Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-16
MAY FESTIVAL Is
QUITE SUCCESSFUL
CHILDREN OF VARIOUS GRADE
SCHOOLS SHOW ABILITIES
IN MANY WAYS.

Children from the grade schools OF
the city delighted large audiences Sat
urday afternoon and evening when
they appeared In a varied program al
the annual May festival in the Grand
opera house. The remarkable versatil
ity Of children is noticeable in the
way they seize every idea, posing
dancing, singing and acting, with all
the charming abandon Of childhood
mixed with a droll consciousness Of
their own Importance. The appeal Of
the little folks to the audiences was
great. as evidenced by the prolonged
applause given to each number. No
encores were given, lest the program
seem unduly long, and the entertain
ments proved very enjoyable through
out.
The Adams school appeared In a
charming fairy tale, where the proven.
bal prince, princess, king, queen and
wicked fairy were as usual, the prin'
cipal characters. The dancing includ'
ed was especially good.
"Grandfather's dance" quaint STEP
Of yesteryear. with the tiny maids in
demure gray and white, and the little
boys in sober black, was unusually
good. 1t was given by the Agassi2
school.
A number Of very small girls in vel.
low and white. gave pretty, intricate
dance, Girls and Boys Come Out to
Play" the diminutive size Of the per.
formers who were from the Douglas
school. adding much to the interest.
"Gustave's Toast" cunning folk
dance, was given by group of little
boys and girls from the Fairview
school. The red, white and blue cos
tunes gave additional interest to the
steps.
The Froebel school was represented
by group Of little folk, the girls
dressed in blue and white, and the
boys in black and white. They gave
a grief dance, See Saw" and seemed
to enjoy the mock game, as did the
spectators.
The Norwegian mountain march was
given by number Of young girls. in
trios, who executed difficult and
pretty dance. They were in yellow,
blue and green costumes. Master Glen
Hall told bear story in very enter.
tanning and easy manner. The read
ing being much appreciated.
An old English dance. "The Butter
flies," was given by number of boys
and girls, in black, white and green
costumes, and proved very pretty.
"The Jumping Jack" by group OF
Hedrick students, in clever clown cos.
tunes, was one Of the best numbers
on the program, the children doing
clever dancing and jumping stunts.
The Little Shaking Quakers" an
odd and amusing song and dance,
was given by the Irving school, and
1.-THE Melting Pot" was presented by
the Jefferson pupils. The nations who
help make up Americas polyglot citt.
zenship were represented in the latter
by couples, en- costume, with songs
and dances, Uncle Sam and Columbia
being prominent characters. The pa.
triotic appeal was not lost on the
audience
THE Awakening Of Spring." \
charming adaptation Of the Sleeping
Beauty legend, was given by children
from the Lincoln school; flowers, sun
shine. Jack Frost, snowflakes, rain
drops, and the prince and rose princess
being the principal characters.
Reproductions from famous pieces
Of statuary. by the Stuart school, was
one of the most unusual and difficult
numbers. The poses were held splen-
didly, the marble like effect being
very good against the dark curtain.
The use Of the spot light assisted.
The statues" were Joan of Arc
(Chapu), Singing Boys tFlorentine).
Flora (Loredo Taft. Queen Louise Of
Prussia. Ariadne Sleeping Gin the
Vatican), Pygmalion and Galatea 1.-TWO
tableaux). and The Republic (French)
Musical accomplishments to the num-
bers. and during the intermission, was
furnished by the teachers from the
various schools, who assisted in train
ing the children and in putting on the
entertainments.
RECLAMATION OF