FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 769, 18 March 1910, Page 6

FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

_ «—. THE OVERSEA DOMINIONS' PART. Messrs. Thos. Cook and Sons, of Wellington, have received" an advance proof of a descriptive pamphlet' giving "a comprehensive idea of the "Festival cf Empire," to be held in the grounds of Crystal Palace from May 24 to July 16. The Palace will be divided, into various courts, which will-embody a system of visual instruction concerning the Empire of to-day. Prom each side of the broad open nave, courts will'fie set aside for the pictorial representation of the life' _ and industries of the overseas dominions. Details of the general scheme which will be followed by. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, -and South Africa as a'whole and Newfoundland and the .Crown Colonies, will be under the supervision of the representatives in London of each of these countries, under the presidency of Lord Strathcona, of Mount Royal. Lectures will be delivered- daily in the Concert Hall free of charge, and leading statesmen will from time to time speak on the broad subjects of Empire. Once a week there will be'an Empire concert. The chairman of this' committee is the Earl of Shaftesbury, and it is intended that the order of concerts shall be as follows:—In the first week will be held a concert for which both ' music and musicians will be drawn from all' parts of the Empire; conducted by one of tho great English musicians. The next week the musicians will be drawn from Canada; the next from Australia; the next from New Zealand; and so on over the six weeks'of the festival.

The great feature of the festival will be a series of historical scenes, shown by means' of pageantry, of London's history and growth. It is estimated that 15,000" citizens of London will take part in this great show, The pageant of London will be worked out in three parts on the Wagnerian plan. The first scene in Part I will represent "The Dawn of History," a fair country scene, in which will be discovered the ancient wood-stained Britons, prior to the coming of the Romans. Prehistoric London in the foreground, hills and forests in the distance—a herd of live deer, and a great hunt.

The second scene is called "The Foundations of the City." It shows London in possession of the Romans. Rival emperors war for supremacy, and a great battle is witnessed.

Scene 111 is entitled "The Coming of Christianity,", and the next scene, "The Danish Invasion" (which the Viking Club of London will superintend). Then follow scenes representing "The Norman Conquest," "The Civio Freedom," "London's Paladium," and "The Age cf Chivalry." Part II opens with 'The Canterbury Pilgrims," and in marked relief the social upheaval which culminated in Wat Tyler's rebellion of 1381. "The Triumph of Conquest" Henry V's return after his defeat of the French in 1415, and following' in interesting order "The Passing : of Mcdiaevalism in England," "The First Discoveries," "The London of Merrie England," showing May Dhy sports and games in progress during the reign of Henry VII L Part.lll—ln this part will be shown pageants depicting "The Rise of the English Theatre," in which Shakespeare and •his Bankside players will be shown, with the citizens of London being ferried across the Thames to witness the mummery. Following will come "The Trade with India," "The Beginnings of Empire," "The Passing of Old London" (the fire and the plague), "The Mourning Triumph" (the reception of the news in London of the death of Wolfe and Montcalm), "New Discoveries," "The End of the Great War" (the passing of Napoleon's poreer), and, finally* "The Gathering of the Oversea Dominions round the Mother, Country."