Pictorial story of Hiawatha by Katharine Ertz-Bowden

              A Pictorial Story of Hiawatha
By Katharine Ertz-Bowden (Netagegeoqua)
At the door on summer evenings
Sat the little Hiawatha
Heard the whisperings of the pine-trees, 
Heard the lapping of the water,
Sounds of music, sounds of wonder
Saw the fire-fly, Wah-wah-tay-see, 
Flitting through the dusk of evening,
With the twinkle of its candle
Lighting up the brakes and bushes, 
And he sang the song of children,
Sang the song Nokomis taught him:
“Wah-wah-tay-see, little fire-fly,
Light me with your candle,
Ere upon my bed I lay me, 
Ere in sleep I close my eyelide.”
Saw the moon rise from the water, 
Saw the flecks and shadows on it.
With the odors of the forest, 
With the dew and damp of meadows,
With the curling smoke of wigwams.
KATHARINE   ERTZ-BOWDEN'S   Pictorial " Hiawatha'' is another artistic, pleasing triumph — more artistic,   more   pleasing,   more   fascinating   to young and old than her impressive "Tripto Oberammergau," that beautiful production which gave her fame wherever heard and seen.
Mrs. Bowden never does things by halves, nor does she go by hearsay. In preparing the " Trip to Oberammergau " for the public she made the trip herself and studied the peasants of the Bavarian Alps, and brought back the most artistic storv of the " Passion Plav " America has ever heard.
She has done more for "Hiawatha." A student of Indian lore for many years, she, together with Mr. Bowden, who was brought up among the Ojibways, and has known their country, customs and chiefs all his life, spent the past two summers in the land of the scenes of " Hiawatha," drank full of the atmosphere of which Longfellow wrote, witnessed a great number of performances of the crude though fascinating drama, and both Mr. and Mrs. Bowden were thought so much of that they were adopted into the tribe and given Indian names.
" Hiawatha" is the great delight of all school children. They  have read it, studied  it  and  memorized it,  and  Mrs.   Bowden's  telling of the  story, combined with the most perfect moving pictures, which  Mr.  Bowden made directly from the drama, give it a fascination   for  both  old  and   young  that can  hardly be realized.
Mrs. Bowden is a pleasing talker — she tells a story in an easy, convincing manner that all may understand. The moving pictures, made by Mr. Bowden, have astonished all experts for their smooth¬ness, as has also his manipulation of the apparatus for presenting them, which has been developed through his long practical  experience.
As a word to committees it may be well to state that Mrs. Bowden has never appeared on a lecture course or Chautauqua that she did not have a larger audience  than  any  other number.
Few   there   are   who   can   truthfully   make   this
statement;     but    in    securing    "Hiawatha"    or   a
"Trip    to    Oberammergau,"    you   will   surely   be convinced.
C. L. Bowden (Nahquegezhik)
Exclusive Management THE CHICAGO   LYCEUM BUREAU 705 ORCHESTRA BUILDING, CHICAGO
The Main Stage at Hiawatha Camp
LONGFELLOW'S beautiful legend, "Hiawatha," had its inspiration among the Ojibway Indians of Northern Michigan and Southern  Ontario,  and there every summer, select members  of the tribe, surrounded by native atmosphere, reproduce the poem in dramatic form.     All  the favorite characters are introduced, including Hiawatha, Minnehaha, Chibiabos, Shawondasee,  Nokomis, the Ancient Arrow Maker,  The Black  Robe,   Pau-Puk-Kee-Wis,   Iagoo,  Wabeno,   Kwasind,  Wabun, Snake Dancers, Braves, Squaws, Papooses, etc.
This production of" Hiawatha" by the Ojibways is as fascinating as it is novel. The stage is an island in the lake; but the Indians do not stay on the stage —they are in the water, on the main land, on the high cliffs, everywhere almost. The action of the play begins with the assembling of the Chiefs — running, paddling, scrambling. Then the story is taken up and old Nokomis is singing a lullaby — a lullaby much older than these United States — to infant Hiawatha, " Ewayea ! my little owlet." Hiawatha next appears as a boy of eight, learning to shoot the arrow ; then as a handsome, grown man, wooing and winning Minnehaha. There is a wedding feast full of dances and games and the chase for Pau-Puk-Kee-Wis. This is wildly realistic ; there is a rush to the cliff; a jump to the water thirty feet below. Pau-Puk-Kee-Wis changes to a beaver and his pursuer kills him. Then comes the last scene of all, Hiawatha's departure toward the setting sun.
