Winchester School - Oui Dire Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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OUT- DTRE 39 cycle it mentions Noah's wife, and states that she insisted on spinning and would not enter the ark. She disliked the shape, for she said she could not tell the front from the back! At last, as the tlood rises higher and higher, Noah picks her up, spinning wheel and all, and car- ries her to safety. The miracle plays were often given on page- ants. A pageant looked like a huge box on low wheels. This box was divided into two stories,-the lower one, enclosed by curtains, was used as a dressing room, and the upper one as a stage. The pageants were drawn through the town, stopping at each appointed place, and giving one play in the series. At each stopping place the townspeople gather- ed and could, by remaining in one spot, see the whole cycle from beginning to end. The cos- tumes of the actors were always in the latest English fashion, and the scenery was decided- ly crude. At almost the same time as the miracle plays came the Moralities. These were alle- gories, i. e., symbolic representations in which abstract qualities were personified. They showed every man's constant struggle with various temptations and evils. They were usually performed in courtyards, over which the balconies 'hung on three sides, leaving the fourth as a stage. One of the most famous plays of this kind is Everyman, in which the hero represents an ordinary human being, who is oppressed by earthly vanities. Gradually, humor began to enter more and more into these plays, until. the audience became more in- terested in the funny little evil spirits who hopped about and annoyed the hero, than in the good spirits who recited long religious moralizing speeches. About the middle of the sixteenth century, John Heywood introduced a new form of amusement called the Interlude. The Interludes were often performed between the courses of a banquet or immediately after it. They were short, comical plays, composed mostly of wit- ty conversations. Heywood's best-known work is 'KThe Four P's,,'-a dialogue between the Palmer, the Pardoner, the 'f'Poti- ti ti 'AP H Cary, an ie edlar. For a prize each man tries to tell the biggest lie. The Palmer wins, for his lie is that, in all his travels, he has never seen a woman out of patience! The only thing n-ow needed to make a regu- lar drama was the development of a plot and a cli-max. The first regular comedy, Ralph Roister Doisterf' was written by a Sql-10O1maS- ter and acted by his pupils. The plot turns on the importance of correct punctuation. l'oor Ralph, tricked by his friend, sent what he thought was a love letter to a fair widow. Sweet mistress whereas 1 love you nothing at all, Regarding your substance and riches chief of all, For your personage, beauty, demeanor and wit, f commend me unto you never a whit. Sorry to hear report of your good welfare. fly changing the punctuation to its correct position, we have what the hero reallv intend- ed to say: I Sweet mistress, whereas l love you: nothing at all Regarding your substance and riches: chief of all For your personage, beauty, demeanor and wit I commend me unto youi never a whit Sorry to hear report of your good welfare. The first English tragedy was Gorboduc or Ferrex and Porrexf' From this time on, drama developed in plot, characterization, and variety of subject matter. I. McC., '16. A VISIT FROM LAFAYETTE. fn 18.24, when Lafayette revisited the United States, he was to spend an evening in Frank- fort, Kentucky, The town was greatly ex- cited over this coming honor and eagerly set about to prepare his welcome. An entertain- ment committee was elected, consisting of the most prominent citizens. Among these was my great-great-aunt, Rfargaretta Brown, who was usually chosen for such duties because she was the wife of the judge. She was doubly pleased to find herself in this position. as Laf- ayette had been a friend of her own father. NYashington's army chaplain. and she herself knew him. But she heard with dismay that it was decided to hold a large ball in his honor, for, having been brought up in a strict Pres- byterian household, she felt that it would be wrong to go. However, preparations did not lag for want of her help. She did her best in decorating the city hall and in assisting with the refreshments. It was to be a delightful af- fair and Aunt Kfargaretta's part in the antici- pation made her wish to go more than ever. The day came only too rapidly, but every- thing was in readiness. At the appointed hour. even ,fudge flrown had been looked over and approved by his fond wife, and started oiif for

