Barstow School - Weathercock Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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T115 W1i1x1'111a1zAcof.14 .1 THE PAGES Ere birds at matins in the dell Greet with their choir the chapel bell, ground. There are the two pages bearing a gorgeous illuminated book. - you really would never recognize it as the office tele- phone book, so adorn- ed is it with gold and color. There is the court minstrel. a dreamy poet in black and gold, and Merlin the magician with his glass ball in which he reads the future, There are the ladies of the court. in gowns of palest rainbow hues. and their knights with helmets and shields glistening in the sunlight. And eclipsing all in glory and radiance. King Arthur himself. the magnificent, high upon his throne. Sud- denly there is a flour- ish of trumpets, and Queene Quinevere walks slowly across the green, repeating the lines of the Masque: There comes through the deep forest straying Calidore and his mother, maying. As lark that longs to soar on wing. The youth's heart prieketh with the Springg NVhen lo! half seene through beechen plot Rideth a Knight to Camelot, Is he an angel burning bright. In glorious silver arms bedight7

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THE lVlASQUE OF CALIDORE I7 to be entertained. or glorious event to be celebrated. The climax came with the pageant at Kenilworth in 1574. which the Earl of Leicester gave for the entertainment of Queen Elizabeth. In the procession there was a eavaleade of two hundred horsemen. all bearing torches. with the Queen as the center of the group. At her right hand rode Leicester. who. as Scott tells us. Hglittered like a golden image with jewels and cloth of gold. as he rode mounted on a jet black steed with not a single white hair on its body. The highest born nobles and wisest counsellors, knights and ladies. all in gala array followed to clamorous blasts of warlike music. As the bursts of music grew low and sweet. as if distance were gradually prolonged until only the last lingering strains could reach the ear, a new spectacle was provided. A floating island. illuminated by a great variety of torches. swept gently down toward the bridge on which the Queen was standing. On the island stood the Lady of the Lake. surrounded by Tritons and Nereids. With such a gorgeous spectacle did Leicester entertain his sover- eign: and from that time on, we hear little more of pageants until their revival in the Ioth century. both in England and America. The modern pageant is in some respects a revival, and in others entirely newg for it has developed into a series of scenes accompanied by dialogue. songs. music and dances. We think even Scott himself would have been appalled at trying to describe our Pageant held on the 16th of May.-not all ours. for in fact it was given by the Collegiate Alumnae. but we like fondly to imagine that they never could have done it without our help. What words could do justice to the grand procession. its marvellous color-schemes, and its wonderful. romantic background of Mrs. lVfeyer's estate. with the stately old trees. those gay peonies and iris in their best attire, and the dignified house looming up behind, lordly enough to have been Kenilworth castle itself! But. being conceited creatures. the part of the pageant we are most proud of is our masque, for it was in every sense our own. The lines were written by one of our graduates, recited by another. all the costuming carried out by three loyal alumnae. and the dancing directed by a former pupil of our school. Not to mention the Presiding Genius at the head. inspiring and directing all our efforts. with tireless energy: and her wonder- ful helpers. the teachers. whose affectionate interest never fails us in time of need. And the result? The Masque of Calidore. perfect in conception and execution! The last merry man has hardly disappeared into the forest when, presto, the Court of Arthur in all its splendor is before us. There is the Standard Bearer, with Arthurs lion rampant of silver on a soft purple

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Fl.HE lX4AsoUE OF CAUDORE The youth knows not, yet speechless zest Grips at his heart. to seek high quest. Like dauncing leaves with revel gay. Come elves to weave him in their play? Yet still the call of chivalrie Calls him like bells across the lea. CALIDORE AND BLANCHEFLEUR His mother and his mates forgot. He wanders on toward Camelot, Upon the mede the nmides of court Toss golden balls in gentil sport, Never hath Cfulidore vet seene Such bezxutv in l7remnfimd's demesne