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Catharine Hervey, Ruth and I went to the supper at the Congregational Church and had a good, first class feed. After it was over we were seized with a desire for pumpkin pie, so downtown we went to one of the restaurants and purchased one. We brought it up to our room, cut it in three pieces and ate up every single bit of it without stopping ummm! It was extraordinarily good.
Oct. 25, 7:30
Marion BestPlease come to our party
Dressed as a little girl.
Wear a short dress
And your hair in a curl
Or if you would rather
Be some girlie's joy
Come to our party
Dressed as a little boy
The junior kindergartners entertained the seniors in the rooms at school.
The decorations were carried out in true Halloween style, corn shocks in the corners, and lighted by means of jack o'lanterns. Indeed the whole room was festive looking and artistically arranged.
The girls were all costumed as children, some boys and some girls. Miss Collins and Miss Reynolds, dressed as twin babies and wore night dresses, breakfast caps, white bedroom slippers and carried bottles of milk. I was their negro mammy and was in black from head to foot. I powdered my hair and wore a lace cap and a great, big white apron. My appearance was so changed that even some of my best friends did not discover, for about half an hour after we appeared, just who I was. We made quite the hit of the evening and inded I felt exceptionally venerable.
During the evening we played "roll over, come back" using pumpkins for balls.
We told stories around an alcohol fire, and finished up with a little dancing. I also had my fortune told and they informed me that I was shrewd in business matters, skillful in management and would shine -- after washing my face with soap. We all thought that this was appropriate and so singular that I should get it since no one knew that I was to be blacked up.
The refreshments were elaborate but very dainty. First they gave us a plate with raisins, walnuts and peanuts on it; then they served us with ice cream, pink cakes, animal cookies and stick candy. Certainly the juniors are royal entertainers and every one voted that they had had a good time.
The dramatic club met again and I played again. Miss Woodbury told our cast that we had improved greatly sinced our last trial. After it was over the boys conducted a programme of solos, recitations, speeches, funny stories and puzzle games.
They handed us a little booklet of which this is the cover and inside it was this rhyme, in which the blanks were to be filled out with double letters of the alphabet.
There is a farmer who is yy
Enough to take his ee
And study nature with his ii
And think upon what he c.c.
He hears the chatter of the jj
As they each other tt
And sees that when a hollow tree de kk
It makes a home for bb.
A yoke of oxen will he uu
With many haws and gg
And their mistakes will he excuse
When plowing for his pp
He little buys but much he se ll
And therefore little oo
And when he hoes the soil by spe ll
He also soils his h oo.
They served us sandwiches, pickles, choclate and cakes. Everything was delicious and they were the cooks.
During the last grand march Emil Lapic was my partner. Think of it!! Wonder of wonders!! He was my escort home too, and as courteous as could be I could scarcely believe myself.
"Graustark"
Cast
(Arranged in Order of their Appearance)Prince Gabriel, of Dawsbergen. . . . . . . . . .Mr. Will Sterling Sitzky, bell boy at hotel. . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Frank McKenzie Countess Dagmar, lady in waiting to Yetive . . . Miss Laura Stone Harry Anguish, an American . . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Howard Walsh Grenfall Lorry, an American. . . . . . . . . . . Mr. Fred Cantway Baron Dangloss, of Graustark . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Neil Barret Princess Yetive. . . . . . . . . . . . . Miss Louiszita Valentine Ostrom, a guard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Frank Bronson Dannox, guard to Yetive. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Fred Walton Therese, maid to Yetive. . . . . . . . . . . .Miss Nellie Taliman Prince Lorenz, of Axphaine . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. Charles Brown Prince Boleroz, his father . . . . . . . . . Mr. William Hathaway Allode, a guard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mr. George Watson Guards, officers, ladies in waiting, peasants, etc.Synopsis
- Act 1. Regent's Hotel, Graustark; evening.
- Act 2. Princess Yetive's bed chamber; night.