The above is merely an outline. There are canoe races, canoe tilting contests, strange dances, songs, etc.
It is a great honor to be selected for the part of "Hiawatha" and he is reverenced by the tribe somewhat like the Christus at Oberammergau. The Indian drama of "Hiawatha" was arranged by L. O. Armstrong and first given in honor of Miss Alice Longfellow who was camping at Desbarats, Ontario, and she was so much pleased that she asked that it be made an annual Indian festival.
PRESS   COMMENTS   ON   THE   PLAY
New York Evenine Post said: "It is worthy the attention of all who view the Indian as a romantic figure or who sys¬tematically concern themselves as to his welfare."
Mr. Brighani, in the Boston Evening Transcript, said of the hunting of Pau-Puk-Kee-Wis: "After a dramatic moment on the edge of the cliff one of the young warriors leaps direct¬ly into the waters of the lake, a clear fall of thirty feet, and a battle royal, lasting for fully five minutes, ensues between the half-naked Indian and the monstrous animal; a final thrust and all is over. It is needless to say that the action here is followed by the spectators with breathless interest."^
Of "Hiawatha's Departure" the same writer says: "Realistic is a word inadequate to describe the effect of this remarkable scene; * * * there could be no finer piece of stage craft."
Field and Stream for January, 1902, said: "There is a public value in these representations.    All of us should have some
knowledge of our aborigines, their life, ceremonies and beliefs. Such tableaux are worth many books. Something has been gained for the ethnology of our country and for the science of folklore."
Miss Alice Longfellow said: "It possessed an indescrib¬able charm. The spot selected for the drama could not have been more beautiful or appropriate. It is in the very heart of the Ojibway land and the legend came from there in the long ago."
Another article in the Boston Transcript said: "It is no longer doubted that there is real beauty in Indian music - in that of the Ojibway at least, and one of our most capable of American composers, Fredric R. Burton, of Yonkers, N. Y., is studying the musical system of the Ojibways, reducing it to notes and to please the civilized ear, making harmonized ar¬rangements of it which bid fair to become classic."
Ye who love the haunts of nature.
Love the sunshine of the meadow, Love the shadow of the forest, Love the wind among the branches, And the rain-shower and the snow-storm, And the rushing of great rivers Through their palisades of pine-trees,
And the thunders in the mountains, Whose innumerable echoes Flap like eagles in their eyries; — Listen to these wild traditions, To this song of Hiawatha!
Ye who love a nation's legends, Love the ballads of a people, That like voices from afar off, Call to us to pause and listen, Speak in tones so plain and childlike,
Scarcely can the ear distinguish Whether they are sung or spoken; — Listen to this Indian legend, To this song of Hiawatha !
Ye whose hearts are fresh and          ji
simple,                                          '///
Who have faith in God and nature Who believe that in all ages Every human heart is human, That in even savage bosoms There are longings, yearnings, strivings,
For the good they comprehend not, That the feeble hands and helpless, Groping blindly in the darkness Touch God's right hand in that darkness And are lifted up and strengthened; — Listen to this simple story, To this song of Hiawatha!
Ye who sometimes in your rambles Through the green lanes of the country, Where the tangled barberry-bushes Hang their tufts of crimson berries Over stone walls gray with mosses. Pause by some neglected graveyard, For a while to muse, and ponder On a half-effaced inscription.
Written with little skill of song-craft, Homely phrases, but each letter Full of hope and yet of heart-break, Full of all the tender pathos Of the here and the hereafter; — Stay and read this rude inscription, Read this song of Hiawatha.
THINGS SAID OF MRS.  BOWDEN'S PICTORIAL STORIES
"Had Katharine Ertz-Bowden twice. They gave un¬qualified satisfaction. Hope to have them again."— Dr. John Merritte Driver\ Pastor People's Church, Chicago.
"Their pictures are the best I have ever seen, and it would be hard indeed to find anyone who could equal Mrs. Bowden's rendition of the story in connection with it."— /. M. Davis,  General Secretary, Y. M. C. A., Kankakee, III.
"Deserves the highest commendation."—J, M. Green' wood, Superintendent Schools, Kansas City, Mo.
