USA > Illinois > The centennial of the state of Illinois. Report of the Centennial Commission > Part 35
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Long before 2018, Illinois will be pitying the pioneers of 1918, who had to get along as well as they could, practically without roads. And they will be wondering how the people became rich and powerful despair . fiat handicap.
THL YOUNGSTOWN ( Ohio) VINDICATOR .-- The State of Illi- nois is a hundred years old!, an event in the life of the State that has been observed in keeping with the times which have caused a redirection of effort anl money. A hundred years scomis a long time, but then think of what has been done in linois in that period. The prairiesave today dotted with prosperous cities and towns and there is a great population busy with the affairs of life and doing its share in this great war which has brought such change
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in the lives of all people. The development of Mindis in the century is but the repetition of the work of other state- of this great Union, great because of the greatne's of its commonwealths and the industry and enterprise of their people, possessing the wills to go ahead fearless of the dangers and obstacles in the way of pioneer work. Illino's and every sitte testifies to the endur- ance and perseveranen of the early settlers and the purpose of those who later came upon the scene to build greater.
THE TROY (New York) TiMrs .--- Illinois will celebrate this year the one hundredth anniversary of almission to the Union. and preparations are under way to make the observance impressive. * # The program to be carried out will illustrate anew tie dramatic and romantic occurrences in the development of the conutis, Illinois having had a fair share. Illinois was the eighth state admitted to the Union after the formation of the Republic by the original thirteen. Like many other feeble commonwealths of earlier days, the State has grown enormously in population, wealth and importance, and the centenary will adord an oppor- tunity to celebrate accordingly.
THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR (Boston, Mass. ) -* ** * Illinois, in its first century, has played a large part in the history of the country. It has developed men on lines as broad as its prairies. It need only point to Lincoln, Douglas, Shields, Yates, Washburne, Grant, Lozan, and Oglesby for proof of this. It did its full part in the Mexican War and in the Spanish War. It is doing its full part in the greatest of wars. And yet. considerably less than one hundred years ago. it was regarded as, except in some limited areas and isolated spots, merely a good hunting ground.
* But it is neither by population nor by wealth that Illinois likes to be judged. in these Things, nor is it by those that it will be judged by students who shall read its history as Governor Lowden would have it read. Relatively, no state in the Union has done more than Illinois for public education, for art. for cultme. for the general a lancement, comfort, and happiness of its people in the last ninety-nine years; nor is any state in the union more
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willing than Illinois to do its fall share now for the future safe- guarding of humanity and civilization.
THE BOSTON ( Mas -. ) HERALD .--* Illinois has much to celebrate. Its story is an inspiring one, and it holds a proud position in the sisterhood of states. In its plan of celebration it sets a fine example for the group of states whose centenarios fall within the next few years.
TIL Cuicaco TairesE .-- The Tribune believes the full sig- nificance of this Centennial Year should be brought home to our people, especially to the young, especially to the foreign born, especially to the people of this polyglot city, who are little con- scious of the State as a special or political entity or of its inspiring part in the history of America. The Tribune believes that the war gives to this intelligent effort to commemorate our past an excel- tional importance. We need to be made more conscious of our nationality and our statehood. Many of our citizens need to have their thoughts turned from their European traditions to the tra- ditions of the country and the region which they have chosen to make their home and to which they now owe a paramount, an undivided allegiance. Many races have gone to the making of Illinois, from the pioneer Frenchmen of heroie memory to the new- comers of eastern Europe. But now they have chosen to be Ameri- cans, to be Illinoisans, and it is well for us all in this year of honorable memories and world responsibilities to draw together. to unite in commemoration of our forerunneris, in the ren wal of their spirit and in drawing strength from their example to meet the responsibilities of this hour.
THE ROCK ISLAND UNION .- From April 18, 1818, to the present time, Illinois has been prosperous : 1 1 p. trietic. From a small population and scattered settlements it has become populous, prosperous, and has a record of fealty to the government surpassed by no state in the Union. In every eri-is linois stood back of the country of which it is a part.