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38 OUT- DIRE again. Very few could do this, but finally one young nonian accomplished the feat. The last was a shoe race for children. Each girl and boy took off his or her shoes and put them into a large bag which was placed at one end of the deck, Starting at the opposite end they were to run to the bag, dump the shoes out, put on their own pair, and then run hack to the starting point again. XYhoever accomplished this first was the winner. Une little girl, very much excited, reached the bag first, put on a pair of shoes, and ran back to the starting point. liut much to her dismay, she found that she had on mismates. She then ran all the way back again: hut. by this time, a little fellow, much younger, found his shoes, put them on, even laced them up, and reached the starting point first. Thus he was proclaimed the winner. Everyone, very much surprised, crowded around him and congratulated him upon his quickness. The prizes were then awarded to the winners. These were spoons, penknives, and cups with a picture of the Tmperator upon them. They had been donated by the commodore of the ship. This ended a most enjoyable afternoon, not only for the contestants, but also for the audience. D. L. '16, THE ERL-KING. CTrar1s1ated from the Germanj XYho rides through the night and the wind so wild? A father, it is, with his little childg lie has his little son well in his arm, He holds him closely, he keeps him warm. My son, what makes you your pale face hide See, father, the wicked lirl-king l have spied The old Erl-king with his crown and train. 'fMy son, it is only the fog and rain. 'ff Jh, dear, sweet child, come go with me! Most beautiful toys l will give to thee: Many gay Howers I will give thee to holdg My mother has many a garment of gold. My father, my father, oh, do you not hear XYhat the Erl-king whispers soisoft in my ear? He still, he quiet, my little child, i In the dry leaves rustles the wind so mild. Uh, nice little boy. will you gn with me? My daughters gladly will wait on thee: My daughters will put you to sleep at night, ljy singing and dancing so soft and light. My father, my father, and do you not see The Erl-king's daughters in yonder dark tree. My son, it is naught but the willow so gray, That shines in the fog like a pale moon ray. pn Your beautiful form has captured my heart, And force I will use, if unwilling thou art! My father, my father, oh, do you not see llow the Erl-king is seizing and hurting me? The father rides fast and shudders to hear The groans of his own little son so dear, .-Xt last, with great trouble, he reaches the farm, Hut cold and dead is the child in his arm. M. D. L. 'I6. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENGLISH DRAMA. About the eleventh century, the clergy be- gan to feel that the illiterate mass of people should be taught more about the Bible than the Latin services could give. .Xccordingly they arranged tableaux in the chaneel of the church and acted out scenes for each festival day. For instance, on Christmas, they repre- sented Christ in the manger. A star, strung on a wire from one end of the church to the other, guided some shepherds to the manger. The English knew only of English shepherds, so the costumes were not those of shepherds in the lloly Land. The little Child was rep- resented by a doll in a cradle, and the gifts of the shepherds were mittens, balls, and various other toys. The choir boys, singing hymns, were the angels. Un Good Friday the cruci- fix was buried and on Easter morn it was brought from the tomb. These representa- tions were in Latin and were always acted by the clergy. They were called Liturgical Plays. XYhen the Normans came into England, they brought the Miracle l'lays. These were plays based on saintly legends and Bible stories. The first recorded miracle play in England was given in honor of St. Katherine by the pupils in a school near St. Albans. At first they were controlled entirely by the Church, and pro- duced in the churches, then in the church- yards and later on the village green, or in the town streets. Gradually they passed out of the control of the Church and were performed by the Guilds for incorporated associations of various trades and crafts j. At length these miracle plays were arranged in series called cycles The cycles narrated events from the Creation to Doomsday, and were often elabor- ated by some imaginative author. In one Old N hai

