River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-06-16
The Art Hund Entertainment.

L
Saturday night by the physical and
training department Of the Normal
School, under the direction Of Mrs.
Truesden and the musical Depart
ment under the direction Of Mrs.
Thatcher, was very delightful and
successful occasion and enjoys the
distinction of having the largest pay
ing audience that ever gathered at
Opera Hall, the receipts being Sl28.l0.
A very noticeable feature Of the en-
tertainment was the smoothness with
which the program was carried out,
this occurring during the entire eve
ming no break or discord in the move
ment of the succeeding number, each
coming on and going off at its APP
pointed time like companies of well
drilled soldiers and presenting to the
eyes Of the large audience beautiful
panorama Of accurate movements,
graceful poses and harmonious colors,
while the presentation Of music was
no less delightful. The Normal colors
appeared in artistic com bination in
many of the exercises adding bright
ness to the general effect.
The first number on the program,
marching by the primary grade, was
executed without a blunder, the little
men and women carrying parti-color-
ed pennons, marched and counter
marched with a precision worthy of
trained soldiers.
The Doll pantomimc by the kinder
garten girls was perfect Illustration
of childish imperfection. Their quaint
costumes and their baby blunders and
bewilderment, were delightfully."- nat
ural, and far more enjoyable than any
artificial perfection Of drill could have
| been.
The dumb-bell and wand exercise
was excellent. The grouping was
artistic and the movements executed
with admirable precision, especially
the "click" of the bells which was as
sharp and clear cut as though made
by one instrument instead of four
teen.
The Fan Caprice by the girls of the
grammar grade was a beautiful com
bination Of color, pose and gliding
movement, and presented phase OF
physical training step beyond mere
accuracy of movement, in that it rep
resented the aesthetic in movement
and color. This was one Of the most
attractive numbers on the program.
The ball drill and Indian club work
| were almost perfect, showing remark
able power Of muscular control and
sustained effort. The club swinging
was faultless in the execution of diff
cult and mplicated movements with
precision and skill.
The Lotos Eaters, combined the
well rendered recitation Of Tenny'
sons poem by Miss Goodspeed &C.
companied by soft music-moy-
ing tableauX illustrating passages OF
the poem. The movements and poses
of the young ladies were exquisitely
graceful. The folds and lines of the
soft white Grecian gowns gave to the
posing figures the effect OF classic
statuary. This work was a step in
advance Of what had gone before, in
that it employed form and moyement
for the expression Of thought.
The Temple Drill was similar to the
Lotos Eaters in spirit in that it rep
resented the thought of worship eX-
pressed in pose and movement, and
rendered by the young ladies with
great sincerity and self-control
The closing number was the dance
Of the Mlnuet by eight young ladies
dressed in quaint empire gowns with
daring Watteau DICKS wntcn gave Il
gracefulness to their costumes essen
tal to the style of the dance. The
Normal colors were very effectively
employed here, four of the ladies
wearing pure white, and four the
brilliant red, the changing figures Of
the dance brought the colors into
many UeduIllul COII UlI4dpIObof HhlAC
the stately step, the graceful bow and
the gracious smile Of the dancers, was
charming reproduction Of the court
ly manners Of our ancestors.
The musical numbers were choice
and we'll rendered The Thinkers
Chorus was immensely funny and
capitally presented by the young men
in costume and with implements Of
trade They responded TO two en-
cores and disappointed the audience by
not responding to third.
AS a whole it was an entertainment
Of which our community should be
proud and the educational value of the
training to those who participated, as
well as the culture value to those who
witnessed the exercises cannot be
overestimated. The ladies who
directed and the young people
who presented the exercises are to be
congratulated in the success of their
efforts.
~ anO Cparonpt Piavola. sold in the