of fr0ducinp