The Washington times., 1922-05-22
Of 4,800
|. To OPEN GREAT
VIRGINIA FETE
Historical Pageant at Rich
mond, Costing Over $780,
900, Will Start Tonight.

RICHMOND, Va, May 22.-Vir-
ginia's great historical pageant, in
preparation for neariy two years,
costing a total of $3.50, 900 and en-
ploying the volunteer and profes-
sional services Of a total Of 4,8O0
persons, including a mammoth
chorus of $500 voices, opens to-
night on a great outdoor stage in a
forty-acre ampitheater. 1t Is de-
clared to be the greatest outdoor
spectacle of its kind ever under
taken In any country.
Many Guests.
Invited guests number many gov
ernors Of States. mayors Of large
cities, members of Congress, ana
President and Mrs. Harding. and the
entire Cabinet and their wives The
army and navy. Virginia State
guardsmen, naval reserves, and ex.
service men will participate Monday
morning in the opening parade.
when the queen OF the pageant. Mrs.
and the wife Of q Roanoke physi-
clan. elected by popular vote by a
plurality of 5000, will be crowned
by Governor K. Lee Trinkle on the
portico Of the State capitol designed
by Thomas jefferson. Mrs. Semones
is of an old and distinguished family
and Is descended from King Edward
l, Of England, and her ancestors
number among them twenty-three
governors Of States since the estab-
lishment OF the nation.
In addition to the six nightly per
formances of the pageant in which
trained groups from six Virginia
cities participate, there are to be four
great period balls on successive
nights, in resplendent costumes
which have cost a small fortune.
There is also to be a tournament OF
Southern knights on horseback on
Friday afternoon, In which fifty pic
turesquely costumed riders, each
jousting for the honor Of a fair lady
from his county or city, will enter
the lists with lances to compete for
the honor OF crowning his own lady
as queen OF love and beauty at the
tournament ball that evening. The
knights skill is tested by his ability
to ride 100 yards in six seconds and
pierce with the point OF his lance
three rings OF from one inch to half
an inch in diameter.
Daily Parades.
The Pageant Week, which ends
Saturday night. will include daily
street parades of a historical nature
and including floats on which more
than 100000 has been expended.
The landing Of Sir Walter Raleigh
and his English party at the falls
OF the James 3l5 years ago when
Smith first met the Indian Princess
Pocahontas. will also be depicted on
tho exact spot together with Indian
war canoe races.
Thousands Of visitors are arriv-
ing in the city by automobile and
by every train and the hotels OF
largest in the South, and 5000 pri.
vate homes that have offered ac-
commodations for arriving guests,
are rapidly filling up.
The president OF the association
which has raised the funds to give
the great pageant. is oliver J.
Sands, president OF the American
National Bank of this city. Two
vice presidents are Mrs. John Skel.
ton Williams. wife OF the former
Comptroller OF the United States
Treasury, and Homer l.. Ferguson.
president Of the Newport News
Shipbuilding Company. The secre-
tary Is w. B. Gridlln: who orig.
mated the idea Of the pageant to
depict actual, though sometimes dis
puted, facts regarding the penetra.
tion OF English civilization into
America, from the time Of good
Queen Bess and Raleigh and his
London Company's charter. down
through Colonial Revolutionary and
Civil War davs to the pageant.
A total Of from 100000 to 900, 900
visitors are expected during the week
and Virginians living in all parts of
the world are arriving home for the
biggest event OF the kind in the his
tory Of the Commonwealth