Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1914 — Guest at Literary Society Delighted Members With Reading. [ARTICLE]

Guest at Literary Society Delighted Members With Reading.

Mrs. Emerson Coen, who with her husband has been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Coen, for the past two weeks, accompanied Mrs. George H. Healey to the meeting Friday afternoon of the Ladies’ Literary Society, at the home of Mrs. J.- W, Medicus, on Cullen street Mrs. Coen, at the request of those present delivered a reading from Hiawatha, covering the entire poem with selections of the choicest passages. The reading was very much appreciated by all present. Mrs. Coen has been engaged in library work for a number of years, having been in charge of a children’s library in New York city. In company with other librarians and teachers Mrs. Coen witnessed a spectacular production of Hiawatha by Ojibway Indians under the direction of S. E. Moore, who superintended the production for the motion picture films exhibited to delighted audiences Friday efternoon and night at the Rex theatre in Rensselaer. The performance was given in an* amphitheatre near Now York city and as the Indians went quietly through their parts the poem was recited by an American. The spectators were on the opposite bank of a small river from the performers, and birchbark canoes, wigwams and all the native customs of the Indians were presented in correct representation. The supervisor of work of the children’s libraries in New York, who accompanied the librarians to see the production, selected Mrs. Coen to memorize the condensed Hiawatha and she d-> livered it at many of the children’s libraries in New York city. A miniature Indian village would be made and Mns Coen would interest the children by relating Indian legends and by reciting the excerpts from Hiawatha

Coming, as it did, right at a time when the motion pictures of the poem were being presented, made the reading of intense interest and, Mrs. Coen received much praise for the reading which contributed to the enjoyment of the regular program. Mr. and Mrs. Coen will depart Sunday for Waterloo, lowa, her former home, where they expect to reside permanently.