"One of the most interesting, one of the most instructive, one of the most impressive lectures I have ever had the privilege of hearing was given by Mrs. Bowden. 'A Trip to Oberammergau' was our greatest drawing card and proved to be one of the most satisfactory numbers on our program; ministers, laymen, and non-church goers agree¬ing that nothing better has ever been to Dublin."— H. M. Stanley, Chairman, Committee on Talent, Dublin, Ga., Chautauqua Association.
" ' Standing room only' was the announcement when the doors of the Wesley Church were opened last night. Fully 2,400 people were present to hear the story of the Passion Play told by Mrs. Katharine Bowden."—Minneapolis Trib¬une.
" Mrs. Bowden's lecture on the passion play is one of the best attractions ever brought to Minneapolis." — Dr. James S. Montgomery, Pastor Wesley Church, Minneapolis, Minn.
" We were more than satisfied with the entertainment. " — L. II. Cox. Secretary, Y. M. C. A., Ashland, Wis.
"The descriptive lecture of the play and players given by Mrs. Bowden is complete in detail and rendered in an artistic and cultured manner, thus making the evening a doubly profitable one. "— W. E. Benson, Secretary of Board of Education,  Kansas City, Mo.
" ' Money Talks,' and when we announce that Mr. and Mrs. Bowden's Passion Play brought us more door receipts than any of the other splendid attractions, and that the immense audience was perfectly charmed and delighted with the mag¬nificent entertainment, it goes without saying that we consider ourselves exceedingly fortunate in securing this great attrac¬tion. It was a great success and its reproduction will please any audience anywhere."—B, H. Hardy, Secretary, Barns-ville, Ga. Chautauqua.
Dreaming still of Minnehaha, Of the lovely Laughing Water, In the land of the Dacotahs. "
"The finest illustrated lecture Kansas City has ever heard." — Kansas City Star.
" Katharine Ertz-Bowden is a gifted woman, beautiful in character and life, strong in personality, and in her chosen work. " — Dr. Charles Reign Scoville, Chicago.
" So many persons were unable to gain admittance last Mon¬day evening, and there have been so many requests for another presentation of the 'Passion Play,' that Mrs. Bowden has agreed to repeat her illustrated lecture next Friday evening, under the auspices of the Ladies' Aid Society. Reserved seats will be on sale at the Metropolitan Music Company's store Wednesday Morning."—Minneapolis Times.
"The entertainments given by Mr. and Mrs. Bowden are all right. We had an attendance of 800 the first night and of 1100 the second. They had the largest audience in our course. I have yet to hear an un¬favorable criticism. " — Thos. McCulloch, Superintend¬ent of Schools, Red Oak, la,
" Over 3000 people crowded into the Auditorium last night. " —Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln, Neb.
" Mrs. Katharine Bowden's lecture is a model in lit¬erary finish, is crowded with most instructive infor¬mation and presented with a charm of voice and man¬ner never to be forgotten. "—J. H. O. Smith, Pastor Christian Church,   Valparaiso, Ind.
" I was profoundly impressed. No church, Young Men's Christian Association or any other organization can afford to pass this by."— Walter E. Edwards, General Secretary Y. M. C. A., Springfield, III.
" I am sure the educational value of the presentation both in the pictures and in the lecture by Mrs. Bowden is very great. " — Prof. Alfred A. Butler, Head of Sea-bury Divinity School, Fairbault, Minn,
" Mrs Bowden does what you want, gives in a few well chosen sentences the thing you want to know about the picture without wearing you. Her delivery is pleasing. Her voice fine and her language chaste and eloquent. The pictures were as fine as I have ever seen. Our people were delighted."— Wm. Orr% Manager Clarinda Chautauqua,  Clarinda, la.
" All who had the privilege of hearing Mrs. Bowden in her lecture on the Passion Play at the Young Men's Christian Association Lecture Hall were fully repaid. The lecture was instructive, impressive and with the aid of the magnificent stereopticon views and the mov¬ing pictures an impression was left that will not soon be forgotten."—L. L. Lichliter, Secretary Y. M. C. A., Joplin, Mo.
