The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-04
PUPILS PRESENT
/. BEAUTIFUL PLAY
AT EDGEWATER
Annual Spring Festival Of
T. C.. /. Children Is
Fine Success
GREAT AUDIENCE
SEES PERFORMANCE
Beautiful Day Contributes
To pleasure Of The
Fairies Chest
(EnsIey Bureau

(Ensley Bureau)
Before an audience that completely
filled the natural amphitheatre at Edge
water, the annual spring festival of the
school children attending the Tennessee
Coal. Iron and Railroad company
schools. was presented Saturday after
noon. The beauty of the day contributed
to the record breaking attendance. In
the audience were George Gordan Craw-
ford, president of the company, with
Mrs. Crawford and their daughter, Peg
gy. Mr.. and Mrs. Crawford have al
ways evidenced a particular interest in
the work of the social science depart
ment. which presents annual festivals.
There were also present Herbert Charles
Ryding and Mrs. Ryding and scores of
other executives and officials of the
company.
4 The Fairies Treasure. Chest was
in many respects the most elaborate
affair SO far given. The costuming was
rich and colorful. Miss Winifred Col
Inns and her associates in charge of
the work reached a higher achievement
in the 1924 festival than in those pre-
ceding and to her and those associated
with her, came many congratulations
upon the beauty of the spectacle, and
it's execution by the children.
Costuming Good,
The apparel of, the elves. and leaves
and fairy waves, and clouds were in
keeping with the thoroughnes which
characterizes all undertakings of the
Tennessee company and demonstrated
a fine care and attention.
The streets of Ensley were filled
with happy<Ooys and. girls Saturday as
they were pil0ted through on big trucks
singing and making merry. The trans
portation of the children, more than
5000 in itself task requiring great
care and was in charge of a special
committee, headed by Miss Pearl Wald,
with whom were associated Miss Jerene
Neal, Miss Mary Kate Gulley, Miss
Olga Lawrence. Miss Margaret An
CELL, Miss Emily Roberts, Miss Katie
Belle Harrison, Miss Mary Peters and
Daniel Harmon. The safety department
of the Tennessee company was advised
of the routes to be taken by the trucks
with the children and every crossing
was guarded carefully, trains halted
when necessary and every care exercised
to prevent accident.
The Story
The story of the Fairies Treasure
Chest began when the fairy elves APP
pear stealing quietly about laying ferns,
which they carried, into a ring on the
ground. They danced about calling to
the forest leaves to come out and dance
with them. saying that the woods are
quiet and the fairy ring in peace. The
leaves accepted the invitation and they
danced about merrily for a while when
a sound is heard in the distance and
the forest spirit appears. She tells
them that this is a day of great re-
joicing, because their cousins. the
clouds, the sunbeams and the waves
are coming to lay their beautiful gifts
in the treasure chest, for mortals to
find if they but search.
Another voice is heard and the wind
appears bringing his children, the
clouds. The clouds come dancing in,
and finally the elves and the leaves
join in the dance. They stop to rest
when the hymn of the sun and the
sunbeams appear. The forest spirit
greets them and tells the to make mer-
~ and dance until their uncle, the sea
spirit, brings the waves to join the
happy throng. After the arrival of the
sea spirit and waves, the forest spirit
sends her elves to fetch the treasure
chest, in which the fairy spirits place
their gifts for men to heal their bodies
as well as to refresh their souls.
Bring Their Gifts
The waves bring a double gift. a
store of wholesome food to make mems
bodies strong, and a broad highway
that they may share their gifts and
by so doing make their spirits strong.
The clouds contribute moisture to com
fort and refresh all living things @nd
soft shadows SO TINT tired mortals
might find refreshment. The sunbeams
place in the treasure chest radiance
and warmth, a vital spark to give men
more strength, and food and cheer,
and purity. A spell is cast over the
chest to keep it from spoilage and from
unworthy hands.
The fairies dance about the treasure
chest and call to the dreams to- come
and help guard the treasure and let
only true hearts take the gifts, who
will love and use them best.
The dreams come dancing in and the
forest spirit tells them they will leave
their treasure in their hands to keep
from greedy hearts and selfish hands,
but if by chance true hearts should find
the chest to help them take the fairy
gift.
Soon a Miser hurries in seeking the
trasure which he has heard is hidden
in these woods. He sees the chest, openG
The lid and rejoices that he is alone.
He tries to lift the chest but cannot
move it. He falls on his knees and
filings his arms over the chest, declaring
it shall be his and tries to think out
some plan to get it away before. any
one else comes. The dreams draw near
and try to tempt him but he thrusts
them away. Then he covers it from
sight and hurries home to bring large
strong bag TO carry away all the gifts.
Chest Is Found
When he has disappeared a group of
pirates appear seeking the treasure. The
pirate chief offers a reward to the one
who finds the treasure first. while he
guards the, path to see that no one
comes. At length one pirate finds the
chest. All gather around and get into
dispute over the division of the
booty. The pirate chief wants the larger
share, angBy words follow and the
pirates draw their knives on him.
The chief finally persuades them to
play a game of cards with the treasure
for the stake. They agree. As they be-
come absorbed in the same the
dreams come up unnOticed. One touches
the pirate chief and holds a bubble to-
ward him. He rises and recahes for it,
saying, AT last my dream is within
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