The San Francisco call., 1909-12-05

dance, in field where dancing is de-
generate. seems as If the needs OF the
world had forearmed her for her work.
She has placed dancing along with the
arts AID sciences. accomplishing some
thing which has taken hundreds Of men
and women In the other arts 1000 years
to do.
II believe see in the lives and work
OF Isadora and Elizabeth Duncan
means OF bringing the best gtft-ths
power to listen. to comprehend tho
divine thought In ones own soul-to
every child. The object OF our dance
Is not to teach the children merely to
dance. but is used as means OF de-
velopment. the awakening OF the spirit
ual child and setting the whole being.
the body and mind in harmony with
the soul by the expression OF thu ehild's
soul toward the beauties OF nature.
mo. we are not developed. Let US
begin then with our children. for their
sake and that OF the future genera
tions. How about the modern school
system? When the days are warm and
the birds are singing in the trees and
the hills roll IN the distance In the
summer sunshine and tho nelds are
strewn with wild flowers there Is a
sound L miss amid the soft rustic Of
the leaves. 1t is the voices OF little
children. The earth so lovely seems
made for them. those who are to carry
the burdens OF the future race. the
only link between US and the future I
listen; no children. I watch; no chill
dren. In the town and parks, no chill
drenI Are they dead? Are they asleep.
when the glorious world 10 awake
awake for them?
NO, they are cooped up in yonder
barracks rows upon rows at little
crampsd desks and out there the how-
ers that bloom for them blossom and
fade and they never know. But we
know. And the birds that sing for
them fly away, and the breezes that
blow for them seek them in vain. Is
this a fair exchange for natures
schoolroom?"
As Mrs. Boynton dances on the lawn
with her children she cries, rs this not
freedom?" And when she points TO
Rhea studying her lessons while lying
at full length upon the sward she ex-
claims: "This is the schoolroomr" and
broadly she encompasses the open world
with her white arms.
This lightly clad. besandaled woman.
standing gracefully in the midst OF
dewy flowers and grasses. declaring for
Equality and crying for Nature. seems
-
denunciation Of some OF the class lines
drawn even in the public schools she
declared:
THAT spirit of subfraternity which is
today creeping into our educational in
stitutions Is crime against democracy
and draws the line OF distinction be-
tween students on the mere ground OF
possession. We want fraternity. yes.
among the students. but not specialized
fraternity for the few. which says these
shall be pigs and shall gorge and turn
up their noses at all who are not pigs,
as IL to be pigs was virtue and very
beneficial to be pigger"
Quoting an old saying OF Socrates.
Two levers were given man whereby
gymnastics" Mrs. Boynton pointed out
it's application to her own work. how
the dancing feature OF "gymnastics'
not only improved the disposition and
gave one balance. but built up the char
acter as well.
Let US consider woman's clothing"
said Mrs. Boynton. If woman would
cloths herself in womanhood and wear
garments representing those qualities;
simple flowing robes, such as the
Greeks wore; garments that are beau
tiful In motion and yield to the move-
ment Of tho body. Let US wear gar
ments that call no attention to them
selves either by discomfort or crude
ness-dressed as the lilies, in freshness.
purity and truth
The following synopsis of the Boyn
ton dances gives some idea of the
poetry in the figures used for the pret-
ty Interpretation OF Life and Love.
Opening. before dawn. walking In the
forest Coming to an open space the
mother kneels down with her children.
Bare kneed and bare armed, with hair
flying. the children thoroughly enter
into the spirit OF the thing They ex
hale any unkind or selfish thoughts:
they inhale love and kindness, and then.
quickly posturing and grouping. bless
all the children in the world. the dow-
ers the animals. the trees, all life
Look, the sunrise. Brighter and
brighter to the north. to the south,
Rising. they dance to the rose tints on
the clouds. Then in the happiness Of
living. of being part Of this wonderful
life, they dance with each other in Joy.
Mrs. Boynton cries to women. Let
us be aroused. Let US awake to our
awful responsibility Let US prepare to
live up to it. that we may send forth
the children of all races blessed and to
bless