Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1954-11-26
DeIphians Told Of
Common Glory"

The members of the London Del
phian Society were graciously en-
tertained in the home of Mrs. r.
X. Shaw, West High St The presi-
dent, Mrs. ID. H. Jackman, present
ed Mrs. B. NJ. Beatty as program
leader for the occasion, who, in
her interesting and capable man.
ner, described The Common
Glory" a Symphonic Drama of
American History, by Paul Green.
Mr.. Green, Professor of Dramatic
Art at the University of North
Carolina, is a well-known novelist,
poet, and playwright.
The setting for this spectacular
and inspiring drama is a huge am
pitheater bordering Lake Matoaka
just outside Williamsburg, Va.
With the use of song, music, poe
try, dance, pantomime, mental
speech masks, choreography, and
story-line, Mr.. Green has created
an inspiring drama honoring the
great men who laid the founda-
tons of our government, particu-
larly the patriots of Virginia.
1t was late in the 18th century
that George III came to the throne
of England. His heavy hand dealt
a severe blow to the cause of lib
erty and justice in the American
Colonies, and the colonists finally
rose in rebellion. In April, ITS
the New England patriots met the
Kings forces at Lexington and
Concord-the Revolutionary War
had started. At this paint in his
tory THE Common Glory opens.
The scenes change from the gilt
tering court of George III to the
House of Burgesses in Williams
burg, to the formal gardens of a
Tory leader in Virginia, to the gov
ernor's palace in Williamsburg, a
church yard at jamestown, a bat
tlefield at Yorktown, and the
bluffs along the river at Richmond.
We see Jefferson, feyer-ridden and
weary, drafting the Declaration of
Independence and discussing its
wording with Benjamin Franklin,
Samuel Adams, Robert Livingston,
John Adams and others. Through
the story of Encouragement, strug-
gle, love, and hate, Jefferson pur-
sues his dream. While his asso-
ciates meet the enemy on the bat
tlefield, he labors in Williamsburg
to translate the principles for
which his country is fighting, into
laws for the Commonwealth. After
Jefferson becomes governor, the
patriotic cause is close to being
lost. Reaction against him domin-
ates the people, disunion and criti-
cism spread to the House of Dele
gates, and men desert the army.
In the hour of defeat, a mystic af-
firmation of Jefferson's hopes eli.
makes the movement of the story.
Symbols of endurance, Joh n
Smith, John Ralfe, Nathaniel Ba-
con, and Pocahontas appear before
him as he drowses exhausted near
the fort at Jamestown, and JEFF
ferson's faith is restored as he sees
the images of those who had sacri-
feed themselves and stood as de-
tenders of the concept for which
jefferson is fighting. AS few men
have seen, Jefferson saw vision
of righteous and just society as
the common glory of all men.
During the social hour which
followed the discussion, delicious
refreshments were served from the
beautifully appointed tea table at
which Mrs. Jackman presided.
Reverend and Mrs. A. M. Shene-
felt are spending their Thanksgiv-
ing at the home of their son-in-law
and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. w. w.
Watkins in Fairmont, West Vir-
ginia. They were joined there by
their son and daughter-in-law, Mr..
and Mrs. Arthur B. Shenefelt and
their son, Mike, of Cleveland, and
also members of Mr.. Watkins
family, for a double family gath
ering.
~ -
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Day and
their daughter, Cindy, East First
Street, are guests Thanksgiving of
Mrs. Days parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
j. d. Judkins, at Ada.
- ~
Dr.. and Mrs. Richard Payne of
Ann Arbor, Michigan, came for the
weekend with DR.. and Mrs. Rob-
ert Halterman and family, West
Center Street, and to attend the
OSU-Michigan football game, Sat-
urday
&C. -