THE CHAMPAIGN NEWS .- A century ago Illinois started out with some mighty big problems cot fronting her. The first century of her existence as a State has been filled with accomplishments: so great that she stands the peer of the states of the world. Today
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at the beginning of her second century she bands as a tremendous power in the solution of the problems of the nation. And the State and nation are in leed fortunate that the driving hand of that power is the hand of Governor Frank O. Lowden. Since his induction into the office of Governor he Is rapidly demonstrated that he can grasp and handle big problems in a big way.
THE JACKSONVILLE COURIER .- Quite generally Illinois is en- gagel in celebrating its one hundredth anniversary as a State. It- people should be ju-tly proud of the fact that it has been a member of the commonwealth of sta es for a century, for Illinois is no ordinary State, but stand- near the top of the list in m ny highly desirable respects. Carved out of the vast prairies by the pioneer, made habitable and a desirable place of residence by the wisdom of those early settlers, it has been developed into probably the greatest agricultural Sure in the Union, although it possibly may be passed by some of the newer commonwealths by the time they have had the same sort of development and have enjoyed the same benefits of time. It is as well a great manufacturing State and one of the greatest of the live stock propreers in the Union. Illi- nois has produced great men in phentitul . and has been honored by having them elevated to high positions in national affairs. In educational endeavors the State stands high, it- university ranking with the best and it undoubtedly is given more liberal support than any similar institution in the world.
Tar Chicago JOURNAL-The Comercial Colorations now well under way in Illinois are properly engreed in paying their respect- to Judge Nathaniel Pope, who va- the delegate of the Ilinois Territory in Congress at the time when the Enabling Act wes under consideration. The Siete oves to him a debt which can never be measured, and no child should wer be allowed to pass through the schools without having a lesson . " Pond's great service impressed upon his memory. Ner was a prophetic vision of statesman better exemodifi od tam in Papa's plea for a neconsidera- tion of the northern boundary of the State as fixed by the north- western ordinace. Without the counties brought within the limits of the Stry by the fo rifle of norit ward extension resulting from Pope's pha, Illinois would have continued to increase its population
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mainly by way of Gfor River, while the flood of immigration from the East would have swelled the Wisconsin census figures. Illinois would have remained what it was in its early days, a Siate in sympathy with slavery, and determined to legalize the "peculiar institution."
THE CHICAGO POST .-- If Illinois today lives up to the record of her glorious past she will play a splendid part in the nation's supreme effort. The story of our State is an inspiration. and the Chicago Historical Society is doing real service by visualizing it for us just now, when our heart: need every influence and impulse that can stir it to action.
THE PEORIA TRANSCRIPT .- Illinoisans are proud of their State. It has contributed notably to the nation's galaxy of siates- men, soldiers and publici-t-, to its industry, commero and trans- portation. Illinois, rather than Pennsylvania, is the keystone state of the Union. We are sometimes hysterical and sometimes lethargie, Int our hearts beat true and in this great struggle for world democracy, the sovereign State of Ilinois has no cause to be ashamed.
Tur ILLINOIS STATE JOURNAL .-- This city has been the theater of rome of the greatest events in the history of Illinois. Ilere have its greitest men lived and worked. For the greater part of the century, it has been the political center of the State and the seat of government. Its history has been largely the State's history. Its people can not In unappreciative of what the Cen- tennial of Ilinois means to the capital of Illinois.
THE One to Himsen-Illinois can only look back with re- spect for the strong men mal women who achieved so much and with reverence for the century which brought so many things to fruition, and with hunBity before an unread future. For work which calls forth the best of human gifts is still waiting to be done.
THE ROCKFORD RESISTIR-GAZETTE .-- The events of the early day inter i and instruct us. They were the forerunner of a great State of the future. Several separate nations of Europe are not as large as Illinois in population and are short of its possibilities in food raising.
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THE SPRINGFIELD NEWS-RECORD .-- 1! is fortun ite that Illi- 1.01s is to observe its one hundredth anniversary, thi year. The Centennial Celebration will serve to aronse State pride and State consciousness. It will stir up community interest, as nothing else could.
During the year, every county is to have its local celebration, and there will be a great central observance at Spring deld. Every- where, the part Illinois has had in the building of the nation will be recalled forcefully.
