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Show NATIONAL PROGRAM SUGGESTED FOR 24TH Following Is an outline of the program pro-gram which was suggested by the National Council of Defense for Independence In-dependence day. Inasmuch as only the one town (Ferron) followed it out for July 4th, it Is suggested that all towns of the county adapt it to their Pioneer day celebration on July 24th. Program for CVIcbration 1. "America" sung by the whole audience, and led by a well-trained community chorus. 2. A dramatic pledging of allegiance alleg-iance to the flag by local boy and girl scouts. 3. The reading of the Declaration Declara-tion of Independence. 4. Patriotic . selections by the"1 local band. This should include the national airs of our allies. 5. A short speech not longer than 15 minutes bringing out the aims of the United States and all free nations in the war of 1917. (The services of the State Speakers' Bureau and the organization of Four Minute Men may be assistance in procuring this speaker. speak-er. ) 6. Community singing of patriotic anthems led by a community chorus, one or more of the new war songs would also be appropriate. 7. Reading of a message from I President Wilson to the people of the I'nited States. If a special message is sent out by President Wilson this, of course, should be read. 8. A short play, tableau, or pageant page-ant depicting the unity of all people i in the cause of freedom for which the United States is fighting. (A plan for a simple pageant follows.) I The pageant should be held out of ' doors upon a slopirfg hillside, with a j background of trees, or on the steps of I some imposing public building. I As there is no dialogue throughout the pageant, music plays an important, part. The best band or orchestra j which the community affords should be secured, and the singing should be ! led by the community chorus. Synopsis of the Pageant. I The day dawns with all right-think-j ing nations united in a common strug-I strug-I gle for the freedom of humanity. The picture that we would present symbol-I symbol-I izes the triumph of Freedom in this 'cause. At the opening. Humanity and her Happy Children dance upon the scene. They meet a group of refugees fleeing from the ravages of barbarian militarism. Humanity contrasts con-trasts the unhappy children of the refugees with her joyous little ones. She summons Justice to her aid, who calls upon the nations of the world i to enlist in the cause of Humanity and I Freedom. The nations rally to the support of Right. The symbols of war, the Warrior, the Red Cross, the Wrar Loan, and Food Supply are brought forward, and Freedom appears, ap-pears, weWing all right-thinking nations na-tions together in a common cause. Outline of the Pageant. Humanity, surrounded by four Happy Hap-py Children, dances onto the scene. The music for her entrance is of a light and happy strain, but as soon as she has reached the foreground it changes to a more solexnn march. Slowly from one side of the scene enters en-ters a group of weary refugees, who advance slowly toward Humanity, halting timidly at the side. One of the refugees steps forward and holds out her child to Humanity, who takes it in her arms. She contrasts the sad-faced, poorly-dressed refugee children with her own little ones. Humanity goes to the back of the scene and summons Justice, who ad- i ! vances slowly and impressively to the ' foreground. Justice is followed by two aides. Humanity points out the refugees to Justice and emphasizes the contrast between the two groups of ' children. Justice dispatches her aides to summon the nations to the cause of Humanity. I They go out on either side of the foreground and return immediately, ushering in the nations of the world, who advance from either side, making an obeisance to Justice and Humanity. . They take their stand on either side of j the entrance, at the back of the scene, forming an aisle. The music becomes more martial in character, and the I symbols of modern warfare ,the War-I War-I rior, the Red Cross, the War Loan, , Food Supply enter and proceed to the front of the stage, pausing before Justice and Humanity. At this moment there is a loud blast of a trumpet or horn; Humanity and Justice each step to one side of the i stage, and the symbols of war group j themselves beside them, the Warrior , and War Loan standing beside Justice, and Red Cross and Food Supply beside Humanity. While the band plays, the audience sings the "Star Spangled Banner" and Freedom enters, followed by two aides, who carry as a background back-ground for her a large American Flag. Freedom advances to the center of the scene, through the aisje made by the various nations. When she has reached reach-ed the foreground the various nations break their aisle formation and take their position on either side of the stage immediately behind Freedom, the Symbols of War, Justice and Humanity. They raise their flags and all join in singing the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," which completes the pageant. At the close of the pageant the various var-ious characters should be arranged in the following order: Freedom, her aides holding the American Flag immediately behind her, in the center of the stage. On one side of her in a curved formation are the Red Cross, Food Supply, Humanity, Hu-manity, and the Happy Children; on the other side are the Warrior, War Loan. Justice, and the group of refugees. ref-ugees. Immediately behind this first line and also arranged in a semicircle, semi-circle, are the nations of the world, with those representing the principal allies, the Uuited States, England, France, and Italy in the center. If it is found advisable to have the actors march off the scene. Freedom should lead the way, followed by Justice and Humanity and the symbols of war, and then by the nations. w. s. s. |