used the services of noted humorist and author George Langdon’s main duties were to write and direct three Ade. Honored, or “burdened,” Ade joked in speeches pageants, one at Indiana University, held 16-18 May touting the centennial, with the chairmanship of the 1916; another at the old state capital of Corydon, per­ committee to “sound the call and bring all the wander­ formed 2-3 June 1916; and the culmination of the cen­ ing Hoosiers back into the fold,” he set about recruiting tennial, the Indianapolis pageant, presented 2-7 contributions from a veritable who’s who of Hoosiers for October 1916. a book. An Invitation to You and Your Folks from Jim Langdon considered the pageant as “a distinct and and Some More of the Home Folks, published in two individual art form, having its own laws and its own editions by the Bobbs-Merrill Company, contained mes­ technique.” Historical studies were made, music was sages from Governor Ralston, Vice President Thomas specially composed, and costumes were designed “for Marshall, former Vice President Charles W. Fair­ the sole purpose of producing in the sequence of its var­ banks, Meredith Nicholson, and Booth Tarkington. ious scenes a clear, beautiful and inspiring drama and Gene Stratton-Porter contributed the poem, “A Lim- a truthful impression of the development of the State of berlost Invitation,” and Indiana.” James Whitcomb Riley These same ideas were the poem, “The Hoosier used by local communities in Exile.” Kin Hubbard’s in developing their own Brown County philosopher, pageants. The commission Abe Martin, also made an gave what help it could, se­ appearance with the follow­ curing centennial chairmen ing appeal “To All Former in all but three of Indiana’s Brown Countyers”: counties, with each respon­ sible for selecting a county If you’re married an’ livin' in committee to plan the work. Iowa, or doin’ well in Young- Dye once again contributed town, Ohio; if you’re hangin’ her talents with a special on in New York, or livin’ in bulletin on “Pageant Sug­ Minnesota; if you’re workin’ in a automobile factory in gestions for the Indiana Detroit, or stayin’ in Kan­ Statehood Centennial Cele­ sas; if you’re teachin’ school bration.” The result was in the Philippines, or solic­ impressive. Commission itin’ fer a vacuum cleaner in Director Woodward re­ Illinois; if you’re jest doin’ ported that the forty-five fine in Texas or on th’ hum­ county or local pageants mer in Oregon; if you’re presented in 1916 were high up in th’ councils o’ th’ seen by an estimated nation, or a rear admiral 250,000 people, and any- on a busy bee coffee urn— I where from 30,000 to no matter where you are or what you’re doin’ come home | 40,000 Hoosiers partici­ fer a visit. Come home an’ William Chauncy Langdon. pageant master. pated in the performances. see all th’ new cement work, Most counties used inci­ th’ new verandas, th’ railroad at Helmsburg an’ th' side­ dents from their past as the basis for their pageants. burns of your early playmates, th’ reclaimed table lands an’ Miami County, for example, used the story of Frances perpendicular apple farms. Hotel an’ nickel theater accom­ Slocum, who was abducted at the age of five from her modations fer all. home in Pennsylvania by Delaware Indians. She was ith the success of its publicity campaign, discovered fifty years later in Miami County, Indiana, the commission had to turn its sights to the wife of an Indian chief. Titled “Ma-con-a-quah,” the how best to stage the actual celebration; pageant opened with the following: keeping in mind the scarcity of funds available, it was clear that such events would have to Miami! What wealth of history be financed locally. The commission soon had an an­ This name suggests! Here in years swer: historical pageants. These dramas appealed A hundred past and more, strongly to the IHC because they could both focus at­ The red forbears of your possessions tention on Indiana’s history and bring communities to­ Roamed the virgin wood, and called it Home. gether. William Chauncy Langdon, former first Here, in primal glory, ere white man’s craft president of the American Pageant Association, was Had fashioned this, your city, lived we, the hired by the commission as the State Pageant Master. Miamis. SUMMER 19 9 1 35.