The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-11-30

pass was examined. comments were
made, and the life OF the captain hung
in the balance.
But at last Powhatan said. ''Rillee
him. and the opportunity for which the
bravo maid. Pocahontas had waited
long in the wings, was given her.
When the head of Capt John was
neatly on the block and when his black
fedora had been arranged so as to adj
NIT the blow on the uncovered portion
OF the neck. in rushed the Indian maid
and saved the day.
filings Herself On Hero.
'Tis true she slipped ever so slightly
as she flung herself upon the captain.
causing him TO grunt aloud, and It's
true that the vernacular of the chief
was strangely like pidgtn English, but
overlooked.
Pocahontas found the school floor a
little slick. and as for the pidgin Eng
lish-the authoress of this last act hap
pened to have been born In China. being
the daughter of a missionary. and her
conception of the dialect of a dark
skinned native was governed entirely
by her acquaintanceship with the talk
OF Chinese coolies.
From her recumbent position on the
moor Pocahontas gazed iTnploringiy at
her father. and the big chief. with
hand appraised. stayed the hatchet. Let
itr'
There is more to tell. but sadly enough
no space for it. We might tell how at
first the role of Capt. John Smith went
begging. Why? Because no teller
wants girl to save his Hfei An that's
why,
We might tell how the Indian hair,
and dramatic ability necessary for the
role of Pocahontas were distributed be-
tween two girls instead of being the
property of one.
In fact. there are so many obstacles
marvelously overcome by this little
company Of actors that they are due
the most unstinted praise.
Stars of Performance.
The stars of the performance were
Tony di Bella who played the part Of
Powhatan, and Harry Rand as Capt
John Smith. Mr.. di Bella's conception
of the role of the great Indian chief
was highly intelligent and dramatic,
while young Mr.. Rand seemed incor-
porate with the picture of gallant
The roles of the other white men
were taken by Malcolm Graham as
Standish, Elwood Herndon as Brown.
Joe Wilson as Jones. Cervera Payne as
Payne. and Harry Brown as Wolfe
Pcwhatan's braves were made real
Indians. from feathers to tomahawks
and peace pipes. with Madison Parr as
Great Hawk. Bernard Garrison as Black
Crow. Hansford Holland as Eagle Eye,
and Harold Kalonsdian as Black Foot.
Cecil Wolfe was a charming Poca-
hontas and the girls OF the class were
most effective as squaws and Indian
children.
For several years plays have been
given in the lower grades. but Ii is only
this year that the grades above the
fourth have taken up the drama.
The PLAYS are written entirely by the
children OIL some subject chosen by the
teacher. which relates in some way to
their school curriculum.
Children Are Playwrights.
Some OF the acts turned in by the pu-
pills are remarkable Several fifth /
grades have written and given the
Capt. John Smith play. The usual sys-
tenn is to tell the children the time,
place and names of principals. Two
rows OF children write one act. the next
two the second, and the next two the
third II there are two more rows they
write at the first act.
The authors of this play were three
in number. Rosa Whaley, Anna Bir-
rell. and Malcolm Graham. Two of !
the authors were girls and thereby
hangs an interesting tale. II seems i
that the teachers say that the girls !
make the best playwrights, owing to |
the fact that they are more methodi- /
cal and get better form than the |
boys, for with the latter, everything
is sacrificed to action,
The complete staging is in the hands I
OF the children.