The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-17
one Of absence and Longing" begin

"Sweethenrt mine.
implore you.
Speed your coming to mo;
All day long before you a
My lone heart longs to be.
or the pathetic Death Song OF Fiawar
thu"
Though Mr. Burton calls his compost
ton a cantata, dramatically 1t Is not
along conventional lines but resembles
II structure the old Greek plays. In which
one of the functions Of the chorus is to
explain the action. A.
In ,IIiawatha" the chorus. OF American
voices sings selected portions OF Longfel.i
lows poem, which are acted out by the
Indians, Such selections are made as
permit of introducing certain of the ma
tive Indian songs and ceremonies essen
tally characteristic OF the race.
HOW THE PLAY RUNS.
The play begins with the partly reli-
gous ceremony OF the smoking OF the
tabs. while old Nikomis IN a nearby to-
pee sings n lullaby to the baby Hiawa-
tina. AS he grows older the braves as.
semble to teach him the knowl edge neces-
sary to chief. He learns the hunting
dance-wtth body held stiffly erect he steps
out proudly to the hunt, keeping time
with terky movement OF foot and leg to
the rythmical beats OF drum; them as
he secs his game, he crouches down, with
weapon advanced, and still keeping time
to the drum, dashes furiousy on his prey
AS he grows into manhood they cheer him
on his courtship way, as he departs In
his canoe. singing his love song to the
bride no is seeking; then the whole tribe
welcome In a solemn bridal dance tho
advent OF Minnehaha among them, while
old Nikomis decks the bridal tent and
leads the gentle bride within.
One OF the most spirited parts OF the
rlay Is a gambling scene. showing the
Indians collected In n group watching the
throw Of the dice and utterng strange
cultural EXPLANATIONS OF pleasure as they
fall which bursts into roar of rage as
they detect one In the act OF cheating
The culprit. breaking from the crowd,
springs into a canoe and speeds away,
followed by the angry men shouting
threats and menaces as they paddle swift
ly after. The exciting race ends In the
return Of tho pursuers exultingly waving
bloody scalp.
In striking contrast is the story Of the
terrible famine. the sad death OF Min
nehahn. the coming OF tho white mission
| airy and the passing of Hawatha.
SLOWLY. BUT WEIlI~PRODUCED.
| To see the play acted In perfection one
| should go to the shore of Lake Huron
and sit with the crowds Of people. who.
| week after week, In summer and autumn,
witness the strange and interesting sight
of Indians acting a musical play, part
| ly. at least, In their own language, with
a strip OF white beach as parquet and n
! blue bay with setting Of green islands
and high promontory as stage and scene-
| ry. One must go possessed with some pa
tience, as the Indians act as they do
everything else-with gravity and deliber-
| atlon--besldes the changes Of Scene are
| real changes From the island OF the
Ojlbways. Hiawatha goes by canoe to the
land OF the Dakotahs. and then Journeys
on foot up the HILL appearing and dis
| appearing In the winding path leading
to the arrow-makers tent. After his be-
| trothal to Minnehaha he leads her down
/ the hill, and In his canoe they come to-
1 gether TO the island.
| His last Journey Is after famine and