Evening star., 1926-06-20
PAGEANT
PLANS PROGRESS
Fireworks Display at Capital
However, Is in Doubt.
Il Funds Lacking.

Although the fate of the fireworks
display planned $on the Monument
Grounds July }. in connection with
the District celebration of the lSoth
anniversary of the establishment or
American independence. is still In
doubt owing to the lack OF response
to the appeal of the committee on
finance for contributions. Arrange
ments for the ceremonies on the east
front of the Capitol are progressing
satisfactorily, it was announced YES
terday bv Chairman r.. {. Snyder Of
the committee on arrangements.
The patriotic address will be de-
ivered hY Representative Henry X.
Rathbone of Illinois, who will be In.
trodured by Chairman Snyder, follow
ing an inspirations program of Amer
ican music to be played by massed
bands, one number to be conducted by
Capt Santelmann of the Marine Ia nd,
and one number conducted by capt.
Stannard of the Army Band. The
ava rdS to the six winning contestants
in the Declara ton of independence
essay contest will be made by Com
missioner ]. Franklin Bell.
All ESSAYS are now in the hands of
the acting director of the community
center department. Mrs. l.. w. Hardy.
and will be turned over by her tomOr
row to the committee of judges, DIR.
William Mather Lewis. Rabbi Abra m
Simon and Judge Mary O'Toole, for
final selection during this week.
Nearly ever division of the District
public schools has sent in the re-
quired six essays, which include the
best two from the eighth, the seventh
and the sixth grades in that division.
The judges for the eight Junior high
schools essays We're Miss Mathilde
t,ifier. Miss Ethel Nass and DR.. r. b.
Dykes of the senior high schools. A
special committee judged the essays
of the private and parochial schools
i'm preparation for the final selection
this week, the committee being COM
posed of Ira Bennett of the Wash.
inEton Post, Gideon A. Lyon Of The
Evening Star. Charles w. Darr. Ar
thur Alexander and Mrs. James Car
roll Frazer.
Pageant Is Planned.
The spectacular feature Of the cele-
bration at the Capitol will be the
presentation of The Story of Amer
lea, a pageant of liberty, written and
directed by Marie Moore Forrest, of
the Community Center Department.
and presented by the committee on
ARA ngements under the auspices of
the community centers. More than
y outstanding orRaniZa ti0nS in the
city will present scenes OF vital his
toric interest. the scenes being pla ayed
on the steps leading up to the ro-
tunda. with the dome as background
for the colorful spectacle.
Five scenes will be given: THE
Foundation of America" !" opening with
a dance of the primitive forest, fol-
lowed by an Indian camp sCene, and
then the coming of the Norsemen,
led by Lief Ericsson: Christopher Co
lumbus and the Spaniards, the Cava-
liers of Virginia, the Pilgrims, the
Dutch led by Hendrix Hudson. the
Huguenots. the Quakers-all forming
q great picture on the Capitol steps
which opens at the center. as from
out the rotunda come George wash
ington and Thomas jefferson. great
warrior and great statesman of
America.
Five Scenes in All.
Scene > will be the Declaration of
Independence. and scene 3. Wash
ington Resigning his Commission at
Anna polls. in 1888" to be played by
members Of the Sons Of the America n
Revolution and the Minute Men,
assisted by the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Scene 4 tells
OF the progress OF America, opening
with a symbolic dance of the vital
forces Of Americas strength. Then
will come groups OF the early Presi-
dents and leaders OF the Nation. and
the pioneers, men of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition, men led by Daniel
Boone. the Forty miners, scientists.
the old.fashioned school teacher and
her little pupils, the oldfashioned
American family, and the first college
graduates leading up to America
great triumvirate, Clay, Calhoun and
Webster, and finally to Lincoln-as
the hand plays Mine Eyes Have Seen
the Glory of the Coming of the Lord. :
Scene ), THE Strength and Hope Of
America" will open with q dance OF
liberty and hope, in her, white and
blue array; and then will come vast
marching force, representing the
industries. the floral group. the
agricultural group. The fisheries
group, the business group, the pro
fcssional group. the Red Cross, Boy
Scouts. Girl Scouts, Campfire Girls,
Army Nursing Corps. Instructive
Visiting Nurse Society. the church,
capital and labor. the family, arts
and letters, and many others. Then
the bugle call-and America enters,
with torchbearer bearing the flag.
escorted by platoons of soldiers. sail
ors and marines, forming vast and
inspiring picture under the dome as
the bands play THE Star Spangled
Banner and the audience stands AT
attention.
~.- nr~rHAAaN