The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-21
STUDENTS GREAT PRODUCTION,

The many local societies and women's
clubs all over the United States that
have given readings from Longiellow's
Hiawatha, in costume, or for the mere
beauty of the reading OF the quaint
POEMS rythmic metre will find inter-
esting the following account OF its first
presentation by Indians which occurred
At Chilcceo, oklahoma, last month from
text adapted from the poem by instruc-
tors at tho Indian school there,
About forty young Indian men and
women were in the cast, Their cos
tumes were historically correct. Hiawa.
tha wore potions of the historic and sa-
cred wampum belts Of the Wyandotte
tribe, which descended to him as heir.
looms. 1t is asserted that these shell
beats were made a. early as the four
teenth century The performance was
giyep out OF doors. In a little valley
near the school buildings is a lagoon
about three hundred yapis in width
and \ quarter o. mile in length, Here
a large platform or stage probably
eighty feet wide and forty feet deep
was built on piliug about one hundred
aud fifty feet flom the west shore on
which tiers o. seats were erected ior the
spectators
With much labor the Indian students
transformed this platform into forest
At eAoh side OF the edge OF the forest
stead white tepee, and at the door of
one blazed a fire. From the shore to each
enl Of the stage were strung cables OF
iucandescent lights, while electric waee-
tors aoorod the stage with light when
the incaadeScpnts were darSened
Long besore twilight visitors began
arriving from the country and nearby
towns IN carriages, wagons and on horse
aeI. The seats were all illed when
the performance began at eight o'clock.
The Indian students seated themsel-
YES on the soft turf at the margin Of
the lake. They rep resented most Of
the important Indian tribes Of the Uni
ted states Sioux, Cheyennes Chipewa>.
Pimas, Navajos, Senecss, Delawares
poncas, ottoes, Wyandottes, ro;tawa-
tomies, Sauks, Foxes. Cherokees, Ara
pahoes, oiibways, APaches, KiOwas, COm'
manchcS and rawnees They sat en-
traaced with the beaaiy Of the scene,
and talked in whispers Of what they
saw, Ripping in the night wind the
waters Of the lagoon seemed TO 90 rush
ing past tAe magic island like swift
river, the waves sparkling and simmer
ing in the electric glow,
The play opened with an Indian conn,
Gil A new moon was shining in the
west and the SKY was brilliant with
stars At the door of the tepee hlaEea
Rukwaua, the signal fire Of Gitehie No
nito, the Great Spirit whose voice could
he heard calling IN the niehi to his Pc'o-
pla
From cut the darkness moved softly
gliding canoes, nystically white bearing
the warriors to the coaacil. On each
aaaoa was painted the name Of the tvlbe
10 which it belonged Daco;Ah, Fma,
Cheyenne, SenaoA AEad others The voices
of the speakers coan be heard As dis
tjnctly atEvss The wateg as ii they were
only few teet distant
The effectiveness oi the performance
Wa, heightened by IT. fidelity 10 Indian
rastomS
The drum n-hea1inc hail the ola time
soana familiar 10 persons who have vis5-
tea remote lnaian reservations and iht
asnces wcTe stepped 10 the queer musit
ai the Indian. The young meu and
women spoke their siaes easily. g5lf
muca expression Eaa without snhEr-
rassmeng, Every sctze was success