Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-19
BIRD MASQUE PLAY
CHARMS MULTITUDE
Audubon Society Entertains Friends
in Fontenelle Forest With Pretty
Conceit of Poetry and Music.
TWO THOUSAND SEE SHOW


oak tree near the stage of the natural
theater in Childs Point woods yes
terday. ..s ..
The mother bird was apparently
carrying worms and other delicacies
to her brood. She was apparently
a very happy bird. ...
Other happy birds were in the
beautiful forest. They seemed to have
organized and determined to act as
a volunteer orchestra for the bird
masque. Sanctuary" by Percy Mac
kaye, which was presented there yes
terday afternoon by the Nebraska
Audubon society.
Their clear notes came from the
greenery OF their homes in the trees,
and it didn't take much imagination
to believe they were singing songs Of
thanks to the women and men who
have done so much to provide sane
tuary where their little lives shall be
free from danger.
view rays TOT Visit.
Folks began arriving early. By
street cars and in scores Of automo-
biles they came and poured into the
lovely, steep-hilled forest. They en-
joyed the river, winding through the
splendid valley, with the smoke and
tall buildings Of Omaha and Council
Bluffs to the north.
Fair society girls became, for the
time being, dispensers OF lemonade,
pop" ice cream cones, sandwiches
and other picnic delicacies and deli
catessen. Others distributed pro-
grams, while still others presided
over the rental OF cushions at the
astonishingly low price Of 5 cents
each.
Upon the steep side Of grass-caf-
peted, tree-shaded slope, the stage
was built. The wings" and back
drop" are natural greenery. Three big
trees bend in grace to make the pro.
scenium arch. (The trees have ever
been the friends OF the birds and they
join enthusiastically in providing
sanctuary for their feathered friends.)
Back Of this greenery Is hid an
ample orchestra, an orchestra OF men
to supplements the Joyous scarlet tan
ager and other birds.
/. The people stream in and take their
places on the slope. There is room
for any number. Natures theatcr is
7 not limited in capacity.
II was estimated that at least 1000
people were seated In the natural
amphitheater when the orchestra
brcathed into soft music and then
THE Hermit Thrush" song pealed
forth, sung by Miss Hazel Silver, and
little girl, Janet Campbell Sullivan,
wandered through the forest repre-
scented on the stage.
Then into the forest came Quercus,
the faun, hopping, skipping, free
iinibed, gladstone, kindly Quercus,
the iaun. Up to the bird bath he
skips and pours water into It from
bis gourd. Then up to the two bird
houses in this part Of the forest he
glides and strews grain for his
friends, the birds.
Poet Comes and Then Shy.
Delightful music Is coming from
the orchestra, from the human and
the bird orchestras. The scarlet tan
ager and the other real birds quite
approve Of Quercus.
Enters now the poet in purple robe
and hood. To him Quercus explains
that he Is 'thc friend OF birds, the
janitor OF this, their sylvan temple,
water carrier for them and steward
Of the worms
Shy next arrives. A naturalist he
is, and employer Of Quercus. He asks
sharp business-iike questions OF
Quefcus--"Has the brown thrush laid
her eggsr rs that old tom cat
deads7
Enters then lovely Dryad, Taeita,
and dances In lovely manner. Her
every move Is grace.
Dread Of the One.
Now comes also ornis, the bird
spirit And when al these friends
are gathered they begin to discuss one
evil character in this their paradise.
II is the Plume Hunter. Even while
they speak I shot rings out, bird
falls dead and in comes the Plume
Hunter, cruel fellow with rifle and
net.
Eventually even he yields to their
entreaties and arguments. He, too,
becomes the friend OF birds and
throws away his net and rifle.
Now sanctuary Is established. The
Bird Spirit calls all the birds. And
from every direction they come, the
yellow warblers, meadow larks, blue.
birds and 90 on. Ali gather in the
forest sanctuary.
The yellow warhlers dance, Tscita
dances, the faun skips about in pure
Joy. And 1t last they all leave the
stage, skipping and dancing out into
the real forest Of nature, and disap.
pear over the hill, and the charming
play Is over.
Caused BY the Cardinal.
No. not quite over. For here come.
the cardinal bird followed BY two
scolytes, all in red. The taft birt
bears scroll and he walks to wher,
c. ]. Ernst Is seated. There he stop,
and reads from the scroll the thank,
OF the birds to the men and womer
Of the Fontenelle Forest association
Of which Mr.. Ernst is president. Til,
cardinal bird parents the scroll anc
then returns to his woods and tree
tops tall"
Wasn't It just lovelyr' Wasn't i
too sweet" These were expression,
heard on every side.
Il Was All Charming.
There Is but one answer to botl
questions. Decidedly and emphat
icallY il was 4 Charming fnasnue il