" Mrs Bowden is a charming speaker and her audi¬ence was deeply moved. Mr. Bowden is an expert in his line; we have seen many with strong claims to this title, but never such a master. There was never such a crowd in the immense Auditorium and many were turned away. Another date was secured when the church was again filled." —J. G. Purple, Teacher, Whatsoever Bible Class, Wesley M. E. Church, Minne¬apolis, Minn.
"Sent it singing on its errand, To the red heart of the roebuck.'
THINGS SAID OF MRS.  BOWDEN'S PICTORIAL STORIES
It was the best I have seen and heard. I expect to recom¬mend it to my son for his chatauquas."— Rev. Janus Shaw, D. D., Bloom ington, III.
" In company with Prof, and Mrs. Bowden I visited Oberam-mergau and saw the Passion Play of 1900. but I was surprised and charmed by their splendid pictures and the exquisite detail of Mrs. Bowden's recital. In my opinion they are the best of all the lectures on the Passion Play to-day."— M. E. Bogarte, Professor Oratory and Mathematics, Valparaiso, [Indiana) College.
" Mrs. Bowden's Passion Play was very fine. Every word heard easily. Description excellent. Pictures very best. One could imagine himself there."— G. S. Sutton, Secretary Y. M. C. A., bloomington, III. [Telegram.]
" Mrs. Katharine Ertz-Bowden, assisted by her husband, gave an excellent description of the Passion Play of Oberam-mergau at Central High School last night. The views were especially fine;   Mrs. Bowden's lecture strong, beautiful and
"The theatre was filled and the story of the Passion Play was followed with breathless attention. Mr. and Mrs Bowden gave the finest illustrated lecture piesented in this city."— Sioux Falls [South Dakota] Daily Press,
"To listen to Mrs. Bowden is the next best thing to having been present at the Passion Play in 1900. Pictures were per¬fect : description chaste and elegant." - Euclid B. Rogers, D. D.,
Pastor Baptist Church, Springfield, III.
"The house was packed, yet the silence during the whole evening was almost perfect." //. /'. Little, Superintendent Momence Union Schools, Moiuence, III.
"From beginning to end there was not await to mar the smoothness of the entertainment."—Omaha World-Herald.
" I can assure that at no time have we attended a more en¬joyable stereopticon lecture."—Joshua Staus/ield, D. D., India naPolis, Indiana.
"The entertainment was enthusiastically received by all;
"At the feet of Laughing Water Hiawatha laid his burden."
interesting.    From the standpoint of excellence the entertain¬ment was a great success."—Kansas City Journal.
" Have never seen and heard a stereopticon lecture that was of as high an order."—Rev. A. M. Ayers, Pastor First Presbyter¬ian Church, Kankakee, III.
" Because of the high merit of the entertainment the Associa¬tion is being commended on all sides for securing it. We wish you every possible success."— Wallace Agin, Secretary, Y. M. C. A., Webb City, Mo.
" Mr. and Mrs. Bowden gave their realistic Presentation of the Passion Play under the auspices of our school and we made $90.00 for our library. It was first class in every way and delighted all who saw it. It is one of the most instructive and uplifting entertainments I know of."—Geo. A. Franklin, Superintendent Schools, Faribault, Minn.
"The evening was certainly one unusual and original in its character, and can be but a pleasure to anyone who may be able to be present."—C. M. Keeler, Secretary, Midland Chautau¬qua, Des Moines, Iowa,
nothing but praise from the vast audience present."—/?. Frank Redd, Principal High School, Plymouth, Ind.
" Mrs. Bowden possesses a choice diction, a splendid ar¬ticulation and a modest and chaste delivery."— Dubuque [Iowa] Herald.
"The explanation of the pictures by Mrs. Bowden is worth the time and cost alone. But together they make a rare treat." — G. H. Bradford, L. L. D., Pastor Presbyterian Church, St. Joseph, Mo.
"You give a delightful evening."— Isaac E. Neff, Principal High School, Kankakee, III.
"The church was literally packed to the doors, and the best part of it is that the entertainment was well worthy the pat¬ronage accorded.1'— Marquette [Mich.] Daily Mining Journal.
" I greatly enjoyed your lecture last evening and the pictures surpass any I have ever seen. I give the entire entertainment my unqualified endorsement."—Reuben Haines Hartley, D. D., Pastor Presbyterian Church, La Porte, Ind.
"We were sorry when it closed."- R. V. Dyer, Superintend¬ent Public Instruction, Abilene, Kan.
