Evening star., 1932-08-28
VALLEY PAGEANT
p. NEARLY PREPARED
200th Birthday Fete of First
Shenandoah Settlement
Is September 3-5.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch TO The Star.
,5aRRISONBURG, Va, August 81
The pageant of the Shenandoah, CEN
tral event in the 2o0th anniversary cele-
bration Of the first settlement of Shen-
andoah Valley, stood almost ready for
presentation here tonight as final re-
hearsals we're conducted throughout the
valley. The pageant cast will be as
sembled here September l for a dress
rehearsal of the 1850 characters who
on September and 5, will present the
history of Shenandoah during 200
years.
E. r. LineWeaver of the Celebration
Committee, today announced that the
great open-air amphitheater on Shenan-
doah Memorial Field built to accom-
modate 10000 and to seat 5000, is ready
for occupancy. The great stage, 600 feet
iong, with its two 40-foot light towers,
has been completed, and the last Of the
electrical equipment is being installed.
Costumes Are Altered.
Tonight a force of IL wardrobe men
and women and pageant directors are
1000 costumes, and a staff of eight
seamstresses are working night and
day making alterations. Indians, it
would appear, are particularly hard to
find of as slim a girth as the original
models Twelve breech clouts are in
cluded in the items which must be
altered
The opening episode of the pageant
portrayS the days in the Shenandoah
before its colonization by the white men,
and introduces tribe of 1roquois In
dians, who resent the invasion of their
hunting ground by small party OF
pioneer explorers. The scene shifts to
Williamsburg and shows Gov. Spots.
andoah. The third episode shows Gov.
Spotswood and his knight of the golden
horseshoe discovering the valley and
claiming it for the King. Early settlers
coming to Shenandoah follow and the
mixing of the Virginians and Pennsyl-
vanians and the Scotch-IriSh and the
Dutch is shown.
1.-The mirror of history is another
scene from the pageant, showing the
history of the Shenandoah through
series of scenes from the time of Daniel
Boone through the reconstruction days
following the War Between the States.
Daniel Boone accompanying Henry
Miller to Shenandoah; Miller's estab-
lishment of an iron furnace; Gen.
Braddock's march west against the
French; historic Peter Muhlenburg. the
patriot, delivering his fiery sermon at
Woodstock; the Hessian prisoners cap
tured at Yorktown, at Winchester; the
social life of the gentry of early Vir-
ginia; the gallant charge of the V. M. I.
Cadets at New Market, and pictures Of
Gems. Lee and Jackson in incidents
which took place in Shenandoah Valley
viii Be among the scenes.
Last Episode Is AlIegory.
The final episode is an allegorical
presentation of Shenandoah and the
progress in agriculture and industry in
the valley.
Among the more than 1000 prom
inent citizens who are taking parts are
former Congressman ]. M. CARRIER. A. P.
Sumption, B. Frank Coffman, V. R.
Slater, Morris Spiro, c. L. Dunmore,
William H Byrd, c. T. Martz, H. H.
Weaver and j. r. Switzer.
Organizations which are sponsoring
whole scenes include the American
Legion, the Veterans Of Foreign Wars,
the Masonic Orders Of Harrisonburg.
the volunteer fire department companies
and c Company of the 116th Infantry,
Virginia National Guard.
While the pageant will be the central
event in the celebration, the period OF
September to 5, inclusive, has been
declared by Gov. Pollard as the Vir-
ginia Home Coming Celebration for the
Shenandoah Valley.