The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-19
Copyright. 1905, by Joseph B. BoWles.)


Xxx HEN T was a schoolgirl we
#ENAf used to look forward with
great anticipation to our an
tnual school exhibitions. I do not know
why the powers that were then in
sHuthority made distinction between
Hgirl s reading her own essay and girl 3
y getting a poem by somebody else, but
his they did. Boys were required to
Edeclaim and great stress was laid in
1astheir educatior on the cultivation Of
fease before an audience. But we girls,
Fas rule, sat modestly in the front
sSseats of the chapel, in our white frocks,
while members of the school committee
For local clergyman read our compost
tions for us. In the ideal Of that day
woman's place was in the sweet shelter
eand beautiful background Of her home,
n and young girls were not encouraged
to take part in public exercises of any
kind. The exception was in favor Of
the smaller girls, who were dressed like
fairies and came tripping out to sing
a solo or .recite bit Of verse, and who
were, taught to curtsey deeply in re-
sppnse to applause from the listeners.
I'M my later schooldays there came a
change. I remember very well the first
time T stood before what seemed to me
crowd Of attentive faces and read a
composition of my own. The subject
was "Temperance,' and it was treated
swith great force by the l4-year-old girl
swho had chosen so big theme. In the
amiddle Of the reading she became
frightened, lost her place and her voice
+, orII Iv hov h1f n
I kind gentleman who came and stood
by her side, saying: "Never mind
sthem, my dear. Read straight ahead
##I'll stay right by you.' I still remem
..ssber that man most gratefully.
Still later, we had in our school what
i<tcday might be called venture in
school dramatics. We Of the senior
class decided that we must have a May
Queen, with court attendants, fairies
saelyes, trolls, queens of flowers and Of
! iigralns, a Ceres, a Flora, a Persephone
sand a train Of people representing dig
ferent phases Of the earth and the sea
1s, Our scheme was so ambitious that WI
k.could not find anything in print by
4 1Es'which we could carry it out, and thu
girls with one consent turned to me
4 saying: "You must write a play fo
us, or else our May Queen will be ;
failure Looking back, I have alway
been surprised at the way the teacher
yacted in the matter, but our lovel,
s,principal when approached was reall,
ssmost gracious. "Why, yes,'' she said
: Miss M may be excused from al
sher classes for the next week, while sh
lis writing the May Queen play.'
/ wish I mad it now, but it long ag
-yas lost in the limbo of forgetfulness
aThe thing I can see with my eyes shu
Is the beautiful pageant, with tn
pretticst girl in school as Queen Of tn
May, and everyone from the oldest t
the youngest taking some part in he
coronation, either singing song Q
making an address while the who'll
school, drilled by the musical director
broke forth into frequent chorals.
sse !. 4 !.
School dramatics are very common
now They afford great deal Of di
version to those who form the cast, t
the rest Of the class interested, and t
the spectators. In our colleges an even
of the year is the rendering Of a pla..
of Shakspere, such as Midsumme
Night IS Dream or Z. Much Ado Abou
81 Nothing, The properties are usual,