Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-07-29
HISTORICAL PAGEANT
ELLSWORTH PEOPLE ENJOY
SPECTACULAR PRODUCTION.
History Presented in SymbOlicai
Dances and TableauX-GOOd
Horse Racing Thursday.

Ellsworth history, pictured IN
colorful pageant, furnished delight
full and instructive entertainment for
the people of Ellsworth and many
from neighboring towns Thursday
and Friday evenings of last week.
Rain caused postponement OF the
opening night from Wednesday, but
the Waldoboro band, in attendance
during the pageant, gave concert
on Main street Wednesday evening
and helped to disperse the clouds
lowering over the pageant. Thurs
day and Friday the weather was
fair, and there was no further inter-
ruption of the program.
The grand stand at Wyman park
was fairly we'll filled Thursday eve
ming for the opening performance,
and there were many standing. The
first night, attendance was close to
1880, but the second nights crowd
of less than 500 was disappointing.
In a spectacular way, the pageant
was a great success, but financially it
was not, and the Hancock County
| Fair Association, under whose
auspices it was given, will have to
meet a deficit of from 500 to 5000.
The pageant was staged by the
John B. Rogers Producing Co., under
the personal direction of James A.
Murphy, who has been showered with
congratulations and compliments for
the wonderful work accomplished in
drilling the performers in the few
weeks allotted for the work. 1t was
really big undertaking, and the re-
suit achieved was remarkable.
There were about 200 people in
the cast, ranging from wee Riddles
to sedate men and matrons. The
dances were graceful and spectacu-
! lar. the tableaux attractive, and
clown acts enlivened the per-
| Torrance.
| PRINCIPALS
''Miss Ellsworth" Charlotte Whitcomb
Miss Columbia -. Gertrude Jewell
| "Father Time" :. Harry L. Crabtree
| "Pioneer Man" go. John ]. Whitney
| "Pioneer Lady" ....... Grace ]. Royal
Fever" ..... Sylvia Macdonald
Famine .......... Matte A. Royal
Death ............ Albert H. Davis
spirit of the Wilderness
Elaine Donovan
'Indian Chief ....... Alton P. Royal
The production was given on the
track in front of the grand stand,
where a stage effect was produced by
tinted curtains that formed wings
and back stage, with background of
evergreen trees. A fine lighting eff
feet was obtained by long string of
footlight and a large spotlight from
above.
The program opened with the APP
pearance of "Miss Ellsworth" and
her attendants, in gorgeous cos
tunes. "Miss Ellsworth" imper-
sonated by Miss Charlotte Whitcomb,
to whom that honor was voted at the
last food fair, wore a striking cos
tune, with sparkling crown. A girl
in waiting bore the train of her robe.
Her attendants formed in semi
circle about her, making pleasing
picture as she gave the address OF
welcome.
Then entered "Miss Columbia" in
the conventional costume OF that
character, attended by the forty
eight states in costumes OF the ma
tional colors The stage was now
set for the historical features OF the
pageant, and "Father Time with
flowing hair and beard and bearing
an hour glass, pronounced the
prophecy that outlined the story or
the pageant.
The first scene was the DAWN
inc of Creation''-the sky, the land,
the flowers, etc, represented by
young girls in very graceful dance.
But the spirits of creation were soon
driven to flight by the Red Men, who
entered with war whoops. The In
dians were seen about their campfire.
and in their peaceful pursuits, until
they, in turn, were disturbed by the
coming of the White Man. The
announcement of his coming was the
signal for a war dance.
Then entered 1.-The Pioneer"
dressed in buckskins, and presented
the chief with beads, after which
circle was formed about the fire and
the pipe of peace was smoked.
This scene was followed by a SYM
| bolical dance, representing the
spirit of the Wilderness" with the
powers of the Forest the "Powers
of the Rivers" and the "Mist
Maidens" participating. The Pioneer
Man and his wife enter upon the
scene, and though hindered' by the
Powers of the Forest and beset by
Fever, Famine and Death, they win
through.
This brought the movement down
to the coming of Ellsworth an
nounced by Father Time in the fol-
] lowing lines:
| "And so Town was born to live
And to this place a name we give
Ellsworth.
So away with care
Let every heart with quickened fervor
glow,
While we brush the dust from bygone
years, and
| Bid the records show the
Honored deeds of those who lived many
wears ago.