Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-27
CHRISTMAS AT eLENwooD.
Feeble Minded People Are Given a
Merry Tine

1leIlWOOUs DGS. S''ii w iu'S
said that the present holiday season
at the Iowa Institution for Feeble
Minded Children is the merriest in its
history. For several weeks past an I'M
usual activity in all departments of the
institution has been noticeable in prep
aration for the entertainment of the
children. now numbering over 1000.
Every mail and express was laden with
boxes and packages sent by relatives
and friends Of the children. Some idea
Of the immense task Of providing for
this family can be imagined when we
remember what forethought and labor
1t entails to provide for q family Of a
few only, whereas Superintendent Mo-
gridgc must consider over 1000 chill
dren.
A long program Of entertainments
had been arranged by him, beginning
with the rendition Of three-act fairy
oDeretta, "The Interviewer and the
Fairies" on Thursday and Friday ev-
enings. This operetta deals with the
trials and tribulations of an inveterate
interviewer, r. e. Porter, who. being
on his way to write UP n murder, falls
asleep in the woods near the fairy dell.
He is found thus by Somnia, dream
fairy who. intent on fun, unlocks his
tongue with a magic key, but locks his
eyes shut. He interviews Somnia but
is unable to write anything. Upon his
agreeing not to write anything, Som
mia admits him to the fairy dell to look
at the fairies. Secretly he hopes to
write all he can. He manages to write
quite a little and is about to leave
when Somnia discovers his infidelity
and condemns him to have his eyes
locked finally pardoning him. however,
but causing him to forget all he has
written.
Upon his return to the newspaper Of
flee Madame Blue Is enraged at the
fact OF his not obtaining news Of the
murder and sends him back to write
up the fairies threatening him with
discharge in the event OF his falling
He returns, but is unable to obtain
admission to the fairy grotto, and over
come with grief. Is about to stab him
self with his photographic pen when
Madame Blue arrives, and, seeing how
| impossible it was for Porter to write
contrary to the wishes of the fairy
| queen, agrees to retain him and a gem
era reconciliation takes place.
Miss Karolyn Nevin, under whose d.
| rection the cperetta was produced, de-
serves the highest praise for having so
successfully trained the forty or more
children taking part in 1t. AS Madame
Flue. the edi,less, she delighted every
| one, and her singing was very pleas
| ing. The part Of r. e. Porter, the in
vaterate Interviewer. was taken by Mr..
A. Ii. Stevenson, whose portrayal OF
the character could not have been inn
proved upon. The dances of the fair
les. gnomes, exc. were very pretty and
well executed
The costumes were especially appro-
pirate and beautiful being designed by
Miss Ida Manly and made with the
assistance of others of the teachers
staff.
On Christmas morning at 9 o'clock
song service was held in the lnsti-
tuition chapel.
Promptly at 8 o'clock this morning
Superintendent Mogridge, accompanied
by the officers and the institution band.
made the rounds from ward to ward.
distributing toys, candy, nuts and the
presents from home. 1t was a sight
long to be remembered to witness the
JOY OF these children during the dis
tribution of presents. The entire day
was given up to merry making.
On Tuesday evening a Photographic
and stereopticon entertainment will be
given, and on Thursday evening the
popular institution band will enter
tain with concert. The holiday fes-
tivities will come to close on Mon
day evening" when the children's and
employees annual masquerade ball will
be held.