The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-03
v.-THE PLAYS THE THING.
copyright by Mcclure, Philips & Co..

hands when she talked. AND theSe Sne
called gestures. Miss Carrie was an elo-
cutionist and had even recited on the
stage.
She gave her class the benefit Of her
talent, and in teaching them said they
must suit the action to the word. The ac-
ton meant gestures, and gestures meant
sweeps and circles.
Emmy Lou had to learn a piece for
Friday. 1t was poetry, but you called 1t
a piece. and tho Uncle Charlie had Sc.
lected it for Emmy Lou. Miss Carrie did
not seem to think much OF 1T.
Emmy Lou stood up. Miss Carrie was
drilling her, and tho she did her best to
suit the action to the word, 1t seemed
q complicated undertaking. The piece was
called "A Plain Direction Emmy Lou
came to the lines
Straight down the Crooked Lane
And all around the Square
Whatever difficulties her plump fore
finger had had over the first three OF
these geometrical propositions, IL trl-
umphed at the end. for Emmy Lou
naused. A square has four sides, and to
suit a four sided action to the word takes
time.
Miss Carrie whose attention had wan
dered a little, here suddenly observing,
stopped her, saying her gestures were
stiff and meaningless. She said they
looked like straight lines cut in the air.
Emmy Lou anxious to prove her ef-
forts to be conscientious, explained that
they were straight lines, 1t was a square
Miss Carrie drew herself up and, using
her coolest tones, told Emmy Lou not TO
FUNNY" Emrny Lou felt that she did
not understand
But this was mere episode between
Fridays One lived but to prepare for
Fridays, and q Sunday dress was becom-
ing a mere everyday affair, since one 5
best must be worn for Fridays
No other class had these Rotations,
and the third reader was envied. Its
members wre pointed out and sazed
upon, until one realized one was standing
in the garish light Of fame. The other
readers. it seemed longed for fame and
craved publicity, and it came about
that the school was to have an exhibition
with Miss Carries genius to plan and en-
gineer the whole. For general material
Miss Carrie drew from the whole school,
but the play was for her own class alone.
And this was the day Of the exhibition.
Hattie and Sadie and Emmy Lou stood
at the gate Of the school. They had spent
the morning in rehearsing. At noon
they had been sent home with instructions
to return at half-past 2. The exhibition
would begin at 3.
"Of course" Miss Carrie had SAID "you
will not fail to be on time And Miss
Carrie had used her deepest tones.
Hattie and Sadie and Emmy Lou had
wondered how she could even dream Of
such thing.
1t was now o'clock, and the three stood
at the gate the first to return.
They were in the same piece 1t was
s"The Play" In a play one did more
than suit the action to the word, one
dressed to suit the part.
In the play Hattie and Sadie and Emmy
Lou found themselves rhe orphaned chill
dren of the soldier who had failed to re-
turn from the war. 1t was a very said
piece. Sadie had to weep, and more thar
once Emmy Lou. had found tears in hel
own eyes. watching her.
Miss Carrie said Sadie showed his
trionic talent Emmy Lou asked Hattie
about 1t, who said it meant tears, ant
Emmy Lou REM mbered then how tear:
Game naturally to Sadie.
When Aunt Cordelia heard they mus
dress to suit the part she came to SCI
Miss Carrie, and SO did the mama Of Sadie
and the mama OF Hattie.
Dress them In a kind Of mild mourn
ing" Miss Carrie explained mot to-
deep, or 1t will seem too real, and, a
three little sisters, suppose we dres
them alike"
And now Hattie and Sadie and Emm,
Lou stood at the gate ready for the play
Stiffly immaculate white dresses, wit
beltings of black sashes, fared jauntil
out above spotless white stockings an
sober little black slippers, while black
hound Leghorn hats shaded three anx
ious little countenances. By the exac
center each held little handkerchief
black bordered.
TT seems almost wicked" Aunt Cor
della had ventured at this point; .:
seems like tempting Providence
But Sadie's mama did not see 1t 81
Saddles mama had provided the hand
kerchefs Tears were Saddles feature
the play.
Hattie and Sadie and Emmy Lou wor
each an anxious seriousness of counte
a. t~foy, n
Hattie's tense expression breathed
determination which might have been II
terpreted do or die; to Hattie life was
battling foe to be overcome and trodde
beneath a victorious heel; Hattie was a
infldel St. George, always on the look f
the dragon, and to-day the exhibition we
the dragon.
Saddles seriousness was a complacel
realization Of large responsibility. H
weeping was a feature. Sadie renen
Dered she had histrionic talent.
Emmy Louis anxiety was because the1
loomed ahead the awful moment
mounting the platform. 1t was terrib
on mere Fridays to mount the platforr
and, after vain swallowing to overcon
labial dryness and a lingual taste
copper, try to suit the action to the wor
but to mount the platform for the play
Emmy Lou was trying not to look tn
far ahead. But as the hour approache
the solemn Importance of the occasi
was stealing brainward, and she even b
gan to feel glad she was part Of t.
exhibition, for to have been left o
would have been worse even than t
moment Of mounting the platform.
My grown-up brothers coming SO
Hattie, IAN my mama an gran'ma q
the rest" -.-...r , -.r '... 49,.
my Aunt Cordelia has invited the "
= fling lady next door, said Emmy LIZ
But it was Sadie's hour. Our min
ters coming" said Sadie. -
"Ah Sadie" said Hattie, and VIII
there was despair in her voice one KIN
that in Hattie's heart there was eXult
ton at the very awfulness of 1t.
"Oh, Sadie" said Emmy Lou. and the
was no exultation In the tones of Emu
Louis despair. Not that Emmy Lou
much to do-hers was mostly the suit
of the action of some others word. S
was chosen largely because of Hattie a
Sadie, who had wanted her. And tn
too, Emmy Louis Uncle Charlie was
L owner Of a newspaper. The exhibit
H might get into its columns. Not II
Miss Carrie cared for this hersel
she was thinking Of the good it might
the school.
Emmy Louis part was to weep wi
Sadie wept, and to point chubby 70