The fact that this State produced the President, the Com- mander-in-Chief of the Army and many of the great stareanen and brain generals of the Civil War, should spur us to increased activity at this time. The fact that Illinois in one hundred years Las grown from a wilderness inhabited by scarcely 40,000 people to a rich State of 6,000,000 population, should remind us of our great responsibilities.
The Centennial Commission has no intention of making the celebration a play festival. It is to be deeply patriotic, and will serve a patriotic purpose. Every county, every city, every school, should participate in it.
Clippings from the press obtained through the agency of two press clipping bureaus have been collected by the Publicity Depart- ment during the year and pasted in scrap books. There are fifteen larve scrap books filled with these clippings. These books have been indexed and will be kept on file in the State Historical Library for the benefit of any one desiring to follow in detail the progress of the celebration.
Beginning with a handicap. the Centennial Celebration proved remarkably suce- fal from every standp aut and this success is due to the cooperation of the pre-s. of State organizations, of local com- mittees, and of the public generally, in disseminating information regarding the purposes and ideale of the celebration. To all of these agencies and not to the Publicity Department alone, which merely sowed the s od-, must go the credit for the great amount of publicity the celebration secured during the year.
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REPORT OF FREDERICK BRUEGGER, PAGLANT MASTER TO THE ILLINOIS CENTENNIAL COMMISSION
I was appointed Pageant Master of the Illinois Centennial Commis ion, June 10, 1918. My lmties were to consist of pre- senting in public performances, Mr. Wallace Rics's "Masque of Illinois," music by Mr. Edward C. MIocre, at Springfield, August 26th, and in Vandalia late in September as well as to present Mr. Rice's "Pageant of the Illinois Country" at SpringfielI during the first week of October.
Almost immediately after my appointment it was my good fortune to assist in arranging an agroupent between the Centennial Commission and the Woman's Connaittee of the State Council of Deferse. By this agreement the Women's Committe . became in- teresiel in having the Masque presented throughout the State by the local organizations.
The Commission did all in its power to assist the towns and cities presenting the Masque. In several cases, it was found neces- sary to send me in order to instruct the local committees of arrange- ments as to the methods of procedure. It was work not contem- plated in my contract, but it gave me a keen personel satisfaction to be engaged in what I considered missionary work of the highest value. For there is nothing so develop: the "get together spirit," as the presenting of a historical poreint in which all the com- munity is invited to take part.
However, the presentation for the offeial giving of the Masque was naturally of the first importance. Upon my recommendations. assistants were appointed --- Mr. Russell Abdilles art director, Mrs. Frederick Bruegger as musical director, and Miss Luey Bates as director of the dance.
No praise is too high for thee assistants of mine. It was love of the work which added the enthusiasm that money cannot buy.
In the preparation of the costumes, Mrs. R. C. Lanphier and Mrs. Logan Hay. the Springfieldl ( stane Committee, accomplished wonders. These two Folies devoted themselves in a manner which
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deserves special mention both now and one hundred years from now when our State's a cond hundred years will be told in speech, dance and in song.
Bracketed with their names must go those of Mrs. P. B. Warren, Mrs. Vincent Y. Dallman, Miss Theresa Gorman and Mr. R. Albert Guest. the Cast Committe, which was tireless in its efforts of securing those who took part in the performances.
Colonel Richings J. Shand deserves mention in the same niche of fame.
The work of rehearsing took a little over three weeks, while costuming. etc., was being planned and prepared. Mr. Henry Ichile drew the plus for the stage which was to be erected in the Coliseum. He and Mr. Clyde Evans, the contractor, though they declared it couldn't be done, actually did what I believe never was done before. I vas compelled to insist upon a dress rehearsal at 2 :30 Sunday afternoon, August 25th.
Work was herun at 8:00 o'clock Saturday morning, August 24th, and they built a stage 121 feet wide, 92 feet deep, with three sets of wings, 16 feet high. an apron with entrances and three plat- forms to the stage. Moreover, we were rehearsing at 2 :45 Sunday afternoon.
More than fifty loads of branches and actual trees converted this stage into a woodland hower which won the praise of such critics as Mr. Lorado Taft, the sculptor and Mr. Ralph Clarkson, the portrait painter.
