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The ChehiiWrAmerican
Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education
Vol. XXVI
Wednesday, June 10, 1925
ADDS TO HER RENOWN
Chemawa Closes for the School Year—Events of Both
Merit and Interest Entertain Great Throngs of Peo
ple—Every thing but the Weather was Fine
The major activities at Chemawa have ceased for
the summer, and many of our students have returned
to their homes or have gone out to work that they
may have some spending money during the coming
school year. Of course we still have quite an enroll
ment here and, as Supt. Hall always declares, they
constitute the “backbone” of the school, for they are
here to help with haying and harvesting, picking and
canning of berries and vegetables and many kinds
of fruits, as well as rendering possible the functioning
of the various departments of our great school. Of
course the large majority of the absent ones expect to
be here when school is resumed in the fall.
Who can say with conviction just when our “clos
ing” events began. In really they started many weeks
ago. and brushing away the desire to mention prelim
inaries we shall begin with our field events as schedul
ed for Sunday afternoon, May 31. A great throng of
people from all over the country was in attendance,
and they proved most enthusiastic over what they wit
nessed. First in order came the Indian Club drill by
McBride Hall girls, followed by Winona Hall girls in
a Wand drill, both of which events were splendidly
conducted in every way and went off without a hitch.
This was followed by a number of girls as a class in a
Fancy Wand Drill, which certainly was unusually fine.
The work of all these girls was under the direction of
Mrs. Downie who has on more than one occasion de
monstrated her special ability in work of this charac
ter. She has a right to feel proud of the work of her
classes on this occasion. Miss Eakin is entitled to a
vote of thanks for assistance rendered in the above ex
hibition as she furnished piano music for all of the
drills of the girls.
The next was the competitive military drill by vari
ous companies of boys. The first place in the com
petition was won by Co. D, Charles George, captain,
with 98 percent; the second place went to Co. B, Nick
Stepetin. captain, with 97 1-2 percent; the third place
was taken by Co C, Alfred Bernard, captain, with a
rating of 97 percent. From the above close scores it
No. 33
is easy to see that it was a real competition and we
imagine that the judges must have had more than a
little trouble in arriving at a verdict. Then came the
dress parade in which the band and the entire student
body participated, and which proved an interesting
feature of the afternoon for the large number present.
Shortly after six o’clock on Monday evening, June
1st, autos loaded with people began to arrive; a num
ber of people came by train, and some walked in; all
here for the purpose of attending the public perform
ance of “Paul Revere,” an operetta in three acts.
Profiting by the experiences of former years, many
came early in order to obtain seats. It is useless to
attempt to describe the size of the crowd, for there
was scarcely standing room in our large auditorium,
but everything passed off smoothly so far as looking
after our guests was concerned. At eight o’clock all
was in readiness and the evening’s entertainment
started with the dramatization of an “Indian Suite.”
This Suite was in four movements and depicted
four scenes from Indian life—the “ Morning Song, ”
the “Butterfly Dance,” the ‘ ‘Prayer to the Rain God, ’ ’
and the “Spirit Dance.” It was put on as a prologue
to the operetta. The work or dramatization was in
the hands of Mr. Bent and he had the assistance of
Mrs. Bent and Miss White. This dramatization was
truly beautiful, each separate scene presentinga won
derful picture, and the large audience seemed most
appreciative of it all.
At the close of the suite the production of the oper
etta began. From beginning to close the members of
of the cast and choruses did remarkably well, both in
dividually and collectively, and those comprising the
vast audience were lavish in their applause. The oper
etta proved a great “hit” in every way. The stage
settings, thanks to our carpenters and painters, were
fine and had a great deal to do with success of the
operetta. The costumes were most appropriate and
pleasing. Miss White was in charge of the dramatic
side of this production, while Mrs. Turney was re
sponsible for the musical end of it. Results proved
that both had done their work well.
At the close of the first and second acts of the oper-
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