[Sidenote: Dramatizing]
Arthur Scudder left Vernon College with all the polish that four years
in a coeducational school could furnish him. He was tall, finely
proportioned, perfectly groomed, easily poised, and fitted to win the
attention of any one who came to know him. Withal, he was quite
unassuming and wore his good manners with a gracious innocence.
After a week at Wellington, he said to himself:
“Something is to be done here. These young bloods and lassies need a
little training in good manners. I believe I’ll try to connect it up
with several other matters and make no separate item of it.”
Accordingly he brought together the English teacher and the teacher of
history for consultation. “I want,” said the principal, “a play that
will exhibit a modern situation, involving Americans, in considerable
numbers, on foreign soil. The plot must involve a political issue and
the characters must exhibit very conspicuously faultless observance of a
large number of the rules of courtesy. Can we find such a thing?”
It took a month to answer the question. Finally, “Ethel Proctor’s Peace”
was found, examined and accepted. The cast required forty-one
characters; no one of them was burdened with a very heavy part. It
suited Mr. Scudder’s purpose entirely. The scene was at The Hague and
the plot interwove fragments of the great European conflicts, diplomacy
and love. It took two months to prepare it, owing to the chorus practice
that was a necessary feature.
Was the principal disappointed in his scheme? By no means. He coached
his pupils with rare enthusiasm and drilled them into characters they
had never assumed before. He refused to fix the cast finally, until he
had made several shifts; thus he put certain individuals through some
very much needed practice.
The effect was marvelous. In fact the entire school was profoundly
molded by the work done in preparing and giving this splendid play.
Children’s eyes follow their interests. Their attention is absorbed in
that which makes the strongest sense impression. A room full of children
can be managed only by teaching them self-control.