The little country theaterArvold, Alfred G. (Alfred Gilmeiden)
General
The little country theater
Arvold, Alfred G. (Alfred Gilmeiden)
Little Country Theater (Fargo, N.D.); Little theater movement; Theater -- North Dakota -- Fargo
A little over a year ago it was my good fortune to spend several days in
Berkley County, West Virginia. “Tepee,” a jovial and good natured fellow
and myself were in a camp out three miles from historic Martinsburg. The
place was not so very far from the Maryland border. The festival chosen
was “The Ingathering,” a story about America, in which food for humanity
was the central theme. The characters were the country youth from those
West Virginia hills. The site selected was Cold Spring Hollow near
Opequan Creek. It was a beautiful spot in a little valley on Uncle Nat’s
farm. On the hillsides which rose right and left from the hollow, there
were many stately pines. A spring in the upper part of the valley kept
the grass green and furnished many a refreshing drink.
The scene of the story of “The Ingathering” is laid in the Garden of
Freedom where the Altar of Liberty is concealed. Mother Earth is escorted
through a field of golden grain to the Garden. Here she stops and tells
her escort that the Holy Earth has a soul and that through the ages her
friends have been, Story, Art, and Song and that the elements of nature
when the seasons were made selected Autumn as the most beautiful of all.
The Spirit of Autumn, arrayed in all the colors characteristic of that
season, moves about the field with graceful rhythm. Story then comes
running through the field into the Garden of Freedom and tells Mother
Earth that her children, representing many different races, are coming in
search of the Altar of Liberty. They enter the field talking, though they
do not understand each other. They babble. As they approach the Garden
she halts them, asks them to be seated and gives Story a basket of bread
that they may have food to eat. Mother Earth realizes that when people
break bread with each other they not only understand each other better,
but they also exemplify the noblest virtues of mankind—sacrifice and
charity. Story then tells Mother Earth that people since time immemorial
have commemorated the ingathering of food. Art comes and teaches the
races many games and frolics with them. In the distance Song is heard.
She enters and succeeds in getting all these people singing together.
Mother Earth beckons Story, Art, and Song to bring all these people to
the Garden of Freedom. They come and kneel with hands outstretched. For
a moment darkness reigns everywhere. Story, Art, and Song uncover what
these children for generations have been praying for. Light again appears
and before their eyes the Altar of Liberty is seen in the Garden of
Freedom which is located in the land called America.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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