University of Denver - Kynewisbok Yearbook (Denver, CO)

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Tut:IJ.xxt'i1oFri11c SVN with the assistance of Dean Anna Xlclieen Shuler, were those who made possible the pageant, and made for its success. To the students, also, credit is due. Without the hours and hours of work on the part of those in the cast, as well as those in the Physical Departments under Xliss Rilling and Xlr. Johnson, the pageant would not have been possible, Those who directed it gave tirelessly of their etlorts and ability, and this is true of the students. lt meant work to make the presentation what it was, but they who were in the cast gave of their best to that end. The weeks of preparation were over, and the rehearsal of the evening before, which lasted far into the night, had been adjudged a success by the directors. All was in readiness for the presentation. The evening came with the threatenings of a storm to the West: but these passed soon and the night was calm and dark. A propitious one. The pageant was to be given directlv back of University Hall on the slope of ground facing Evans Avenue, and seating accommodations for many hundreds were arranged for along the walk, at which points the footlights were placed. And a good hour before the tirst tableau was to be given the visitors began to arrive. They continued to come. By the time 8:30 arrived, the crowd was be- yond the expectations of those who had planned the pageant. lipisode I was The Past. The Indians were driven out bv the Pioneers, who prophesied future greatness for the plains. One spoke of the mountain treasures of silver and gold: one spoke of the golden sheaves of wheat and of fruit and Howersg one of civic law, purity, youth, righteousness. ,-Xnd as each spoke his dream was visualized. Then as a crowning glory came Education. Episode II, The Founding of the College, was ushered in by Alma Mater, in the personage of Georgia Wiood Foster, bearing the charter of 186-l, who was attended bv Science and Religion, Clirlord Rasweiller and Kent Xlcfaulev. In the third episode the Spirit of the Past, lirnest llowe, speaks of the gifts of the dilferent yearsg the darkened years, when the clouds seemed likely to shut out the light, the years of achievement, the tnt-nt5.f.nn

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IVERSITT 59 59 92- 92 O commemorate fifty-six years of achievement, fifty-six years dedicated to the advance of education in its higher branches in the West, a pageant, de- picting in eleven tableaux the history of the University of Denver, was pre- sented on the campus shortly before the close of the school year last Spring. There were more than two hundred students in the cast that made up the pageautq and no single phase of the University or its successes or failures from the time it was founded to the present, was omitted. The Trail of the Crimson and Gold was the name of the pageant. It was advertised as an historical pageant of the University of Denver. And June 9, 1920, was the evening set for the presentation. First Miss Lindsey Barbee, an alumna of the University, and a playwright of ability set to work on the lines for the pageant. lyfonths of effort brought forth L'The Trail of the Crimson and Gold in eleven epi- sodes, which, collectively formed the rnost elaborate and impressive dramatic pres- entation of its kind ever attempted by a XYestern university. VVith the manuscript prepared, all that remained was to select the characters, conduct rehearsals, and make all in readiness for the final presentation. Klr. Gran- ville Sturgis was selected to direct the pageant. hlrs. Perle Shale Kingsley, Bliss hfabel Rilling, Klr. Granville Johnson, Professor Ira Cutler, Mrs. Klaud Reiley, and Dr. Lindsey Longacre were chosen to assist him in the direction. And these, .J , . A. l T: K. X Q I .. L' N. 4 4 . ,V f 2- wx HELEN CAMPION AS EDUCATION twenty-tliree

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years of sacrifice-all were depicted when the Spirit of the Past evoked them to come. And so the pageant proceeded. Through the years, the history of the Univer- sity was taken out of the thesaurus of memory and past and placed before the eyes of those who gathered on the campus, nothing was omitted. And coming from the past to the present, from the darkness into the light, from groping to stepping firmly, the pageant showed better by far than can facts of history, the splendid achievement of the University of Denver. Then the college itself was represented. The four classes of the College of Liberal Arts, were followed by the tableau representing the Professional Schools. Then were the activities, the athletics, the Greek letter organizations, the multi- farious campus activities shown as the pageant progressed. Then came the Service Flag Episode which commemorated as best it could the undying glory of the Uni- versity of Denver man in the service. The Service Flag which adorns the back wall of the Xlemorial Chapel with its revered stars of gold was carried by University of Denver students who had offered their all to their country. . And as the final scene, while the entire pageant was wending its way across the stage, the Spirit of the Future, Ann Elstun, spoke, the curtains of the backstage parted revealing Power, Fritz Borgesong parted again and Prosperity, Dorothy Engle, stood beside Power. Then Alma Nlater took her place. The Spirit of Edu- cation, admirably taken by Helen Campion, entered now and told of the glory of the achievement of learning, then left the stage, took her place at the head of the procession and led the entire pageant off the stage, while the music of the University Hymn, which was written by Dr. Lindsey Longacre, was played and the hymn sung by the entire cast. ' has - Q SOPHOMORES TAKE THE LEAD-MAYDAY RELAY RACE twenty-live