Page (III)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

THOMAS NELSON, an American novelist; born in Oakland, Va., April 23, 1853. He was educated at Washington and Lee University, and practiced law at Richmond, Va. His " Social Life " Santa Claus Keith " ( 1903 Italy 1913. Johnson. N. C., and Macon College newspaper pation he handled affairs with consumfirst story, "Marse Chan" (1887), atmate ability and tact.. tracted immediate attention. "Two Little Confederates" (1888); "On New- Found River" (1891); "Elsket and The celebration of historic events by Other Stories" (1891); "The Old dramatic reproductions of scenes con- South" (1892); "Pastime Stories" nected with them is at least as old as (1894); "Unc' Edinburgh" (1895); the Greeks and Romans. In modern times, in many countries of Europe, developments have been added to them according to the time and place, and carnivals, masques, popular parades, expositions, and military maneuvers are some of the exercises in vogue in different lands. In the United States the celebrations attendant on the commemoration of Independence Day led to the development of many of the elements in pageantry, and a great fillip to the movement was given during the celebration of the centennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1876. The central idea of the pageant is simply that of the unspoken drama given on a larger scale out of doors, the pre- 1 dominating feature being that of a moving tableau in which a procession of characters take part. The scale is confined simply to the number of persons taking part, and the dress, bearing, manners, and grouping is in accordance with the period represented and the event commemorated. In France the art of the pageant has been carried to a high degree of perfection, and as a rule its frequency and success has been most marked in countries like France, Italy, and Spain where the climate is favorable to outdoor representations of that WALTER HINES PAGE kind. From France the idea spread tc in Old Virginia " ( 1897); Great Britain, where in recent years a Partner " ( 1899); " Gordon succession of successful pageants have ); " Sword of the Spirit " been given, despite the uncertainty of the English weather. Thus in 1905 an (1913), etc. Appointed Ambassador to He resigned his office in historical pageant on a scale surpassing 1920, and was succeeded by R. U. that known to the modern generation of Englishmen was carried out with success at Dorset. The fashion spread throughout England, Ireland and Scot-