To Arms for Liberty, by Catherine T. Bryce

Produced by: hekula03, Krista Zaleski and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)

This Pageant was prepared primarily for grammar schools, but will be found suitable and interesting for higher grades as well as for Community Choruses and Societies.

It can be performed on any stage or platform indoors or on the lawn out-of-doors. No scenery is absolutely necessary, although the use of a scene representing a spacious interior, if such be available, would heighten the effect of the performance. Otherwise, a wooded exterior scene, or in case no scenery is procurable, a background of hangings in a neutral tint will serve. The costumes for the most part are such as can be made at home. Boy Scout uniforms will do for the Soldiers, but naval uniforms may have to be procured for the occasion.

The music, which is an integral part of the Pageant, has been compiled and published by us in a separate book, and is so arranged that it can be sung in unison or by mixed voices.

It is intended that the Chorus should be grouped in the background and sides of the scene throughout the performance, leaving the central part of the stage and a central entrance for the principal characters.

All the allies who entered the war previous to America’s entry are mentioned, but not in chronological order. That order is as follows:—

The Curtain Rises. Belgium, a girl dressed in Belgian costume, clutching Belgium’s flag to her heart, enters and rushes to center of stage.

Hark! Hark! Do you not hear it? The heavy measured tread, the rumbling cannon, the screaming shot, the bursting shell, the anguished cries of my brave children?

Look! Look! Can you not see? Nay, thank God you cannot see what I have been forced to look upon. (Belgium covers her eyes.) Oh, my sons! My brave sons—for ye were brave! Ye fell, but ye fell with your faces to the foe, defending your homes, your country, and your honor! Still ye are gone and I am left desolate.

Oh, my children, my children! None too young, none too old, none too brave, none too tender to escape the brutal destroyer! All lost, lost, lost!

(The distant strains of “Sambre et Meuse” are heard and France, a girl dressed in classic white robe, wearing liberty cap, and carrying tricolor, enters. She goes to Belgium’s side and places her hand on the latter’s shoulder.)

Arise, my Sister. All is not lost! Thine honor and thy truth and thy loyalty are all untarnished. Pure and white they shine before the eyes of all the world. Till the stars fade and the sun dies, all men shall say of thee, “Belgium’s is a consecrated,—Belgium’s is a holy ground!”

Lift up thy flag. It has never trailed in the dust, and it never shall. Together, shoulder to shoulder, we will face the foe, and They Shall Not Pass. On, on my Sister, on to Victory!

(While the chorus sing “The Marseillaise,” France and Belgium stand with unfurled flags. France, several steps in front of Belgium, appears to lead the music. Appropriate pantomime during the singing will help. Belgium, too, shows the effects of the music, first, by an awakened look, then by advancing one step at a time, until she is shoulder to shoulder with France when the song ends.)

Believe? Believe the victory will be ours? Aye, never doubt it. Nor shall we fight alone. Britain joins our cause.

Promised! Promised! Methinks I have heard that the promises of strong nations are but “scraps of paper.”

But not Britain’s promises! Proud, arrogant, and strong she may be, but when was she known to break a treaty? She hath promised her fleets to guard my shore and I rely on her word. Britain never shall be foresworn.

(As the chorus reach the refrain “Rule Britannia, rule the waves!” Britain enters. She is dressed as Britannia. Accompanying her are, England, clad in white and rose pink, bearing the English standard; Scotland, clad in white and purple, bearing the Scottish standard; Ireland, dressed in white and green, bearing Irish flag; Wales dressed in white, bearing the Welsh flag; Canada, dressed in white robe, trimmed with maple leaves, bearing Canadian flag, Australia and New Zealand, dressed in robes similar to Britain’s other daughters, India, clad in native costume. Britain with her companions grouped about her, occupies the center of the stage, Belgium and France, the front-left and right.)

BRITAIN (touching the Union Jack on her shield with her trident, then extending it to France):

(To France): Not only do I guard the ocean with my fleets; I bring here my children to aid you in upholding justice, truth and liberty.

“England, stand fast; let heart and hand be steady; Be thy first word thy last,—Ready, aye, ready!”

Canada, youngest of my daughters, ye send each gallant son forth, a maiden-knight, to earn his spurs. What is thy message?

The sword unsheathed in such a cause will ne’er be tarnished. It will return to you, my Sister, laureled with the deeds of thy brave sons. I know it! I know it!

Well spoken, my daughter. I knew I could rely on thy loyalty. Australia, fair and independent, what word do you bring?

(During the singing of the above verse, all stand in an attitude of supplication.)

O Britain, well mayest thou be proud! With such loyal daughters and such gallant sons, thou art invincible.

Lo! one crowned with sorrow approaches. It is Serbia and with her comes her neighbor, Montenegro. (Enter Serbia and Montenegro. Each is dressed in National costume and carries National flag.)