- Act 3. Throne room in the castle; six weeks later.
- Act 4. Same as Act 2. Two weeks later.
- Act 5. Same as Act 3. Two weeks later.
NOTE: Miss Hayward has just completed a dramatization of Mr. McCutcheon's story, "Truxton King," a sequel story to "Graustark." This play will be seen here shortly. Watch for the date.
Edith and I went to this play and I enjoyed it immensely even though I did sin in doing so. The hero and heroine were exceptionally good, but the others were not so good. After it was over we went down to Heinze's and had hot choclate and minced chicken sandwiches.
The senior kindergartners had a real spread up at school with great quantities of things to eat. It was Miss Fischer's birthday so we invited her up as our guest of honor and we surely did have a lot of fun. For supper we had creamed potatoes, sardines in mustard sauce, olives, rolls, fruit salad, cake and coffee.
The dramatic club met again and we had a most enjoyable evening. I had to escort myself home but it was my own fault though.
Marguerite, and Gladys Bailer, Ruth and myself went for a long walk out thru Tinkemville and up to the spring. The whole place was full of dear old associations of the last time I was there with Mr. Raub. We took a number of pictures of the group in various positions.
To end the week of prayer the Y.W.C.A. had a vesper service at the M.E. Church and Ruth and I went down. Miss Davis gave us a most helpful little talk on being kind to others, in giving time, money, sympathy and kindness. She emphasized the many little ways in which this can be done.
This night we decided to stay at home and work on Christmas things. About 9 p.m. Miss Farr came up and invited us down to her room for choclate. We went down, as we were in our kimonas and bed slippers and had a most delightful little chat together. The choclate and cakes were enough to make ones mouth water even to think of it.
The symphony orchestra from Minneapolis was here and we went to the matinee. Of course the music was wonderfully good and I was in the seventh heaven of delight. It seemed as if the world was so much brighter than before, and more beautiful. Our seats were a little too far front to get the full benefit of the harmony but close enough so that we could watch the facial expressions of players and director. They seemed real and human. The harpist played two solos and we were just near enough so that we could see every movement of his hands.
The dramatic club met again and Emil Lapic accompanied me home. Just think of it! Twice in one term!!!!!!!!!!
Miss Collins and Miss Williams entertained we girls who have been teaching in the kindergarten. They served us choclate ice cream and little cakes.
We went home to Minneapolis. I played nursemaid to a two year old youngster as far as Le Seur. I enjoyed it as I hadd it I thought how happy a women must to be a mother. Ada came down alone to meet me and I missed her in the crowd. She had coaxed mother all week to let her come down alone, but she wasn't so pleased at having to back home alone.
I met "Herbie" Hagen that evening and was favorably impressed and I guess he was too. He is tall, slender and boyish but good looking with very expressive eyes.
We had our dinner at home and Pem, Aunt Annie, Uncle John and Archie came down. "Herbie" had an invitation out but he preferred to stay at home. In the afternoon he played and I sang. From then on, he spent practically all his time down stairs and we spent hours and hours together at the piano. Our interests fitted in together perfectly.
Our family all went to the Congregational Church in the morning. Percy Viesselman was there and was very surprised to see me. He simply took possession of me and made me stay to Sunday school, accepting no excuse that I could offer.
In the afternoon, mother and I went out to the Northwestern Hospital to call on Mrs. Earl. She looks very bad indeed.
In the evening I went to C.E. And Mr. V. again coaxed me to go down to church with him and I did go. I enjoyed my day with him very much indeed and when he left he said "I am sorry I did not see more of you, but I did not know you were coming home" just wait till Christmas. The two men, quiet and pleasant, as they are, that I associated with during this vacation make it a most delightful one.
Returned to Mankato and worked like mad from 1:30 till 11:00 p.m. stopping only for a lunch at noon and a spread at supper time.