Over nine hundred people took part in the performance August 26, before un enorme as : adiones. Ti on-and- of people were turned away.
The Vandalia performance- ver gan on September 20. bath afternoon and evening of the sint day. as it rained the day of the first perfecman . They were given out of doors, the audi- ences covering a , Poi-tin ular hill.
Three hundred and fifty people took part, coming from all parts of Fayette County. The evening performance will always be featured in my mind as the most beutiful out-of-door scene I have behe'd. It is certain that in addition to the educational value,
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the presentation have left a lasting community spirit influence throughout the Vandalia district.
There is predit enough for all in Vandsle, but to th patience and "stick-to-itiveness" of the Hon. J. J. Brown and Mr. Norval Gochenouer is due the success attained.
It was decided not to present the "Pageant of the Illinois Country," but to repeat the Ma- pie, adding a how serne for the October celebration at Springfield. Mr. Rice and Mr. Moore sur- passed themselves in the final scene, which was thrilling and enobl- ing in its patriotic appeal.
It was rehearsed in ten days and staged with more than thir- teen hundred performer -a splendid success. It seemed particu- larly fitting that the daughter of Tinois' Governor, Miss Florence Lowden, could and did interpret the taxing role of Illinois; that our State's Adjutant General. Frank S. Dickson, should be gifted with a sonorous voice which thrilled its hearers as he spoke the Prologue. It was a satisfaction that performers came from every sect, society and schuol.
Figures have been submitted, reports sont in by the committee and nothing but a slight resume is called for from your Pageant Meister, but may I not take this opportunity of thanking your Chairman. Dr. Oito L. Schmidt, pour Secretary, Mrs. Jessie Pahner Weber and the Commission itself. collectively and indi- vidually for the unfailing courte y and prix-taking help constantly given me. To Mr. Hugh S. Magill, Jr., your Director, and Mr. Halbert O. Crews, your Publicity Expert. Valo extend my thanks.
Though I live to see the next Comemial. I can never forget, come to me whatever hopon- there may. I shall always esteem it the highest privilege I ever attained, that I was permitted to have been Pageant Master of the Illinois Centennial Commission.
PAGEANTS AND MASQUES DY WALLACE RICE
Whatever the forms assumed in modern times by pageants, such forms, in response to the inter desire in Ionan nature for the display of all the splendor- humanity can command. are of the remote-t antiquity. Memorials of them are carved upon an-
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cient Egyptian bassi rilievi, are shown in Grecian sculpture, and persist in the triumphal arche. of the Romans. Indeed, it is not too much to say that no tribe of men has ever been found, however savage its state, which did not combine processions, dancing, songs, und some form of histrionism for the better celebration of high events in its annals, whether religious or secular. Indications of them are to be found in the Scriptures, while Babylon and Peru, Nineveh and Mexico, ancient Hindus and modern red Indians all used the materials now come into new being in later years for the manifestation of their belief in their gods or in themselves.
Many of the pageants instituted during the middle ages por- sisted in European cities until the beginning of the Great War, aud many more will doubtless be revived now that it is closed. In these the religious and military and civil bodies of the place usually collaborated, as was the medienval enstom, It is to be remarkel that all pageantry, ancient and modern, has always proceeded in a manner carefully prescribed. often based upon older precedent, and frequently according to a strict ritual ceremony. The religious processions of remote civilization, the triumphs and ovations of the Romans, the great celebrations through centuries of feast day: in the Roman Catholic and Greek churches, the coronations of monarchs, even the processions of returning soldiers in the days just passing, have in them all the ordered effect of numerous ro- hearsals, of details carefully worked out beforehand, of music and color, and in most cases of the spoken word used with dramatic effect. That public celebirtions have taken on this character of well considered and adroitly ordered ceremony is due of course to the fact that either the soldier, the priest, or both have been in con- trol, the two professions which above all others lend themselves to ceremonial. What the lack of it means requires no later it .- stancing then the celebrations of the signing of the armistice in November, 1918; they were more di-order, with their tendency to- ward rowdyism and rioting.
