The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-26
| IN WOMAN'S Realm

20 IcilliS luelr nedQS in these
dim old arcades.
San Gabriel is hallowed spot an |
oasis in the noisy hustle and reek of
the gasoline age.
Now let us enter the PLAYHOUSE
where is enacted that soul inspiring
20 beram mergau Of America" the
Mission Play" Dr. Henry Van Dyke
says it is the greatest pageant of the
day; he also adds, "The mission Of the
Mission Play is the remission of our
American SINS" 1t is now enroute on
a pilgrimage thru the east and hope
some Of my friends may see it. The
players are not stage professions, but
natives of California of which there
are one hundred in the cast. There
are native Indians, known today as
Mission Indians descended from
original tribes of this state and con-
verified to Christianity by the early
FRANCISCAN Fathers also there are ma
tive Spanish Californians, descended
from the early Spanish pioneers, some
OF them of Castillian lineage and prom
inent people in California society to-
day.
! The mission players form large
family allied by lifelong associations,
even by kinship, and held by century
old memories, too sacred to parade be-
fore the public in any other drama
than the Mission Plan" That Is
why it is called the 20 beram mergau
of America"
They feel deeply the emotions of
the drama as none could, but those
descended from the historical charac-
tiers of this play-and tho some are
artists, skilled beyond surprising in
singing, dancing and acting they could
not be persuaded to give their tai
ents for commercial and professional
theatrical uses.
Let us glance for a moment at the
wonderful garden surrounding this
open-air Greek theatre.
The flowers and shrubbery are semi
tropical, and on all sides stand min.
iature missions, erected by the Socie.
ty of Native Sons and Daughters to
commemorate each Of the twenty-one
Franciscan Missions, making mini
ature Ell Canine Real or Kings High
J way, which was the sun-wept road OF
the padres connecting their beloved
; missions between San Deigo's "Har
Dor of the Sun" and Sononia in the
valley of the Moon" near San Fran
cisco.
An ancient bell, in the campanile
chimes to announce the curtain ant
recall us to our seats in between the
palm-walks.
This wonderful play was arranged
and written by John Steven McGroart.
called, "a Californian, celt, poe
and a historian" The idea was givei
to him by Frank A. Miller, master o
the famous Mission Inn" Of whom
shall tell you "nianana."
Mr.. Miller conceived the idea Will
he was seeing the Passion Play at
beram morgan in 1910.
DR.. Lyman Abbott of New YORK.
Henry Van Dyke and DR.. David Star
Jordan so hearty approved OF the lde
that it was dramatiZed, and the natlv
actors found who could best act
II is in three parts founded on tn
Eepic and Christ-like self-sacriiice
the Franciscan Fathers, rising to glo
ions success, and at last suffering e.
lie and deprivation. The play ma
been given SO times here and full
800 600 people from all over the worl
have witnessed it.
Iisten-the Mission Play blds yo
hear its story of poetry romance al
nathos. its fascinating Spanish mus
revel in its artistic beauty and colo
and transport oneself into the vel
leland of Hearts Desire" which
the name given to the beautiful VI
lev of San Deigo and southern Ca
fornia.
First Act-Foundins of the M'ssIo
The curtain rises and we are
rantured with the wonderful view
the "Harbor of the Sun" where viii
men first saw California in 1912.
This forms the back ground OF TO
and purple misted glory, with the n
iestically rock-bound shore, where
the late afternoon glow, nestles I
crude log hut of the padre and on
, hill the camp of Spanish explore
{ the most noted one, Don Casper
; portola. A few Spaniards in scar
, and purple uniforms of the soldiers
shv. half-savage Indian and the II
e are seen, busy about the camp. l