THE FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1128, 16 May 1911, Page 5

THE FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

By Telegraph-Press AEsociation-Copjrrisht (Reo. May 15, 11.55 p.m.) London, May 15. It is stated that 1G2.000 persons attended tho opening of the Festival of Empiro on Saturday. "THE ALL-RED ROUTE." PAGEANT OP LONDON. The Festival of Empire, falls under three heads the first of which will be an All-Red Route, and reproduction the Parliamentary buildings of the oversea Dominions; tho second, an All-British Exhibition, to bo held in the Crystal Palace itself.

"It is intended to display in the interior of the Parliament buildings (says "The Times" of February 0) typical collections of the products of the various countries represented, and thus to afford to visitors an easy means of becoming acquainted with the material resources of the British Empire. Another feature of these buildings will be the exhibition of tableaux illustrative of the history and life of tho several Dependencies. In each pavilion or Parliament house about a dozen of these tableaux will be displayed. From tho first models- prepared it is possible to form an idea of the character of the work, which promises to present in a most vivid and interesting manner the development of British civilisation in remote and savage regions now converted into prosperous and progressive countries. Much tho same method of teaching those at Home something of the great Empiro lo which they belong will be adopted in the tour on the All-Red Route. Here, in the ground? of the Palace anil closo to the Parliament buildings of the oversea Dominions, a neat littlo railway is being constructed amid scenes representing colonial life. The log cabin of the immigrant settler is already in its place, and tho neat and comfortable timber house which the successful pioneer will presently build has been constructed near it to indicate the material rewards which Ihe colonies reserve for hardworking and courageous citizens. The most varied occupations and industries will be shown in the course of the run round the AllRed Raule, upon which nine trains, each conveying SO passengers, will travel continuously.

"The Pageant of London will bo held in a part, of the Crystal Palace grounds situated Some distance from the All-Red Route and the Parliament buildings. From the place whence the spectators will view the pageant not a house will bo visible—only the gardens with their ornamental water in the foreground, and in the background away in the distance beyond the trees the hills of Kent and Surrey. The grandstand, .which will accommodate 10,000 spectators, has been built from designs by Sir Aston Webb. R.A., in the form of an ancient Greek , amphitheatre. On the greensward which will be the theatre of the pageant the history of London, of England, and of the Empire will be unrolled from, prehistoric times till the Proclamation of Queen Victoria as Empress of India. The scenery is already being placed in position, and the Effects which the stage carpenter will succeed in producing, judging from the preparations already well advanced, will be remarkable both for their novelty and beauty. The armoury, from which will bo supplied the weapons of the thousands of men taking part in the historic scenes is within the Palace itself, and here aregathered all descriptions of weapons of offence and defence, from the prehistoric flint down to modern arms of precision. The costumes are even radro varied than the arms, and some GflOO suits of all ag,"s and kinds are already waiting for their wearers."