We senior kindergartners at last succeeded in initiating the juniors. It was a job because 33 juniors came and there were only 13 seniors to do it all. We blindfolded them at the door and then they were conducted all thru the building, then up to the pow-wow of noise and then after a while down to the third degree. They thought they were being killed but we couldn't give it to them half as hard as we got it last year. They were sorry sights when we finished with them.
We systematized the whole thing and assigned specific duties and it went off smoothly and only took us 2 hours to do it.
For supper we served fruit salad, choclate and buns. It was a job to get it ready but it was worth while.
The Holly girls gave me two sarcastic lectures about it because she said it was managed by a few and she was always asked to do the work and pay some money. She forgets that she did not appear at any of our meetings. It seemed as if at one time or another some one came to me to find fault. I saw it had to come off and there was only one time for it so I pushed it thru. They were nearly all on my side when we got thru and I breathed a sigh of relief that it was over with.
Gertrude Towler and I went to hear Seumas MacManus, the great Irish story teller and writer. He told about their stories, their characteristic, types and the promiment place they hold in the life of his people. He said that the Irish may be poor in material things but that they have a wealth of beauty and spiritual possessions that exceeds that of any especially prosperous nation. He told a hero tale, a romance, a humorous tale ("the king who was the first gentleman") and a number of legends of animal lore. It certainly was an inspirational, educational, and delightful evening. As a speaker and story teller he has marvellous power to hold his audience.
Went to dramatic club and appeared as Mrs. Hardcastle in Act III of "She Stoops to Conquer" I worked hard on my part but it was not very good because there was not self abandonment.
We went home again on a train that was nearly two hours late. I talked with Alva Earl, a little while in Mankato before his train pulled out. He was going thru to his charge.
This time Miss Jessup and I got off at St. Paul and rode over. I missed Dad by so doing because I thought he would not met me. I reached home before he did though.
Went to Congregational Church in the morning with father and mother. In the evening I went down to the Methodist Church with Percy Viesselman and heard the canta "At Bethlehem" given by the chorus choir.
We all went down to Aunt Annie's for our Christmas dinner and such a one as it was. I helped serve and I enjoyed that more than I did eating.
I received such an abundance of pretty gifts from so many people. I did not know that I had so many friends and relatives. Duane G. sent me a box of most exquisite beauty and filled with delicious choclates.
In the evening Percy V. took me over to hear the Messiah in the Auditorium.
The Philharmonic Club furnished the chorus music with the soloists. Mable Sharp Herdien, Soprano, Genevieve Wheat, contralto. Edward Strong, Tenor, Arthur Middleton, Bass. The Symphony Orchestra and the organ played by Roger Mintener accompanied. The whole was conducted by Emil Oberhoffer and it was wonderfully fine. We had splendid seats and Mr. V. was especially congenial. In all it was about the happiest Christmas I have ever had and it seemed so good to be at home with my own people.
Mother and I went out and called on Aunt Ettie and Marion as we had promised for such a very, very long time.
Marion and George have a nice little home at 3343 Emerson Ave. N and everything is so cozy and homelike.
I went to Katharine Hervey's for lunch and had a most delightful time. Ruth Whitmore, Ruth Tebbets and Jeannette de Vres were also expected to come but they all had other engagements.
In the evening I confess I went man-chasing to take advantage of leap year. One evening at Aunt Susie's I remarked that I had never seen Byron McCluskey my second cousin, and her idolized grandson. She promptly wanted me to set a date to go out there and just then there seemed to be no way of escape so I said I would go Saturday night. She promptly telephoned Byron and set the date.
I had misgivings about going for even if he were a cousin, he was a stranger and I had no idea what he would think of it all. I tried to decline but Aunt Susie was so very disappointed that I finally consented. I hated myself for having done so though. Mother went with us and I must say I had an enjoyable evening although I felt quite ill at ease at first. I won the 18 months old baby to me and that made matters easier. Then when Byron and I began to sing and play a great deal more of the stiffness wore off. By the time he had taken us to the streetcar and I had had a chance to explain my situation to him and why I came everything was O.K. He is a splendid, handsome, manly man and comes so near to my ideal that it sometimes makes me dizzy to think about his virtues.
