Bucknell University - L Agenda Yearbook (Lewisburg, PA)

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e L ' Agenda • • ♦ ■ ♦ r3rii Annivi:ksary Packant Nineteen ?gnn rel» an6 oiuientg-SIiiree 20

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■ — ] lAe L ' Agenda I Anna Roberta Carf.y, A.M., Dcaii of ]! ' omcii 19 •♦• ♦•

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e UAgenJa thf en iJlurknell Mas §euentH-ftue eara ©1 , On the occasion of the Seventy-filth Anniversao of Buckncll, there was staged on campns an historical pageant of seven scenes portraying the stages of development in the growth of the University. The scenes were selected and the manuscript prepared by Dr. Hamblin, to whom paramount credit belongs. The scenes were significant and interesting events in the history of Bucknell. The credit for the management and setting goes to Miss Walton, Physical Directress of women, who spent an enormous amount of time and efi ' ort in preparing the settings, costumes, etc. The Pageant was arranged in seven scenes which were presented on the stage ar- ranged before the bleachers at the foot of Main College. Preston Dawson, ' 23. costumed as a page, advanced before the crowd and read from manuscript the history and the ex- planation of each event, after which the curtain was drawn and the scene presented. The first scene portrayed the first commencement, August 20, 1851. in which the six graduates had but one gown among them, so that each, after delivering his oration, had to retire to his booth and deliver the gown to the next speaker. This scene was portrayed in real humor by si.x men in appropriate costumes of long coats and high hats. The second setting represented the part of the Lewisburg students in the Civil War as told in an account by R. A. Townsend of the class of 1864. In this account a party of invaders was ordered by Jefferson Davis to burn Harrisburg in order to stimulate an up- rising among the Southern sxmpathizers. As they wxre about to cross the Susquehanna, they saw the company from Lewisburg which had been detailed to patrol the River aI)out the Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge. Thinking them to be the van of a larger force, the Confederates retreated. The scene of this skirmish was well portrayed. The ne.xt scene centered around the amusing situation in the Iiasement of the old Baptist Church when the boys and the girls were seated back-to-back, but when, as an early writer remarks, if we looked around, no harm was done. In this presentation, girls in hooped skirts and wide bonnets, made decidely modern eyes at the stiff looking males while the scholarly Professor frowned in disgust. From almost the first ear an important part of the University has been the School of Music. Instituted in 1853. it increased slowly in numbers until in 1887. that grand old man. Dr. Elysee Aviragnet, took charge. The walk, and even his eccentricity of speech were imitated minutely, after which he led his class in The Orange and the Blue which was wriiten bj ' him. The sixth scene dealt with a man whom many alumni can remember, Charles Bel!, for years a faithful janitor. Mr. Bell, born a slave, had escaped to Canada by the under- ground railway. After the War, having returned South to visit his mother, he came North to seek work. He was encountered l v President Loomis who engaged him to fell some trees on the . ampus. Proving a good workman, he was permanently employed. He was represented mending furniture and crating goods for the girls of the Institute. The last scene represented the part of the Bucknell Ambulance Units in the late World War. The battle field was first portrayed: Two doughboys were shot and immediately borne off by an American ambulance. The closing presentation was that of the citation of Wm. J. Rinebold and Francis P. McDermott. The whole of this scene was carried out with Military precision, even to the kisses bestowed by the F ' rcnch officers. A closing scene, in which all characters appeared and joined with the audience in s Ray Bucknell concluded the very successful pageant. 21 ♦ ■ • ■■♦■♦.