Three Female and Two Male Figures.
This tableau is suggested by the beautiful poem of Mrs. Hemans, called
Edith, a Tale of the Woods. The circumstances of the poem refer to the
western world in its first settlement, when fierce strife and combat
raged between the wild Indian and the settlers from the mother
country. In one of these fearful scenes a young and beautiful maiden
was taken captive, and conveyed to the village of the red man. But the
broken flower of England wasted and pined for the fine old home of
other days.
"The parting sigh
Of autumn through the forests had gone by,
And the rich maple, o'er her wanderings lone,
Its crimson leaves in many a shower had strown,
Flushing the air; and winter's blast had been
Amidst the pines; and now a softer green
Fringed their dark boughs; for spring again had come,
The sunny spring! but Edith to her home
Was journeying fast."
The scene represented in this tableau is at the time when Edith is
quietly sleeping in the wigwam of the Indian warrior. By her side sits
an aged Indian matron, watching the sleeping one. Standing near the
couch is an old Indian warrior leaning on his bow, gazing in grave
silence on the dying girl. Kneeling at the foot of the couch are an
Indian girl and lad, who are looking with wonder on the form of the
pale-face. The wigwam should be six feet high, and five feet wide at
the bottom. It should be made of light framework, and covered with
brown cambric, on which are painted Indian hieroglyphics. This must be
placed in the centre of the stage. The opening in front of the wigwam
should be four feet wide at the bottom, so as to admit of the
occupants being visible to the audience. The couch in the interior is
composed of buffalo robes. The scenery in the background should
represent woods and rocks. A few fir trees placed at the back part of
the stage will answer, if nothing better can be procured. The lady who
personates Edith should be one of good features and rather a small
form. Her costume consists of a loose white dress, sleeves five inches
long, hair done up loosely in the neck, and face and neck made as
white as possible. Position, reclining on the couch, facing the
audience, the lower part of the body covered with a leopard skin. The
head and chest should be in an upright position, the head inclined
back slightly, and supported by the right hand. The left hand laid
carelessly over the bosom; the eyes are closed, the countenance calm.
The aged Indian warrior should be dressed in a costume like that
described in Hiawatha; the aged matron's costume similar to that worn
by Nokomis, in the death of Minnehaha; the young Indian children in
appropriate costumes. The position of the Indian matron is, sitting at
the head of the sleeping girl, one hand resting on the pillow, and the
other raised to the side of the head; the eyes cast upon the ground.
The warrior's position is at the opposite side of the wigwam. He is
leaning carelessly upon his bow; his body inclined forward slightly;
his eyes fixed upon the sleeping maiden. The children kneel at the
foot of the couch; the boy rests his head upon his hand, and gazes
upon the face of the dying one; the Indian girl kneels by his side,
and points with her right hand to the couch, while her eyes are
directed to the face of the boy. The face and other exposed parts of
the bodies of the Indian family must be stained light brown. A red
fire should be burned in the ante-room, so as to fall upon the
performance. Music soft and plaintive.