Went to Congregational Church with mother. Mr. Thoen, & Caroline Gaumnitz, Percy V. and myself went riverbanking. We walked out to the Franklin Ave bridge, crossed it, and walked on out to Lake Stn. The woods were so pretty, and white and untrammelled that it was a joy to be in them. There wasn't hardly a path thru so we were free to wander wher'ere we chose. I enjoyed the beauty and freedom of it so much. We did quite a stunt coming home. We boarded at Selby Lake car for St. Paul, transferred to the Merriam Park, to the Interurban, to the Oak and then to Como car and did it all on one fare. It was only an experiment but it was a lot of fun to see how it would work.
In the evening we went down to the Olivet Church as usual.
Elma Eastman, Kathlien Donaghue, Agnes Armstrong and Ruth Whitmore were over for lunch. I had a enjoyable time and so did the girls I guess, at least they seemed to. We talked over old times and school life in general till we had about exhausted the subject.
Our luncheon was good and Ada served it beautifully. We had roast turkey, dressing, celery, potatoes, peas, fruit salad and wafers, orange charlotte, after dinner mints.
Mrs. Benson and Lillian came for lunch and we enjoyed their visit very much. They brought me a Christmas present, a pearl handled pen with a gold point. I am sure it was one of Clara's and I have put it away among my dearest of treasures.
Ardelle Sturtevant came over for dinner. I had planned to have her at my luncheon on Monday but she was working so I asked her out to dinner instead. It seemed so good to see my old friends during this vacation.
We girls who were at camp together spent the afternoon at the Cuzner home. We played games and just before we went home went were served ice cream and cake.
Byron came over for dinner and stayed rather late. We sang and talked a great deal and on the whole I felt quite well acquainted with this splendid cousin. We promised to correspond with each other and I am sincerely hoping that he does not forget me. He also asked me to attend a symphony concert but I had to refuse because I had already accepted one invitation. I can scarcely remember, when I have on the whole enjoyed myself any more than I did then.
We went to Como Congregational Church in the morning. In the afternoon I attended the symphony concert with Percy Viesselman as my escort. As usual the music was wonderful and I was so disappointed that it at last had to come to a close. Percy had supper at our house and then we went to C.E. He insisted that I accompany him down to Olivet Church in the evening and I did, although I had not planned to do so. He practically monopolized for the greater share of that day. Before bidding adieu we promised to correspond with each other also.
Sad but true we returned to Mankato on the afternoon Omaha and arrived about 8:15 p.m.
The primary teachers, known henceforth as the Story Telling Club met at Miss Reynold's rooms. We spent a pleasant evening serving and chatting away. Miss R. read us part of a (the) ludicrous, satirical fairy tale written by Thackeray. That in itself was fully entertaining enough, because it was anything but a true fairy story. She served a dainty lunch of hot choclate and cheese wafers.
Dramatic club met again and we nearly both plays. I appeared as "Valerie" in the "Kleptomaniac" and my part wasn't so very bad but I should have been more vivacious and characteristic of that type of person.
Song Recital
Thursday Evening January 14
Mm. Luella Chilson-Ohrman,
Soprano, assisted by Miss Susie
Ford, Pianist and Accompanist,
under the direction of
Jessie Rice
Program
We heard Mme Luella Chilson Orham at the Opera House. She has a wonderfully sweet voice, high and very well controlled. She sang so easily and prettily that it was a joy to hear her. Her trills were high and clear and reminded one of the song of a canary when he is at his best.
Her last song en costume was pretty and was becoming dressed but it reminded one of a child's motion song more than anything else. In the whole I remember her for the exquisite sweetness, daintiness, lightness and airyness of her tones.
Received my first postcard from Percy V.
