Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-01
THE RAWE|S DELIGHT
ALARCE AUDIENCE
ON MONDAY EVENING

Before an audience that filled City
hall almost to its capacity, an enter
tainment was given by the Raweis,
family Of native New Zealanders,
that will not be forgotten by. the peo-
pie of this city for some time to come
The stage setting was background Of
palm trees, which effectively display
ed the stereopticon pictures thrown
on the screen in the center. The OPP
ening number was a musical selec-
ton entitled "A Polynesian Melody"
by the pianist of the cast, whose name
was Llamas, a native educated in the
schools Of New Zealand. and a fine
and talented young musician. His in
of The Rosary End or
a Perfect Day. and SILVER Threads
Among the Cold" later in the pro-
gram, showed anything but savagery.
The first part of the entertainment
was devoted to the geography and the
customs of the country and its ma
tlyes 60 years ago, when all trave'
Worship was prevailing, when every
thing was done in the crudest NAME
Even then the lana was
one of vast and unlimited attractions,
its waterfalls and great geysers, with
their accompanying silicate terraces
its myriad ferns and wonderful grass
es, it's happy, peaceful inhabitants. all
were portrayed in RaWeis lecture
with IA Clearness and depth . OF IN
sight that was a revelation to his
hearers. In beautiful English he made
them understand that at that perioo'
only short 60 years ago, his people
were primitive in the extreme, ne
spoke of the idols that they carved.
and showed one that was an accur-
ate caricature of Roosevelt. causing
much laughter from the assembly.
He said that in his country divorce
is unknown, and then the lady OF tho
cast took up his lecture, telling OF the
beauties of her native land, and to-
eetber they sang war song OF the
natives, then in sharp contrast came
Paderewskis "Minuet." to show the
changes made in culture there.
This was followed by the seXtette
from Lucia" played with one hano
by the wonderful young musician LA
mas. The lady Of the cast, Hin raj
moa by name, spoke OF the superstl-
tions of the natives, told OF the Dig
geysers and lovely terraces, described
the ancient methods Of weaving clotn
from grass and bark, displayed some
bea utifully designed blankets made in
the old style, and then added That
even the American steam laundrles
had so far failed to destroy them. she
said that styles do not change IN her
country every few days. they exist Tor
80 or 60 years in many things.
A short interval was filled with Sc
lections from High Jinks" by the or
chestra, which were much enjoyed,
and then came the second portion OF
the program, transit from crude nuts
and canoes and idols to magnificent
cities equipped with all modern con-
veniences, hospitals that rival any OF
ours. great schools and libraries anu
churches where formerly stood little
bark dwellings. railways tracing their
yay all over the land. bearing tho
children to free schools, free OF fares
Mr.. Rawei stated that all the publ.
utilities are owned by the govern
ment. as he showed where their own
system has ours distanced for mo-
dernitv and utility. He also said that
in his land there is an old age pen
sion that provides for all who have
been toilers after they reach 60 years
of age.
In closing, he said that the foun-
dation of all this advancement was
Christianity. followed by education
and gave the credit for his country's
great advance to the missionaries
who came there and turned the saw
age minds toward religion. Iouay.
the sons of savage warriors are gooo
la wyers, doctors. teachers, and in cul-
ture New Zealand stands high among
the countries of the world"