The word pageant is both peculiar to English and old in the language. Its first use, so far as careful investigation discloses it, is by Wyclif in 1380, when it stands for a seone in a mystery play, and is plausibly derived from the Latin paging, a single page snf-
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thing for the In Dietions for a smule scene. But it also incant the stage or pligfosin, five d'or movable, upon which the mystery was enacted, and was so used thehv : years later. By 1492 it had come to have an inchi-ive macminig for any sort of show, device, or temporary structure, exhibited as a feature of a public triumph or celebration, and it was not until the beginning of the last century that it took on the significance of splendid display or spectacle, in which it is now chicly usc 1.
The practice les persisted, whatever the changes in the mean- ing of the word. Many of the ancient cities of the European con- tinent have anneally cotamomonate ! episodes in their history though ventures, and Coventry in England in 1013 began the processions showing the traditional ride of Lady Godiva through its streces. Bat in't y purely modern sense of the term. the pageant owes its existence to Mr. Lovis N. Parker, the English novelist and dramatist, who began a long series of artistic triumphs in this field with the Pageant of Sherborne in 1905. It is said, and is possibly true, that Mr. Parker took his brilliant idea from "The Pageant of Rough Riders" in the Hon. William F. Cody's "Wild West Show!'
These page ants of Mr. Parker's were all commemorative of the local history of the city in which they were given, and included all that can be said to make up a di play at once commemorative and splendid. They were made up. bh . the old mystery ploys, of pro- cessione, of scenes detel en float or on historical spots, with appro- priate dialogue, costuming, and action, of memorial poems and addresses, of marches and avies and dances to music often specially composed, and sometimes weh Linporary stages highly decorated and inade beautiful with varicoled light at night. Little de- vendent upon professional actor, though these have often taken part, they have been conmit a fair- in which the most capable of resident volunteers have suile! the persons for both proces- sions and dramatic scenes. The tendency has been to enlarge their scope, so suitable have they prove l for e lobrations of various kinds, as when the pageate of the Church of England was given on the grounds of the palace of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1909, two years after the University of Oxford had celebrated in a simi-
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lar menuer. There i. Podle doubt that they will be provol in Ene land after reconstruction has brought cungdes prate to the nation.
In the United States the city o. New Orleans hets. since 182), given elaborate pagemias at carnivaltile. the first profession bein; seen in that year. fonte being use I for the first time on. years later. Interrupted only by the Civil War, the coloration are both elab- orate and splendid, and requir no detailed description here. But the incidents used are not as a rule Historial, and have the widest possible field in literature and drame and allegory. Preerding Mr. Parker's Sherborne pireant by four years, Yale College gave a partant, the book of which was written by Professor E. B. Red. at its bicentennial celebre tion, made monchi fly of stones taken from the long and honorable history of the Bestitation mal played upon a stage with appropriate dialogue and entunas. But this wa- sporodie: the revival is que to Mr. Parker, as stitel. This was followed in 1916 by the pageant of the Yale Bowl. which incorpor- ate music, dancing, allegory, and all the features possible in an out-of-door performance in daylight, serving to show the great die- tance passed in fifteen years in the conception of pageantry.
Ilhnois is fortunate in having add . I considerably to the en- largement of the pageant id , with a growth which owes little or nothing to the preceding events mentioned in England or the older States of the Union. Mr. Thomas Woel Steyen , born in Days- ville, OFle Comdy. wiob in Jantes. 1999. The Pagemit of the Italian Renaissance which was produced at the Art Institute in Chicago by the point :- , sculptors, and art students of the city. with an effect seldom ettait ! in rome times. Mr. Stevens took for his model Shala god's Henry Ve dramatizing such sernes as lent themselves to this treatment. . .. 't Bing the rest of the Jons story by means of prolog- spoken by a harald. There is no het- ter blank verse willien for stage production in modern America than that changed by Mr. Steven- for hi- six prologues and eleven of his twelve seems, the eighth al mer ling in prove; and the entire production can best b. destiled as istenPrent. Its sole def et was it- length, which extended somewhat heyand the two hours and a half omsitting the apparent brit of an American audi- ence'- į itisbre.
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