We didn't have anything to so we four girls and Miss Jessup stayed up to the Misses' Halls after supper and popped corn. We sugared it and oh it did taste so good and satisfied us. We played a few games and came home early.
Went a basket ball game at the high school. The Y.M.C.A. defeated the Normal by a score of 35 to 24.
The Story Telling Club met again at Mabel Lee's on No. 6th St. Ethel Gasslee, Luella Leemhus, Mabel and I were hostesses. We served pink and white ice cream and wafers. Our stories were taken from "Just so Stories" by Kipling. I told the "Beginning of the Armadillos" but not quite as well as I might have.
Gertrude, Edith, Ruth and I went down to Madelia to the Wilson farm on the evening train. Of course it was late and so it was very much so by the time we had reached the farm and had eaten of our lunch. Winnie looked so much better that it made me feel good just to look at her.
This was the day of days. In the morning we went skating out on the lake. The ice was rough and it was windy but nevertheless it was great sport. We would skate to one end of the lake and then sail back with our coats unfastened. My skates were dull and loose and as a result I managed to clean up a good share of the ice for the next skating party.
In the afternoon Ed drove us into town in the machine and we went shopping with Mrs. Wilson. When we returned Ed tutored us in the first game of cards. I confess I am ashamed of ever having played but it seemed as if there was little else I could do.
That night Winnie had a big card party and there were nearly forty strangers present, that came out from town. As we were the guests of honor we donned our best gowns and met everyone with as much graciousness as possible. I played pretty good games but I cannot truthfully say that I enjoyed myself. My different partners, were Arthur Dengler, Clarence Larson, Ed Wilson, Sam Inen, all rather pleasant company especially the first one.
During the evening a girl fainted but revived slowly after the young dentist held her in his arms awhile. We retired about 3: a.m. after we had straightened things around and talked it all over.
Ruth, Winnie and I spent almost the entire morning playing our respective instruments. We all had a rousing good time. We returned to Mankato on the afternoon train and were back into the harness as usual that evening.
I was called into the office and I found awaiting for me. I had just received a card from him the day before that he would not be down for two week I was most mightily surprised to find him here the very next day. He had written me a card but it failed to reach me until after he had gone home. We had only a very short time together as he had considerable difficulty in finding me. It made me very homesick to see him start for Minneapolis when I was obliged to remain here. When he left he slipped a dollar into my hand and I ultimately purchased a Mankato normal school pennant with it. It hardly seems possible that I may never see him again.
The Dramatic Club entertained the faculty and presented for their criticism a review of both the plays we had worked on. Never before had there been such good acting on the part of every one and it went without a single hitch. We had more stage than usual but there was no costuming. Nearly everyone in the club appeared and the faculty members were very highly pleased with it all. Their approbation was enough to flatter us all very badly. (I appeared again as "Valerie" in the Kleptomaniac and did the best I could) as a whole the club had reason to be proud of it presentment of the plays.
The C.E. met downstairs and pasted pictures on mounts and in scrapbooks to send to some Turkey missionary teacher. We had an enjoyable, busy, chatty evening & to crown all Miss Thomas served choclate with her refreshments. We girls had wanted choclate for a long, long time and it just touched exactly the right spot.
We walked down and called on Mabel Hayes this afternoon and then went down to the depot to met Edith. An Omaha train came in and we concluded that that was one on which we were expecting her to come. She was not on it and we went home quite disappointed that she had not come back. Somewhat to our chagrin and surprise she came in on a train half an hour later and was obliged to escort herself home from the depot. We smarty's had met the wrong train.
The Social Progress Club had a trial of Ray Weich for stealing popcorn from the sophomore class when they were planning to have a spread. The jury convicted him of the murderous charge. The trial was interesting and exciting and lasted until 12:15 p.m. Each side produced abundant evidence.
