Evening star., 1940-05-12
MwCitizens Pageant
Will Depict Pride
Ii Free America
characterization School
Program to Be Given
Next Sunduy

Recently naturalized citizens OF
the United States and immigrants
who hope to join them as members
OF the national family will lead the
local observance of Citizenship Day
next Sunday, when the Americana
zation School Association, in CO.
operation with the, immigration and
Naturalization Service of the De-
partment Of Labor, presents a
pageant In the Departmental Au-
ditorium, Constitution avenue be-
tween Twelfth and Fourteenth
streets NV.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt is ex-
pected to attend or send a greeting,
ard the program, scheduled to begin
ats pm. includes messages by Sec
retary Of Labor Perkins and James
L. Houghteling, commissioner of
Immigration and Naturalization.
President Roosevelt has set aside
next Sunday for Nation wide rec
osnition Of the responsibilities ol
citizenship, in accordance with a
joint resolution of Congress. The
day is to be dedicated to young
people coming of age, as we'll as to
persons naturalized during the year.
The preamble to the Constitution
has provided theme for the pag-
eant devised by Mrs. E. H. Wood and
produced under direction of Mrs.
Helen Kiernan-Vasa, both of the
Americanization School faculty.
Stresses Democratic Ideals.
1t is intended to call attention to
tE roles played by peoples of vari-
OH lands through the ages in de-
veaopment of democratic ideals. An
oh-stage voice and the figure of
Columbia. symbolic of America, are
used to give the presentation fuency
as phrases Of the preamble are en-
phasized and natives of the diff
ferent countries recall in words and
music their homelands' contribu-
tions.
aWe. the people"-the ancient
democracy of Greece is represented,
ard the Pythian Ode of Pindar pro-
vtdes background; "- in order
to establish justice"-the people of
Israel, ancient Rome and early
England are heard from.
Armenia, Poland, Scandinavia
and the South and Latin American
republics are given prominence in
tha pageant.
elizabeth Malcolm Smith Is to
pefsonify America Sunday night,
John E. Herman is to supply the
nArrating voice and Margaret Flood
Is to be the accompanist. Songs in
Swedish are to be contributed by
choral group from Augustana
Lutheran Church.
Teachers Praise Students.
Miss Maude E. Alton, principal of
the Americanization School. which
Is located at Tenth and H streets
NV, and Mrs. Kiernan-Vasa, who
faces 20 different nationalities in
her class, are enthusiastic about the
response given by students of the
institution to the project.
Their appreciation of and devo-
ton to principles of citizenship pro-
vide real stimulation, Miss Alton
says. and prompts tinge of shame
at the unconcern with which the
heritage is regarded by some per-
sons of American birth.
The Americanization School As
sociation was organized 18 years ago
by eight students who felt a desire
to make some return on the bene-
fits they had received from the in
stitution. Since then it has made
numerous contributions to the
schools work.
Frederic A. Delano now is presi-
dent, Souren H. Hanessian Is vice
president, Miss Alton is treasurer
and Mrs. Wood is editor of the
organizations bulletin.