THINGS SAID OF MRS.  BOWDEN'S PICTORIAL STORIES
' You should hear how Pau-Puk-Keewis Danced at Hiawatha'J wedding."
"The pictures   were excellent; the   lecture forcible and  entertaining."—
In dia u a/o/is I 'hues.
"For three nights the audiences grew in numbers and in interest. They were evenings of intellectual, aesthetic and religious profit. The lecture is a work of art—simple, effective—pronounced in a clear and quiet tone suited to the theme and circumstances."—W. O. Ruston, D. D., Pastor First Presby¬terian Churchy Dubuque, Iowa,
" It is an attraction of high order."-Education, Kansas City.
-Joseph L. Nor/nan, President Board of
" Mrs. Katharine Ertz-Bowden is a highly entertaining lecturer and gave the listener all the enjoyment promised."—Springfield {III.) Register.
"Having heard John L. Stoddard on the play of 1890, I was very well pleased with your presentation of the Passion Play. It was a great revelation. I congratulate you upon your talent and the good use you make of it in pre¬senting such a holy subject to our people."—Rev. A. D. Granger, Pastor St. Rose's {Catholic) Church, Kankakee, III.
"Prof. Burdick of the State University and a number of others have ex¬pressed their pleasure in seeing them, and say they are the finest, clearest pictures they have ever seen."—Mrs. E. L. Henley, Lawrence, Kan.
"The mechanical features were perfect, and not a hitch nor a delay marred the entertainment."—Des Moines {Iowa) Leader.
" It was a remarkable production and far beyond the expectation of a large audience."— Hon. A. C. Brice, Late U. S. Consul, Mantanzus, Cuba, Bedford, Iowa,
" Katharine Ertz-Bowden's lectures are worth anybody's time and money. They represent a few of the really great, artistic achievements in the line of illustrated lectures. Mrs. Bowden is a good talker; Mr. Bowden is an expert operator, and these two working together produce a result that is beautiful to the eye, pleasing to the ear and satisfactory all 'round.— The Lyceum ite, Chicago.
"The lecture was one that will never be forgotten by our people. It was perfect in every respect. The lecture itself, by Mrs. Bowden, was especially effective and exceedingly well rendered. The pictures were of the highest order and their manipulation by Mr. Bowden showed the hand of a master." —H. B. Brown, President Valparaiso {hid.) College,
"A crowded house witnessed the pictorial representation of the Passion Play by Katharine Ertz-Bowden. The audi¬ence was interested from the first picture to the last and it was an instructive entertainment."— Daily Press, Ashland, Wis.
"The Presbyterian Church was crowded last night, chairs being freely used to seat the throng. An audience of Clinton's leading people enjoyed the lecture by Katharine Ertz-Bowden." —Clinton {Iowa) Evening Journal.
" The theatre was well filled and the lecture was followed with breathless attention."—Sioux Falls [S. D.) Daily Press.
"A splendid audience greeted Katharine Ertz-Bowden at the Y. M. C. A. auditorium last night. Every feature of the enter¬tainment was presented without a hitch or interruption."—St. loseth {Mo.) Daily News.
'All are gone !   the lodge is empty ! • Thus it was spake Pau-Puk-Keewis, In his heart resolving mischief ; With a stealthy step he entered."
Hiawatha’s Departure from Katharine Ertz-Bowden’s Pictorial Story of Hiawatha
Launched his birch canoe for sailing,
From the pebbles of the margin
Shoved it forth into the water, 
Whispered to it, “Westward! Westward!”
And with speed it darted forward.
And the evening sun descending
Set the clouds on fire with redness,
Burned the broad sky, like the prairie, 
Left upon the level water
One long track and trail of splendor,
Down whose stream, as down a river, 
Westward, westward Hiawatha
Sailed into the fiery sunset,
Sailed into the purple vapors,
Sailed into the dusk of evening,
Till the birch canoe seemed lifted
High into the sea of splendor,
Till it sank into the vapors
Like the new moon, slowly, slowly,
Sinking in the purple distance.
Thus departed Hiawatha, 
Hiawatha the Beloved,
In the glory of the sunset, 
In the purple mists of evening,
To the regions of the home-wind,
Of the Northwest wind, Keewaydin,
To the Islands of the Blessed,
To the Kingdom of Ponemah,
To the land of the Hereafter.