The town Y.M.C.A. entertained the Normal Y.W. in their gymnasium. The Y.W. girls first gave a programe of stunts in pantomine as follows, a mock reception, "wanted a wife", a mock orchestra and others. I was in the first and in the last. I played the snare drum (i.e. two kettle covers whacked together at proper intervals. After the stunts the two boy's basket ball teams of the Normal played against each other. It was a queer evening and a mixed up sort of entertainment, but I enjoyed it.
Miss Wise, the assistant primary critic teacher entertained all the fall and winter term's student teacher's at her home. One part of the fun was the making of a man, our ideal one, out of gum. My was a typical hobo or highwayman.
We also were asked to write original Valentines on pink hearts. Here is mine.
"The bird doth sing alway
of thee day by day
and thou art sweet and young
tis sad thou hast but one lung".
Another interesting stunt of the evening was the filling out of the blanks in this story with "ty" or "ity" ended words.
At the end they served pineapple salad, butter and butter sandwiches and candied figs.
I know a maiden fair to see,
they call her sweet Miss Charity.
She loved a youth named Albert Lee,
a youth of great sagacity.
He said, "I take the liberty
to ask you to be Mrs Lee
and dwell in prosperity.
We'd have no quarrels, for we'd agree
to live in sweet felicity."
The maiden said with modesty
"while I admire your honesty
I do not care to wed, you see
and live in married poverty.
And though I know you love but me,
I know a great divinity
who preaches with intensity
against a marriage unity."
He answered with frigidity,
"I do not like your frivolity
upon a subject which should be
at all times one of solemnity.
If you don't care to marry me,
please tell me so with certainity,
and I'll seek an affinity
who gladly will be Mrs Lee."
She answered with alacrity,
"I'm yours for all eternity."
We four girls had a spread at supper time over in the Bailer girl's rooms. We bought hot beans and brown bread, baked potatoes, pickles, cake and bannas. We had been hungry for beans and as Miss Hall hadn't given us any we supplied ourselves. It was all licking good too.
After it was over we had a rooster party and visited Miss Janney's room across the Hall. We all laughed until we were nearly sick.
The Dramatic Club held its meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. and Mr. Frost talked to us on comedy, how to understand, appreciate, enjoy and judge. It was a splendid helpful talk.
The girls of the Normal Dramatic Club will give the return dinner to the young men of the club this evening at 6:30. The affair will take place in the music room, which has been beautifully decorated, and the different courses of the supper are being prepared by the advanced cooking classes under Miss Vance. The entire Dramatic Club has been invited, and forty have already signified their intention of being present.
During the evening the girls will present a little farce entitled "A Fallen Idol," with the following cast: Miss Grace Covall, head of a girls' seminary; Miss Mabel Lee and Miss Blodwyn Evans, seminary girls; Miss Gertrude Hunter, "Marie," mistress of a French vanity shop.
After that the girls served the banquet, first course - grape fruit; second course -- beans, saratoga chips, veal loaf, head lettuce and tomato jelly, pickles jelly, butter and bread sandwiches and coffee; third course, apple pie a la mode. The decorations and colors were yellow and white and the table was beautifully set. Little George Lundberg was my partner.
Then we adjourned upstairs where the girls gave their farce. Miss Fischer and Mr. Nichols, honorary members, also gave a little farce. They each thought the other a lunatic and the whole thing was very ridiculous.
Ellis Schweikhard accompanied me home and such a trip as it was. There was about eight inches of fresh snow to plow thru and it was still snowing hard. My escort was very gallant and I had a heap much good time.
Miss Cooper, with Miss Fischer and Miss Farr entertained a group of students from four to six in the afternoon. There were not many there because it was still snowing very hard.
The most enjoyable part of it was Bob Cooper entrance into his paternal home. When he come in he had snow on his feet and he fell down and slid the length of the hall along the polished floor. He bumped into a stand and knocked one leg out from under it. The house was full of Normal girls and he had planned a very quiet entrance. But alas "the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglee".
