Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1909 — INDIANS AT WINONA LAKE [ARTICLE]

INDIANS AT WINONA LAKE

Forty Full-Blooded Indians Will Present Longfellow’s "Hiawatha” In Drama on the Waters of Laka Winona.

Among the most impressive outdoor attractions to be given at Winona Lake this summer will be the production of “Hiawatha," the great Indian passion play, which attracted such large attendance every afternoon and evening for a period of two weeks last Jrfear.' p “Hiawatha" is a faithful presentation of Longfellow’s beautiful poem, which deals with the mysterious legend common t 6 the tribes of North American of an Indian sent to teach his people the way to peace and salvation, The presentation of this passion play has been exquisitely evolved by Mr. F. E. Moore, with a band of forty Indians from eight representative tribes to Impersonate the characters of the poem. The artistic features of the exemplification appeal to even the most casual attendant at any of the performances. The dramatic effect is Intensified by the rich and fascinating voice of the unseen reader, Mr. Clinton Lloyd, who, from the recesses of his wigwam, tells the wondrous story. Not one word of the reader is lost, his Impressnve voice carrying the words to the most remote seat in the grandstand, So magical Is-the effect of this reader’s voice—now rich In pathos, now full of dramatic power—that one forgets civilized surroundings and is mentally transported to primeval times, and In spirit hears the west wind as it whispers to these children of the forest. Here, aa in a dream, one sees the warriors gathered to smoke the peace-pipe; sees the dances typifying the different emotions; sees the Wooing of Hiawatha, the wedding feast and the jealousy of Pau-Puk-Klewls; his revenge; his escape and pursuit through the forest; his capture and his dance of penance. One grows wan and shudders at the coming of the famine which brings such wasting fever, such anguish to the women. Hfawatha’s fruitless search for food fills one with sympathy, while the death of Minnehaha, the funeral march and chant are so wierdly enacted as to awe one unspeakably. One feels the loneliness of Hiawatha aa he stands at the door of his wigwam and watches the funeral fire burning by the grave of Minnehaha, “that she might not be left In darkness.” Then comes the return of lagoo, the wanderer, telling of the wondrous ships and white men and Uie message of a Saviour. Hiawatha TOnflfms the story, saying he has seen It in a vision. Then come the palefaces to dwell among them, and Hiawatha’s work Is ended. Embraping the faith of the white man, he urges it upon his fellowIndians, bids them farewell, and steps into his canoe to sail, westward, westward, “into the land of the Hereafter.” The scene is intensely dramatic and awe-inspiring—a hush falls upon the audience. The play is admirably staged, being produced upon a platform built out In the lake a few feet from the shore line of the southeast portion of McDonald's island. The grandstand seats are erected along the shore. The Indians maintain real caYnp life on the island and the village is vlfelted dally by hundreds. The play wHI be produced avery afternoon and evening (except Sunday) from June 88 to July 10, Inclusive.