Evening star., 1941-07-13

the famous Passion Play. She feels
1t has been a character building in
f1uence in the lives of those who
try to be considered worthy of par
ticipating lin it.
The schools library, which Miss
Mortimer inaugurated in what had
been a storeroom for broken down
school furniture when she was made
principal of Wheatley, is another
far-reaching influence among the
pupils. 1t has been dedicated to
the memory of Miss Miriam Austin,
former principal, who gave the
school the nucleus of its collection
of books in her will.
Band Proves Popular.
In the schools band and its Or
chestra Miss Mortimer also has
justifilable pride, because "they have
proven the medium through which
the pupils have learned to know
and love good music" AS a result.
the leisure time of many of them
Is being spent in daily practice on
some musical instrument. If proof
were needed, we could hear the
pleasant sounds of practicing SEEM
ingly everywhere in the school.
During the school year these two
organizations are sponsored by the
active and energetic parent-teacher
association. which buys music for
their efforts and the drums, xylo-
phones, piccolos and keeps them in
repair.
"Wheatley pupils" Miss Mortimer
said, mot only know the story of
the operas, but as a result Of their
school band and orchestra, The
Stars recordings and attendance at
the National Symphony Orchestra
concerts, literally hundreds of them
listen to the Saturday broadcasts of
the operas over the radio"
DR.. Hans Kinder supplies the
programs for the National SYM
phony Orchestra Saturday morning
concerts two weeks in advance, so
that the Wheatley pupils may be
made familiar with the music.
"Out of the schools attendance, {"
Miss Mortimer said, ut is not un-
usual for from IS to 100 pupils a
week to attend these concerts, the
parent teacher association furnish
ing the bus for their transportation
and we teachers being individually
responsible for the safe return of
from 8 to 10 pupils to and from
the school,"
To Work With Young People.
So enthusiastic was Miss Mortimer
about recalling the achievements of
the Wheatley School, its pupils,
teachers and members Of its parent
teacher association we had Difficult
ty in ascertaining from her what she
expected to do with the prospective
leisure ahead of her when she retires.
With all OF the useful and neces-
sary things calling to be done in this
busy world of ours" she finally ad-
mitted. Il can't possibly conceive Of
any one not giving ones uttermost
to the cause that lies nearest"
n lllCliIOCl VI lllC Mdl y w dSlllllS-
ton Chapter of the D. A. R. and a
vice president of the Junior Ameri-
can Citizens, in which she has long
been interested, she intimated that
she might specialize in patriotic en-
deavors among young people, in a
portion Of her spare time.
She and her sister, Miss Lucy Nor
timer, occupy the family home at
1141 New Hampshire avenue NV,
where they have lived for many
years.
They are also active participants
in the summer life at Rehoboth
Beach, Del, having been among the
pioneer cottage owners in this sea-
side resort which in recent years
has become so popular with a large
colony Of Washingtonians. Miss
Mortimer has been president of the
Rehoboth Village Improvement As
sociation and was responsible for
posting name signs on its streets
during her term of ONCE. She is at
present chairman of the Board Of
Directors of its Art League.