The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1924-06-12
COMMENTS OF
THE PRESS
LIFE HISTORY OF ST. CROIX
VALLEY REFLECTED ON STAGE

st. CrOlX Valley was invited TO at
tend the semi-centennial pageant of
the Normal School at River Falls on
Monday evening and most of the val
ley accepted and came. Not far from
5000 people were there filling every
section of chairs and bleachers down
on the grounds southeast of the S.
Normal building. Looking up the
slope one beheld a sea of faces and
when the pageant closed, every street
of the city and every country road
for miles out, was lit up for many
minutes with constant throngs of
passing autos.
This week is commencement week
for the Fourth State Normal school
at River Falls and commentaries
the fftieth anniversary of the found
ing of the first state institute In the
entire northern two-thirds of the
commonwealth of Wisconsin.
The school took root in pioneer
days of this section. The yesterday
of it's birth was in the era of the red
man. The day before was in the
SWAY of beaver and bear and an I'M
claimed nature primeval.
The schools career of half CEN
tury has swept through portentous
historic and industrial transition in
tersected and bounded by three wars.
The old school took up the torch that
led the way through, for pioneers and.
pilgrims of the night" as their
hands fell-caught the torch and the
| inspiration, held them high and lit the
way through. How we'll the school
carried on is evidenced by many IN
cidents in it's career. One sutflces;
One episode of the pageant was the
pinning of nine golden stars on the
badge of the school.
Worthy and wealthy foundation IN
deed for the painting of a pageant
| commemorating fifty years Of an ex-
allied history!
The background of stately pines OF
forest stature, planted when the
school was founded, gave a magnif-
cent setting for the staging. Clusters
of smaller trees, that were moved in
arranging the settings of the differ
ent episodes, furnished a more deli
i cate lhcery for the wonderful color
ing effects, were in the foreground.
The acting was all in pantomlne.
The words which were written by
Prof. Dawson of the Normal faculty,
were read by herald. Interpreta-
tive music, some classic and some en-
deared by association with our coun-
trys history, rendered by an orches-
ira and large chorus of voices, ac-
tcompanied the pageant. Not far
from 500 different actors participant
ed. Marvellous lighting effects were
enhanced by costumes Of intense
coloring and intensified the lights
and shades of the sylvan scene.
There were scenes Of dawn, beau
tiful categorical effects, scenes OF In
dian life with it's tepees, of the arriv-
al of the first pioneer, Joel Foster
and his faithful negro servant, OF the
pioneer store, of the log school house,
of the old Academy, of the arrival of
the Normal regents to select site for
the school, of recitation days, of a
rustic dance
"Let not ambition mock their use
full toll, their homely joys and destiny
obscure;
There were scenes of the boys of 81
receiving the news Of the Civil War
and marching to the front, OF the
| Old Camp Grounds where I'VE are
tenting tonight, tenting on the old
camp ground" of graduation time, OF
the rallying of the service men OF the
World war to the colors, not to re-
turn until its all over, over there,
Normal boys cutting a wire entangle-
ment on the Flanders front and
night battle with it's searching llum-
nations bursting in air.
The mounts OF the "FOur Horsemen
of the Apocalypse" and other horses
and old time vehicles played stir
ring part in the many tableaux.
The memory Of w. d. Parker, the
first president, who was at the head
of the school twenty-one years and
who was also of national prominence
in the educational world, received re-
cognition. Also did the service of
succeeding presidents-J. Q. Emery,
now head of the state dairy and food
commission and leading Jersey
! dairyman of the country, President
Brien, President Wilson, President J.
w. Crabtree, now in charge of the
national educational commission, and
the present president, Mr.. Ames, all
were appreciatively remembered.
This entire weeks observance has
taken recognition of the fiftieth mile
stone. The neighboring city is ablaze
with scarlet and white pennants and
electric Examinations.