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,to OUT- DIRE the ball with a pat and a kiss, for both he and his wife considered it his duty to be there as one of the leading' citizens. .Xs she watched the carriage roll down the drive into the dark- ness, ,Xunt llargaretta blinked hard. She was not too old lim be greatly disappointed. Xkhen she had shut the door on the cool spring night she went into the candle-lit drawing' room and. picking' up a book, resigned herself to a dull and lonely evening, In the meantime, the judge called for Lafay- ette and escorted him to the ball, XYhat a gorgeous spectacle it was! The ladies and gen- tlemen were dressed in the gayest of silks and satins, looking like a flock of brightly plttm- aged birds, and the hall itself was decorated with flowers and wreaths, .-Xt one end was the lirench Hag, and at the other, the new Ameri- can one. Lafayette, after paying his respects to the ladies present, asked the judge where Klrs. Iirown was, for he had expected to see her in the receiving line. I-Ier husband explain- ed that she felt that her conscience would not allow her to attend a dance. In that case, receive me at her said Lafayette, would she home The judge was by no means doubtful ' ' ' ' see Lafayette, and of his wifes willingness to so together they slipped away from the ball. Imagine the surprise and delight of .Xunt Margaretta when. a short time later, the bell tang and the Marquis de Lafayette was an- nounced! The three spent a long' evening' talk- ing' together, and, though the ball may have been delightful in spite of the absence of the guest of honor, I am sure that himself more than that same my aunt, and her husband. no one enjoyed guest of honor, gk. lx., IU OUR REALIZATION OF PROBLEM. THE INDIAN Last year, during the latter part of August, father, mother and I took a motor trip through New York state, As the weather was beauti- ful and the roads excellent, our trip proved to be a very lovely one. Hn either side of the road stretched miles and miles of well-tended vineyards, broken here and there by fields of wheat, corn, and buckwheat. Swarms of bees were buzzing in the fields and the sweet smell of the buckwheat was wztfted through the air. Ifinally this scene of abundance and wealth was changed. Un either side of the road now stretched fields, desolate and untilled. XYC were amazed at this sudden change and wondered why these acres and acres of good gTOL1HCl had been thus left, untilled. Soon we came to a lit- tle Indian village. Here we stopped a few minutes to study more carefully the pitiable sight which lay before us. It may well be called pitiable when one thinks, on the one hand, of the Indians of long ago, the cordial welcomers of our forefathers landing on this continent, and then, on the other hand, sees the Indian of to- day, deceived, robbed in commercial transactions, and gradually driven from home either by force or by treaties, which we must acknowledge to our shame, have been repeatedly disregarded. This village consisted of about ten wretched shanties, built side by side in a straight row. Their dilapidation was terrible, The windows, of which there were few, were mostly broken. leaned to one side and looked as if with one would tumble to pieces. be empty except for the In fact, the shanties so were so infirm, that it strong gust of wind' they Inside, they appeared to dirt and filth. The yards were filled with tin cans and rubbish heaps. The Indians. of whom there were about fifty. seemed to be in the same dreadful condition as their homes. The men were poorly clad in citizens' clothing, consumptive 1 the women, igno- rant, nntidy: the children, scrawny, sickly, dirty and half-naked. Their idleness and slothfulness was only too apparent. The men sat on the rickety doorsteps smoking their pipes, while the women stood, lazily talking or scolding their children, who were playing in the dirty yards with a few thin, hungry looking dogs. Except for the children there seemed to be practically no life in the village. When we had seen all that we wished to see, we returned to the machine and continued our journey. Soon we had left the Indian colony far behind and vineyards again stretched before our eyes. Ilut we could not forget the Indians and their wretched homes. How could we! :Xl- though twenty decades have passed since our civilization first reached this continent, hundreds -yes, thousands-of Indians are still living in ignorance and superstition. XYe now realized that this fact constitutes the Indian Problem. That the Indian is confused in mind as to his status and very much at sea as to our purpose toward him is not surprising. Treated as an enemy at first, overcome, driven from his lands, given by a treaty a distinct boundary which was never to be changed while water runs and grass grows, he later found himself pushed beyond that boundry, negotiated with, and then set down upon a reservation, half captive: half protege. XVhat could an Indian, simple thinking and di- S xfk..-aa-lail