In the evening we went to the C.E. costume party down at George Pass's. Edith and I dressed as twin puritains and if I do say so we did look nifty. There was a big crowd out and we had a splendid time. George seemed especially nice to me (too bad he is engaged) I won't try to cut Mattie out though.
They served beans, brown bread, pickles, coffee cake, and red white and blue ice cream. During the lunch I became acquainted more than ever with Fred Mott and Bob Cooper and the three of us had a long confab on all sorts of subjects ranging from baseball to symphony music.
Story Telling Club held at Lucy Bruse's and programme was of hero stories.
- St. Paul Symyhony Orchestra -
- Walter H. Rothwell, Conductor
- Mankato Theater, Thursday Evening February 27th, at 8:15
- Soloists
- Katharine von Ewertson,
- Dramatic Soprano
- Richard Wagner,
- Violoncellist
Program
- Tschaikowski
- Symphony No. 5, in E Minor, Op. 64
- I Andante; Allegro con anima
- II Andante Cantabile
- III Valse, Allegro moderato
- IV Finale, Andante maestoso: Allegro vivace
- Weber
- Aria, "Wie nahte mir der Schlummer" from "Der Freischutz"
Katharine von EwertsenIntermission
- Boellmann
- "Variations Symphonique" for Violoncello and Orchestra
Mr. Wagner
- Glazounow
- Suite from the Ballet "Raymonda"
Four movements
- Weber-Weingartner
- "Invitation to the Dance, Op. 65
- Wagner
- Prelude to `The Mastersingers of Nuremberg'
The music was very good. The leader was crankier than Oberhoffer and although he is good, his men do not follow him well and he does not quickly get control of them.
There were about fifty players & on the whole they seem younger than the Minneapolis men.
Returned home and evaded the doctor for ten days. Herbert Hagen was in quarantine for scarlet fever and I was supposed to be in Mankato.
Percy V. took me down to an interclass basket ball game among the girl's team. It was great and class spirit was good. Between two games there was a crack squad drill, something which I had never seen before.
Returned to Mankato in the afternoon. Registered. Pretty nearly killed ourselves at our spread at supper time. After supper we went down to Ruth Tebbits room and she had another spread. It was her birthday and she had received a box from home, with cake, pie, candy etc, in it. How we managed to live thru it all is really a wonder.
The Mother Goose party at the Normal gymnasium last evening was one of the prettiest and most entertaining events of the school year. About 400 students and members of the faculty were present, and the large gymnasium presented a very fairy like appearance, being decorated to resemble a real children's story book. Dainty booths were arranged all around the hall, and in each booth were characters from childhood's fairy tales.
There was "Mistress Mary, quite contrary," "the old woman who lived in a shoe, who had so many children she did not know what to do," and the children were also there peeking out of the big shoe at the guests who came to gave at them. "Old King Cole" was there on his throne, with his familiar retinue, all in court costume, and "Little Boy Blue" was there with his horn, as was also "Jack Spratt and his wife."
"Mother Goose" was enthroned with a court of her own, and all the rest of the merry throng, including "Little Miss Muffet", the "Queen of Hearts" and "Jack and Jill" with their pail of water. The guests would make the round of the room, stopping before each booth, when the occupants would give their little performance for their amusement, such as the singing of Mother Goose songs, or little dialogues.
After the general program there was a "Mother Goose" banquet of delicious "Mother Goose" designed viands, while throughout the evening's entertainment, which included many games, charades, pantomimes, and finally a grand march in which everyone took part, there was enjoyable music furnished by piano and violins. It was a brilliant and successful party, and among the many popular affairs given to Normal students by the faculty was perhaps the most enjoyable.
I was one of the main characters and represented Miss Nancy Etticoat. My place was a pretty little green booth and a long candle was placed beside me. I wore a colonial costume over a white skirt and a quaint hat (75 years old) belonging to Miss Pierson. I had it trimmed with red and my nose was also painted red.
