Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-06-11

every town to submit to its voters
the question whether or not to estab-
lish a municipal playground. One
tenth of the city of Boston is devoted
to parks, Fairgrounds and bathing
beaches. Chicago has expended S1l,-
100000 upon a system of Fairgrounds
and recreation centers, containing
outdoor and indoor gymnasium, wad-
ing pools, swimming pools, swings,
slides, ball fields and room for lee
lures and social meetings. OF course,
work on such large scale would not
be practicable in Wausau, but cer-
tainly we can do similar work on a
smaller scale. It would only be carry
ing out the work already begun.
Medical inspection prevents disease
from spreading among us. Our play
grounds are flooded in winter to afford
skating for the children. Folk dane
ing gives the boys and girls much
needed and delightful exercise, as
well as helpful information about the
character and industrial occupation
of different people Then why not
continue this policy and enlarge the
scope?
Dennis Mccarthy has put in plea
for the children, He says:
Give them chance for innocent sport,
Give them chance for fun,
Better playground plat than court,
And jail when the harm is done;
Give them chance, If You stint them now,
Tomorrow you'll have to pay
A larger bill for darker ill;
So give them CT ance to play"
Following the address came the
dramatic production of the "Court-
ship of Miles Standish'' by Henry w.
Longfel!ow. The story was staged in
a light musical comedy entitled ''The
Captain of Plymouth. The scene Of
the opera is laid at Plymouth shortly
after the landing of the Mayfiower.
1t opens up by Eder Brewster of the
colony chiding the men and maids of
Plymouth for their gayety and lack
of seriousness and warns them that
their lives are passing rapidly. The
maidens of the colony discover that
Miles Standish is bestowing his at
tentions upon Priscilla and plans to
win her through the intercession of
John Alden, his secretary. John is in
love with Priscilla himself, but duty
demands that he serve his captain.
He reminds Miles of his maxim which
he quotes so frequently. Ifyou would
have a thing well done, do it yourself.
John Alden delivers the marriage
proposal of Miles Standish to Priscilla
but she becomes angry and tells John
that if she is not worth the wooing
she surely is not worth the winning.
She calms down, however, and in
softer tone asks John, seeing how
nobly he pleads the cause of others,
"Why he does not speak for himself"
Soon after Miles and Erasmus, the
captains man at arms, are captured
by the Indians and are discovered in
their plight by Katonka, the daugh-
ter of Wattawamut, the Indian chief
Miles promises to marry her if she
VIII release them from their bonds.
Erasmus finds the army and leads
them to the rescue and TO celebrate
the victory Miles is given any privi-
lege he wishes. He asks for the hand
of Priscilla but just as the marriage
is about to be performed Katonka
enters and tells of the captains prom
Use to marry, whereupon John receives
Priscilla and the captain is commanded
to wed Katonka.
The opera was delightfully."- carried
out and all the principals acted
their parts in splendid manner. The
music throughout the opera was
beautiful, and was excellently rem
dered by Priscilla, Miles, John Alden
and the others. A large part of the
credit for the success of the enter
tainment reflects on the efficient direc-
tion of Miss Crane, Miss Zellhoefer
and Mr.. BorSack who spent large
part of their time in working to make
it a success. The costumes for the
opera were very beautiful and the
portrayals of the men and women OF
olden times were very good.
The cast tofcharacters was as follows;