Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-10-28
brought Madame Labadie to the In

brought Madame Labadie to the In
spiration Dances of the Eskimos
THE Indians are a wonderful peo-
pie, silent magnetic. They make no
noise-they come up behind one with
a pattefing step, especially the women.
One feels their presence. Very diff
ferent are the Eskimos but as inter-
esting in their way. Every summer in
Nome, the furthest point north, are
given the last of the Inspiration
Dances. 1t is not real dancing, unless
that is the real dancing. 1t is Just
rhythm. There is small, round piece
of polished rawhide about which the
people group themselves. The or
chestra leans up against a nearby
building, playing their hide instru-
ments and singing, Their song is not
real song. either; it is sound which
grows fainter and fainter until it al
most dies away, and then they revive
it again, and shout loudly and terri
bly,.
And it is almost always after one of
these outbursts that the inspiration
comes. One after another feels it and
goes 20 the rawhide, and sways back
and forth. Only four can stand on II.
but when it is full the Others keep on
swaying until they reach the circle of
people again, when they fall fiat on
their faces until all is over. OF
course, il is a religious rte-all the old
dances, were. And it is wonderfully
suggestive sight--the effect of that
strange music and Of the inspiration of
others upon their minds and emotions.
Is An American Woman.
ut is hard to stop talking about the
country. 1t is never dark there in the
summer and l have often sat reading
until 11.30 o'clock at night and later,
perfectly unconscious that it was
growing late. We were just in time
for the midnight sun. We saw it when
we were on the boat with the prov
facing north. There are no words to
describe it. Every night was a diff
ferent picture-silver and lilac scarlet
and gold No timber hid the view
just ground, river, sky, and the spikes
OF the midnight sun reaching back for
thousands of miles. | am northern
born, and | felt great pride in it,
Madame Labdie has been asked why
she does not write books and stories
for her life is full of them. Why, !
don't know how" she says. Il have
only one art, and it is not writing. But
/ want every one to know what l have
seen and felt and learned" She says
very little about the way her art was
received, except to say, Il tested it,
and it was not found wanting. 1t
was a wonderful and precious expert
enee to me. That is another story,
and one which must be written some
day-the way truth is appreciated by
people who are uneducated and PRINT
tive
But her secretary, Ida Wiltshire, the
Australian woman who travels with
her, newspaper woman and dramatic
critic, says that it vas an unforget-
table experienee-that strong men, III
whom the physical had always pre-
dominated, came and listened, quiet
and awed. 10 a presentation of fine
plays. They understood, they cared
about it, and all they could do was to
sit forgetful of themselves. absolutely
still. and after it was over to cheer
the woman who had done it for them.
and 10 carry her home on their shout
ders
Madame Labadfe IS an American
szeEsan whose home was in Philadel-
phia Her husband is F'renchman.
whom she met when she was first be-
ginning to study dramatic interpreta
ton. She is a Daughter of the Revo
luton, a member of the National Geo
graphical Society and of the Phila-
delphia Browning Society, as well as
the representativeat large of the
American Playgoers of New York, and
an associate member of tine Drama
League of America