Liberty

G G G G B B B B
G G G G B B B B

Music stops and Liberty recites:

THE CONTEST

1."And there was mounting in hot haste; the steed,
2.The mustering squadron, and the clattering car,
3.Went pouring forward with impetuous speed,
4.And swiftly forming in the ranks of war."
5."By torch and trumpet fast arrayed,
6.Each horseman drew his battle-blade,
7.And furious every charger neighed,
8.To join the dreadful revelry.
9.Then shook the hills with thunder riven,
10.Then rushed the steed to battle driven,
11.And louder than the bolts of heaven
12.Far flashed the red artillery."
13."Hark! Hark ! there go the well-known crashing volleys, the long-continued roar
14.That swells and falls but never ceases wholly, until the fight is o'er.
15.Up toward the crystal gates of heaven ascending, the mortal tempests beat,
16.As if they sought to try their cause together, before God's very feet."
17."Like the leaves of the forest when summer is green,
That host with their banners at sunset were seen;
Like the leaves of the forest when autumn hath blown,
That host on the morrow lay wither'd and strown."

The above lines are recited rather rapidly until number 17 is reached, the last four being given slowly and sadly. When marching in the boys hold guns in right hand, arm full length at side, gun resting against right shoulder. While Liberty recites the boys go through following movements, corresponding to the numbers of the lines of the medley: 1. Salute, by raising left hand until the forefinger touches forehead above left eye, thumb and fingers extended, palm to right. Drop arm at side. 2. Lines of Grays face left of stage, and Blues face the right. 3 and 4. All mark time as if marching rapidly. 5. Rest butt of gun on floor, arms hanging naturally at sides, right hand holding the barrel between thumb and fingers. 6. Raise gun and move to position in front of body, barrel in front of face, hold with both hands, left above the right. 7. Hold gun diagonally across chest, barrel resting on left shoulder and butt against right thigh. 8. Blues take steady aim at Grays, and vice versa. 9. Arrange for some noise at side of stage to represent firing. 10 and 11. Blues kneel and aim at Grays, and vice versa. 12. More "booming" behind scenes. 13. Rise and each company retreats backward a step, holding guns at right sides. 14. Come forward toward center, quickly, and aim. 15. Rest guns. 16. Bring guns to position and mark time as if marching rapidly. 17. Each company faces front of stage, stack guns in lots of four each and then sit on floor in lines of four, facing front of stage. Music is resumed and JOHN BROWN'S BODY is played through once, then Liberty steps forward to front of stage and recites:

"The sun had sunk into the distant west;
The cannon ceased to roar, which tell of rest—
Rest from the shedding of a nation's blood,
Rest to lay their comrades 'neath the sod.
"'Twas early spring, and calm and still the night;
The moon had risen casting silvery light;
On either side of stream the armies lay
Waiting for morn to renew the fray.
"The Rappahannock silently flowed on,
Between the hills so fair to look upon;
Whose dancing waters tingled with silvery light,
Vied in their beauty with the starry night.
"But list! from northern hills there steal along
The softest strains of music and of song——"

A good effect is obtained by turning off lights during the music of JOHN BROWN'S BODY so stage is dim during the speaking and the singing. As Liberty pauses the Boys in Blue sing a stanza of THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER. When they finish, the Boys in Gray sing a stanza of DIXIE LAND. It is a good plan to have a chorus of voices behind the scenes help with the singing of both songs, to give more force to them. As last song is finished lights are turned on, Liberty resumes her place at back of stage, boys rise, leave guns, Boy in Gray leaves his Confederate flag, all march to near-front of stage and form across in two lines of eight each, thus:

G B G B G B G B
B G B G B G B G

The little girls in white who carried flags now march in and stand in a row back of the boys, Liberty stands just back of the line of girls.