Woe, woe is me, that the deed of one of my weakest sons should be made the excuse for this world-wide war! Mad was the deed, and mad the boy—but must the world be set on fire for such a cause?

I would have prevented it if I could. Did I not yield all, all, all I could and save mine honor? Speak to me! Tell me, my Sisters, that I am guiltless of this world-agony!

(The last strains of the Russian Hymn are heard and Russia enters, followed by Poland. Russia is clad in National costume and carries the Russian flag. Poland is in characteristic costume, but carries no flag.)

And Poland’s, too. Brave men whose hearts have ever yearned for Freedom’s crown!

Thrice welcome art thou. For well I know that in thee still lives the greatness that was Rome.

Yea, and dauntless as Romans of old come my sons to strike for liberty. Now as then—

And the same spirit that urged the hero of old to face the foe, fires the hearts and strengthens the hand of my younger sons, for—

(As Chorus sings the last lines Japan enters. She is clad in Japanese costume and carries the Japanese flag. During the singing of the last line, she makes the National salaam, remaining with her forehead to the ground until the last note has died away.)

We bid you welcome, my Sister. Great indeed is the cause that unites East and West.

(Enter San Marino, Portugal, Roumania, and Greece. Each is dressed in National costume and carries National flag.)

As the oldest, though the smallest, Republic in the world I have come to strike a blow for Freedom.

Doubt not that my sons will acquit themselves as did their fathers “on old Plataea’s day.” They are

Ah, my Sister, may ye prove to the world that “the glory that was Greece” still abides with thy sons.

Still others come to join us. From the frozen North, from the sunny South, and from the far East they come.

What of the West? What of America—the great, the strong, the free—is she coming?

Yes, she will come. Well is she named Columbia, after my gallant son Columbus. Can’st see him as he steered his bark to Columbia’s shore, when

That light became the light of Freedom. That light is still upheld clear and pure by Columbia. In that light she will press “on and on” till tyranny be banished from the earth.

Aye, she will come, if but to pay back the debt of gratitude she owes us for our aid when she won her Independence.

America is proud; she will repay her debt of gratitude, France. America is generous; she will send you aid, Belgium.

Call me by my new name, Love, for the love of America sends me and my Sisters with help and messages of cheer.

I am Hope. Never despair. Ye shall triumph. “Be staunch, and valiant, and free, and strong.”

(Enter Mercy, a Red Cross nurse, Charity takes her by the hand and leads her forward.)

Thy Sister, America, has heard thy call for help, and sends me. I am ready for service.

Your gifts and messages bring comfort and inspiration, but why does America wait?

“With malice toward none, with charity for all,” America has sought to live at peace with all men. “With firmness in the right as God gives her to see the right,” she will act when the time comes.

(Others join Britain and France in silent supplication. Music softly, first lines of “Star-Spangled Banner.” While music sounds, the American Flag is unfurled from above over stage. Immediately America enters. She is dressed like Columbia and carries a lighted torch. While she stands a moment in the center at the rear, music changes to “Hail Columbia,” while all on stage salute her.)

(While Britain speaks, Ireland, Scotland, and England group flags beside Stars and Stripes.)

(Waves torch and all light electric torches which have been concealed; these they raise aloft as America continues):

They come! my gallant sons! All are with me. (Unfurls service flag.) See my service flag—a star for every state and none missing.

(American Soldiers and Sailors march in; a line of Red Cross Men in the van. When all are in places at the rear of the stage their leader approaches and salutes Columbia. She hands him the service flag which he passes to a soldier who holds it at the right of the large American flag. A Red Cross Man holds the flag of the Red Cross at the left. Columbia and the leader of the soldiers stand before the large flag.)

“I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands—one Nation, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

To fit the context the last line of the Japanese National Song has been slightly altered.

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Ready, Aye, Ready	Herman C. Merivale
I Give My Soldier Boy a Blade	William Maginn
Horatius at the Bridge	Thomas B. Macaulay
Columbus	Joaquin Miller
Unmanifest Destiny	Henry Holcomb Bennett
The Parting of the Ways	Joseph B. Gilder
(To fit the context the first line of this poem has been slightly changed. The original reads, “Untrammelled Giant of the West.”)
A Song of the Allies	Irene Brush
To England	George Henry Boker
To America	Alfred Austin
The American Flag	Charles G. Crellin
Armageddon	Edwin Arnold
Marco Bozzarius	Fitz-Greene Halleck

To Arms for Liberty

CHARACTERS

TO ARMS FOR LIBERTY

Transcriber’s Notes

Belgium	Britain	France	Italy
(Britain’s Daughters)
	England	Ireland	Scotland	Wales
	Canada	India	Australia	New Zealand


Serbia	Montenegro	Portugal	San Marino
Roumania	Greece	Russia	Poland	Japan