The Washington times., 1915-05-16
Miss Virginia Main Writes
Original Poem, "The Origin
Of the Poinsettia.'
SET TO MUSIC IN PLAY
Fifteen Girls Of Church Of Ascen.
cion Stage Production With
out Outside Help.


A poetess at the age Of twelve Such
10 the attainment Of Miss Virginia Main
or Washington, who is one of the fif-
teen bright young girls Of the Assem-
sion Singers" an organization Of the
Church of the Ascension.
Miss Main has written an original
poem entitled The Origin Of the Poin-
settia," which has been Get to music
by Miss Elizabeth Dayton and arranged
as play by Miss Dayton and Miss
Laura Burton The prologue also was
written and reclted by Miss Main in
tho school hall at the church. where
u was first given by the youthful
players.
Ihe girls in the cast, numbering four
teen. are all under fourteen years Of
age, and had no assistance from anyone
In any part of their production. The
Whole work-the setting to music, the
arranging as play, the arranging of
the stage effects, the planning Of 1t all
was the result Of Their own i>as.
Their costumes. which they made them
selves. presented their own conception
Of the various characters which Miss
Main had portrayed in verse.
Fourteen in Cast.
ganization Of which the church is
proud. It's members include the four
teen girls who were in the cast. and
Miss Lulu Warren. accompanist They
are:
Elizabeth Dayton. president; Clara NJ.
Sickles. secretary Laura Burton, cor
responding secretary; Virginia Main,
Poetess laureate; Rachel Tyree, Mar
guerite Pearman, Marie Smith. kath-
crime Dudley. Mildred Dulin, Eliza
beth kendrick, Elizabeth Duffy, Eliza
beth Ramsey, Margaret Taylor. Wini-
fred Youngs. and Lulu Warren, accom-
PIANIST.
Miss Dayton and Miss sickles promise
to be the star soloists of the organiza
tion. Miss Dayton having a good So
prano voice. and Miss Sickles a fine con-
tralto.
The rector. the Rev. DR.. ]. Henning
Nelms. expressed pride in the present
accomplishment of his young singers
and greater hopes for their future.
Here's Her Poem.
'"The Origin Of the Poinsettia" Is a
wonderful accomplishment, Miss Main
having had no assistance in its versi
fication or any other part Of it. 1t is a
story in verse reflecting the child fam
sies. ably presented in all its simplicity
by its youthful author. The verses writ
ten by Miss Main are as follows:
ACT I.
When Gods and Goddesses still roamed the
And lovely Natur. held ugchallensed sway.
And life full OF Joy ana song and
mrth
Down where the poppies tossed their scarlet
And Haunted out their glowing colors glad
One summer eve, a lovely Grecian maid
Was dancing with her love. shepherd lad.
And Night. the ebon Goddess Of the Skies
With shadowy robe and flowing star-oo'md
In whose dark orbs mysterious shadow lies.
= Stood afar Off and watched the dancing
: pair.
But as they danced the daylight waned and
And evening deepened into twilight gray,
Until. with many a sadly lingering glance,
The Grecian maiden tore herself away.
Then, sombre Night, with dreamy melody
And silvery song. her shadowy wings un-
Sang iii each poppy dropped It's weay head,
Then drew her mantle Ger the slumbering
world.
The shepherd. too o'ercome by earthly care
And all the shadows OF the waking hours
Flung himself down among the blossoms
And soon was fast asleep among the now-
ACT II.
light.
Swept through the dreaming meadows,
blooming tair,
Waking the radiant flowers from their sleep |
And spreading rosy beauty everywhere.
And after Day came Nature, queen OF earth, |
Thrilling with golden sang the sunlit air, |
Until the shepherd. waking from his dreams, |
Beheld a vision which was yet more :air.
She sang to him OF love that cannot fade |
And Joy and hope which are forever strong
And straightway he forgot the Grecian II aid, |
Charmed by the mystic beauty OF her song. |
They danced until at last the shepherd lad
Must tend his focks upon the mountains
And So with many a promise to return. |
He said farewell unto the Queen OF Light. |
Then Night told Nature how the shepherd |
A lovely Grecian maid OF mortal birth,
And angry Nature in her Vengetul wrath,
Caused a great storm to Tall upon the |
earth
And then she called the shepherd and his
And said unto the lad: We'll mayst thou
Thou hast deceived the Goddess of the earth;
And now. Poinsettia. thou shalt pay tull
dear.
Or meet thy love, in the days Of yore,
The tides of Night and Day will still ebb on,
But human ear shall hear thy voice no |
more.
For. though my curse shall cast thee from
this earth. ,
Thou and thy love ye, both will still live !
And bloom in glowing beauty. side by side, /
When all the happy summer flowers are |
W1EpSe Gsyrpc