Weekly Chemawa American., July 31, 1908, Page 2, Image 2

2
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN
en by the Indian youths Inst evening.
By the time the hour of 7:45 had ar
rived, the time' set -for the. operetta,
'The Japanese Girl,' to open, nearly
2000 people had assembled at the gym
nasium, packing it to its full capacity.
The floral decorations and the stage
scenery was remarkable, having been
made entirely by the students under
.the direction of Assistant Superintend
ent W. P. Campbell. One of the inter
esting features of the decorations was
the novel electric lighting of the stage,
this was very artistically designed by
the students of. the school.
The idea of this operetta was suggest
ed by reading an account of a -picturesque
custom prevalent in some parts of
Japan.
When a near relative has to be absent
from home for a consider a b 1 e
period he often leaves behind a grow
ing plant, young tree, or singing bird ?
which is called by his name and regard-,
ed as his substitute.
The" greatest care is bestowed on this
object, as it is considered most unlucky
to the person whom it represents, should
any harm befall it during his absence.
The first act opens by a number of
Japanese girls visiting 0 Hanu San, a
young Japanese beauty who is about
to celebrate her eighteenth birthday,
regarded in Japan as "the coming of . age."
Bessie Boles characterized 0 Hanu San
in a most pleasing manner and left the
dear, old lady to the mercy of the chorus
girls. -Vernie Clift'e made an excellent
American Governess, while Katie Brew
er and Belle Dillstrom performed as
typical American tourists. The Mikado
of Japan was present in the person of
Forturiato Jay me; Addie Cameron as 0
Kayo San and Louise Murray as 0 Kitu
San, performed their parts well. Their
singing with O Hanu San was excellent
An unexpected treat wTas in store tor the
audience when Mr. Charles Cutter, a
former student of the schcol, sang the
Toreador ong from Carmen with all the
fire and feeling which it calls for, and
responded to a hearty encore with Tisi
Pinsuti. Mr. Cutter was a former stu
dent of Chemawa. He has. a rich bari
tone and sings in the Taylor street
Methodist church, at Portland.
Miss Boles has a sweet voice and her
greeting to the friends of her childhood
was met with a round of applause from
the audience who were charmed by the
grace of the Japanese beauty. . ;
Illness prevented O Hanu Sah's tea
server Chaya (Ella Brewer) from ap
pearing last evening but Gussie Cameron
made an excellent substitute. .
In the second act, two American girls,
who are touring in Japan with their
governess for education and pleasure, are
impelled by curiosity to enter the gar
den, and there the young ladies told the
audience how they were compelled to
pore over French, German, Greek and
other foreign tongues.
While the charming old governess was
sleeping the two American belles skipped
away.
To make a true comparison between
the performance given .last night and
similar performances rendered by white
students of the different schools of the
city or state, would be not only unpro
fitable, but impossible.
The natural, unaffected grace, of the
Indian maidens, their soft, low voices,
their dignity and grace of bearing, show
ed undeveloped talent that is rarely to
be found among their sisters with the
fairer faces.
Though perhaps lacking in some of the
arts and accomplishments to be foimd