My stunt was to demonstrate "the longer she stands, the shorter she grows" I went up and down until my knees got real wabbly. Very few people knew my rhyme and I proved to be quite a puzzler.
Dramatic Club met again and the first act of new play "Cousin Kate" was presented by two casts. In the last cast I was Jane the servant and I only had three words to say, "Mr. Bartlett mum". There wasn't much danger of my fainting or dying because of stage fright.
The seniors of the KKX had a spread in the kindergarten and it was by far the best yet. We hadn't any trouble getting it ready and it all tasted especially good.
Menu
Creamed Potatoes Cold Ham Vegetable Salad (fresh) Coffee Buns Fruit Sherbert Salt wafers Stick candy
The Misses Collins, Reynolds & Ally Williams were our guests of honor.
It surely was one great time.
The Bohemian Girl
(A Standard English Opera)
Friday, April 4
Personnel of Cast
Count Arnheim, an Austrian noble, afterward Governor of Presburg . . . . . . . . . . .James Stevens Thaddeus, a proscribed Polish noble. . . . . . . John R. Phillips Florestein, the Count's nephew . . . . . . . . . .Augustus Vaughn Devilshoof, a Gypsy chief. . . . . . . . . . . . . Joseph Florian Captain of the Guards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Frank McCarthy Officer of the Patrol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Walter Halbach A Gypsy Messenger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .W. Ormsby Queen of the Gypsies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Claudia Albright Arline, the Bohemian girl. . . . . . . . . . . . Blanche Morrison Buda, the attendant to the Baby Arline . . . . . . . Eva Quintard
Austrian ladies, Gypsies and village maidens
Miss Howard, Marshall, Smith, Neilson, Bennett, Nelson, Bruce, O'Malley, Joyce, McCusker, Merriam, Carlton, McKenna, Stuart, Wall, Verner, Andrews, Lorain, Ashby, Drew, Vaughn.
Austrian nobles, hunters, gypsies, and soldiers
Messrs. Coombs, Whyte, Gamaroff, Morris, Ritchie, Ormsby, Dolan, Lea, Blain, Cushing, Casper, Entin, Rolland, Kelly, Willard.
The Ballet of the Hours
- Morning-Misses
- Grace O'Malley, May Carlton, Anna Howard.
- Noon-Misses
- Bessie Joyce, Dora Smith, Corrinne Bennett.
- Evening-Misses
- Greta O'Malley, Amy Wall, Gertrude Verner
- Night-Misses
- Ollie Neilson, Olga Smith, Elizabeth Merriam.
Synopsis of Scenes
- Act 1-
- Exterior of Count Arnheim's Castle in the mountains of Austria Hungary.
- A lapse of twenty years between acts 1 and 2.
- Act 2-
- Scene 1.
- A Gypsy encampment.
- Scene 2.
- A country road (on the road to the fair).
- Scene 3.
- The public square in Presburg (the fair). In this scene will be introduced the Tzigani Whirlwinds, by Hassane Arabs.
- Scene 4.
- The Governor's room. (Palace of Justice, Presburg).
- Act 3-
- Grand reception hall and court theater in Count Arnheim's palace. In this scene will be introduced the famous "Dance of the Hours," from the opera "La Gioconda." Scene built and painted by P. Dodd Ackerman.
I attended the matinee with Ethel Gosslee. I enjoyed it more than words can tell but I suppose the folks will object because I went. Maybe I am wicked but my very life seems to cry out for good music.
The company was exceptionally good and the scenery was wonderful beyond description.
I can't truthfully say I am sorry that I went.
Dramatic Club met and we presented the first act of our new play of "Cousin Kate" I played the part of Jane, the maid and was only obliged to say three words. Strange isn't it that I didn't die of plain stage fright.
Ruth, Gertrude, Gladys, Marguarite and I walked out Silver Ravine Road. Plants in the woods were just beginning to show green but were still hidden beneath the leaves. We found a most delightful new ravine that wound around so much & had so many surprising turns in it.
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