The Dramatization of Bible Stories: An experiment in the religious education of children
John Stuart Mill · en
At a still later period there was the long gown, which reached to the
ankles and was belted in at the waist by a girdle. This was sometimes
covered by an outside robe which was like a cape. Frequently these
garments were brought over the heads in order to protect their wearers
from the sun.
As a rule the servants and lower class of people wore only the one
garment--a short tunic, with or without a girdle. The richer men wore
the outside cloaks. Kings and nobles had many kinds of cloaks which
were very elaborately decorated. They had silk girdles, while the
poorer men wore leather girdles. See Figs. 23-27 for costumes made by
the children.
[Illustration: FIG. 24.--The costume of Abraham]
The women's dress was very much the same as that worn by the men. All
garments may have been a little longer, but the draping and the kinds
of garments were the same. Great ladies had beautiful veils and shawls.
[Illustration: FIG. 25.--Two kinds of costumes--the Rich Shepherd and
the Servant.]
Both men and women wore sandals. The soles were made of leather or
thick woven cords. They were fastened to the feet by means of strings
of leather, linen, or of papyrus. Two straps were usually attached to
the back of the sandal, then crossing from the back over the instep
they were tied to a third strap which was fastened at the front and
came between the great and second toe. Fig. 26 shows sandals which were
made by the children.
[Illustration: FIG. 26.--Costumes, showing sandals made by the
children]
The headdress in the earlier days was nothing more than a piece of
square cloth, folded diagonally and placed over the head with the long
point at the back; the two ends were then crossed under the chin and
thrown back over the shoulders. A cord was tied around the head to keep
the cloth on. Later a kind of turban was worn which had no loose ends,
but which projected over the face enough to protect one from the sun.
Figs. 23-25 give examples of different kinds of headdress made by the
children.
[Illustration: FIG. 27.--Costumes]
The crowns which the kings wore were frequently of gold, studded with
jewels, although the Persian king had a stiff cap of felt or cloth,
encircled by a blue and white band. Fig. 22 gives a few of the typical
shapes for crowns.
The helmets which were worn by the soldiers were varied. The shapes
employed by the Assyrians and the Egyptians were probably used among
the Hebrews. See Fig. 22 for drawings of some of the best-known
helmets. Children may make these easily by using cardboard and gilt
paper.
The Hebrew men and women had many personal ornaments, such as
necklaces, armlets, bracelets, rings. Children delight in making all
kinds of bracelets and chains from gold and silver paper. They may
bring all the bright-colored beads that they can get for the enrichment
of the costume.
CHAPTER XV
THE ORGANIZATION OF A CHURCH DRAMATIC CLUB