Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-25
CHILDREN ARE LEARNING
WHILE STUDYING PARTS
"The Feast of the Red Corn" to Be
Historically Correct, and Many
Are Aiding.

singing and dancing and unusually
striking stage decorations. and every
thing is to be historically and racially
| correct. for the teachers in the social
center have had the advice and as
sistance of the greatest Indian au-
thorities in the government service to
make this possible.
But. best of all, in the opinion OF
friends of the social center, is the fact
that all of the costumes and scenic eff
| fects, the basketry weaving and belt
making. the stringing of wampum and
tent building have been done by
the boys and girls of the center. who
have learned much in industrial work
and in application while preparing for
| this festival
| The operetta is by Paul Bliss. but
has been rearranged and adapted to
| the conditions of the social center by
Misses Cecil B. Norton and Edna carr,
teachers in the extension school and
social center. The stage manager is
Mrs. Freddie Schooley, who taught In
dams in Arizona. The rehearsals are
under the direction of Miss Anna Nc
and Mrs Amy Ormsby. The cleo
| trician is Mervin Ullman, who has had
charge of the lighting features IN
which the larger boys of the center
have taken a great interest
True Picture of Indian Life.
That the operetta shall be a true
picture of Indian life has been the
purpose of all connected with the
presentation. and in attaining this
some points have been brought out
that were surprising even to the
teachers; for instance the girls
Indian girl to wear feathers in her
couture.
Those taking part have learned many
words in the tribal language of the Sioux,
through Francis La Flesche, an etnnol-
ogist in the Smithsonian Institution, VINO
, is a son of the former head chief OF the
Omaha tribe, himself an authority on
Indian folklore and an historian on the
music and customs of the Indians. Others
in the government service who have given
expert assistance are john n. b. Hewitt
and James Mooney, who are also eth
nologists in the Smithsonian.
The operetta is in two acts. The first
introduces the little children. of the
Grover Cleveland School and Margaret
Wilson Social Center, who are to repre-
sent Indian boys and girls at school, be-
ing taught basketry weaving, manners,
etc The second act represents an Indian
summer tent and affords opportunity for
the introduction of song and dance fea-
lures by the older boys and girls.
Corn on Stalks to Be Used.
Corn ON stalks is to be used conspicu-
ously in the stage decorations. The sum-
mer tent is to be fashioned by the boys
themselves who are going into the woods
Wednesday to collect their poles and
boughs and leaves There is to be a
scene representing a camp fire with a pot
boiling over the flames and real Indian
dish in process of cooking There is also
to be circle of Indians smoking the
pipe of peace
Indian baskets. blankets and rugs are
to be hung about the stage in true imita-
ton of an Indian village.
Real Indian music as preserved by gov
eminent agents is to be played through
out the entertainment, with Mrs. Frank
Byram, director of music in the public
schools. presiding at the piano She will
play an overture and all the accom-
paniments. assisted on the violin by Miss
Ida Cllman, director of the Grover Cleye-
land School orchestra
The little tots have been trained in
folk lore songs and dances of the In
dians. arranged by Miss Alys Bent
ley, former director of music in the
District schools. The older boys and
girls have been taught real Sioux
dances.
Among the musical features are:
Solo. The Long Room of the Sea-"
by Miss Edna Carr.
Solo. From the Land of the Sky-blue
Water by Miss Cecil B. Norton. The
theme of this song has been preserved
by Miss Alice Cunningham Fletcher
of this city, one Of the most indefatiga-
Bile workers in the cause of the In
dian. She lived for many years with
the Indians. and she aided the move
ment that led Congress to pass legis-
lation allowing them to own their own
lands.
Misses Colder and Anna Norton will
sing a duet, Far Off I Hear a Lovers
Flute"
Carlisle Jackson is to sing The Moon
Drops Low and Charles Togin has a
solo. The Star Of the Farthest North"
Daily Glasses Being Held.
Miss Frances Farley. the principal
OF the school. and Clarence Berkeley
who is in charge of the boys industrial
department, are holding daily classes
giving instructions in stringing OF
beads. making bead bands, toma-
hawks bows and arrows, drums and
other Industrial work that is to be used
as accessories. Mr.. Berkeley is also
| overseeing a little job of carpentry by
the boys in rebuilding the stage to suit
requirements of the operetta.
The costumes are in imitation of the
Sioux, and everymorning the social cen :
| ter classes are busy in their prepare
ton. as well as making moccasins
| belts, etc.
Each person participating is an ac.
tive member of the Grover Cleveland
| School and Margaret Wilson Social
Center and each one is making and re-
making his or her own costume. The
| underlying aim Is not merely that the
| entertainment shall be picturesque, blu,
that II shall be correct historically and
thus the children are learning while
they prepare for their festival.
| Others who are participating in the
| performance are: William Larcomb
| monston, Lance Tompkins, Carl DENIM
son, John Frederick. Joseph GRAHAM
John Moran, Ferdinand Moran, Eugene
| Wilson. Victor ALEX, Frederick and
| William Strasser, and Misses Elsie and
Ruth Kane. Elsie Strasser, Estelle
| Simonton. Marie GRAHAM. Eileen Elan
nigan, Gertrude Silverstein, Helen Cap
Dodek, Mildred Mcleod, Lillian Mar
coils. Geraldine Bachenheimer, Jean
nette Morris. Florence Anna Chambers
Lilliard Behrens Aileen Wilson. Doro.
thy Cole, Sarah Wladovsky, Elizabeth
| Sickle and Baby Florence Brown, who
is but two years old.
The social center activities are in full
| swing each day this season at the
Grover Cleveland playground, and aft
teachers hold daily classes in industrial
work that are largely attended moi
only by the girls but by the women
of the neighborhood. The dancing
classes in the evenings are ATTRACTING
as many as 100 at a time. The Friday
evening free entertainments where q
lecture is given by some person who