The Mankato free press., 1916-07-07
SPECTACULAR SCENES
FEATURED
Continued from Page One.

as the sound of singing was heard IN
the distance, and LeSueur and ms
party approached, singing a french
boating song. The singing was ex-
cellent. although the Indians did not
seem to appreciate it, and hid be-
hind the bushes to see who was COM
ing, if enemy or friend. Mah-ka-to,
chief of the village, advanced to meet
LeSueur. who signified that he was in
search of copper, which he thought
was to be found in the Blue Earth at
this place After trading bright col
ored cloth to the Indians for valuable
ornaments LeSueur and his men
proceeded on their way.
AS an interlude DR.. Hiram Lloyd,
robed as an Indian brave delivered
the Indians Lament, inspired there
to by the arrival of the first white
men. His vision told him that more
and more white men were to come
until his people would be driven away
from their beloved prairies and
hunting grounds Between the first
and second episodes period of one
hundred and fifty years of time was
bridged.
THE second episode was presented
by the Zetetic club, and represented
the Treaty of Traverse des Sioux,
1851, whereby 5000 Indians, in meet
ing assembled, and on July % signed
a great treaty whereby they conveyed
to the government twenty -four mil
lions of acres of land. The Indians
were seen approaching from all di-
rections, gayly colored blankets drawn
closely over their shoulders, while the
medicine man" began his incanta-
tions, with the aid of the young
braves who joined in the dance OF
the thunder bird" to drive the rain
away They shot the thunder bird,
the weather cleared, after which the
white men appeared, their old time
costumes and distinguished manners
adding greatly to the effectiveness of
the scene. Speeches were made be-
tween the Indians and white men, and
finally the treaty was signed with due
solemnity.
A charming interlude proved to be-
;the Meeting of the forest " and the
prairie" The young ladies danced
very cleverly, and formed very de-
lightful ensemble as they tripped
across the lawn. The prairie girls
were tastefully attired in light colored
garments, with fiuttering scarves of
varying hues, and the girls of the
forest wore fantastic dark green cos
tunes, and carried garlands of leaves.
The prairie gradually forced the
forest hack to the hills, and the hus-
bandman came to garner the harvest.
Settlement of Mankato.
The third episode dealt with the
settlement of Mankato in 1852. This
was a very amusing and interesting
scene The ladies wore the quaintest
of old time gowns, and the men the
handsomest of old time suits. An i'm
migrant wagon arrived with more
settlers, who were. cordially well
comed The city was named "Mah-
ka-to'' or "Blue Earth" and sign
was put up announcing that the city
was now on the map. An OK team ap-
peared in this scene, and also an old
dray, which saw service in MankatO
in the early days. The coming of the
German settlers created quite stir,
and following their well rendered
songs the st. Paul-S Sioux stage arrived
and deposited it's mall express, and
a few passengers.
3 Next came the Welsh settlers,
goodly group of talented Welsh sing
ers, whose arrival occasioned much
satisfaction among the people OF this
sparsely settled country.
School House of 1855.
The fourth episode dealt with the
early log school house of 1855, and
was presented by Misses Marguerite
Marsh and Miss. May Fletcher. The
children and teachers in their old fa-
shioned dresses were like living
photos of early days. In this scene
symbolic professions were very nicely
carried out, showing the Spirit of
Education, presenting Music, Science,
Art and Literature and the result,
Joy, Inspiration and Achievement,
each sentiment being represented by
a young lady clothed to represent the
part The Dance of Joy, and the Dance
of Inspiration were taken part in by
Mankato young ladies and proved
very effective. Then came the Spirits
of Achievement, the railrOader, writ
er, blacksmith, lumberman, artist.
agriculturist,. scholar, musician and
engineer The costuming of the diff
ferent characters was excellent, and
the posing showed careful training
and was very well done.
One of the prettiest of interludes
proved to be the symbolic dance of
the bell The old, historic bell of the
Presbyterian church. one of the an
cient relics of MankatO, which was
placed in vine covered wagon, her.
aided the different emotions in
terpreted. The young ladies taking
part in the dances were graceful and
prettily garbed in light flowing robes,
expressing the different emotions of
the dances with true artistic under
standing. Miss Majorie Gerlach led
the dances in spirited and artistic
manner. The dances given represent
ed the emotions Of worship, fire, a
funeral, and wedding.