Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber’s Notes:

Underscores “_” before and after a word or phrase indicate _italics_
in the original text.
Small capitals have been converted to SOLID capitals.
Typographical and punctuation errors have been silently corrected.

A DRAMATIZATION OF
LONGFELLOW’S

HIAWATHA.

A Spectacular Drama in Six Acts.

Delineating the Characteristics and Customs
OF
THE NATIVE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN.

_Re-written, Revised, Arranged and Dramatized
By A. L. DE VINE._

_Entered According to Act of Congress in the Year 1895
By A. L. DE VINE.
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington._

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

_Copyrighted in Great Britain and British Possessions,
France, Germany, Italy,
Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Switzerland._

INTRODUCTORY.

To ye whose hearts are fresh and 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,

Is submitted this portrayal of the primitive life of the American Indians in their native forest home. Fully realizing how rapidly the race is becoming extinct before the onward march of civilizing influences, and how little the people of this and other countries really know of such customs, dress, and peculiarities, it is believed this spectacular drama will be found historical, an educator to the young and interesting to ALL. In thus depicting the higher and better life of the Indian race, their mode of living, dress, pastimes, feats of skill, dances, wooings, wedding feasts, festivities, death scenes and legends, the author has adhered to the original language of the poem as closely as is consistent with a faithful dramatization thereof.

This is the first and only known drama of this kind or character in existence, and no other subject, throughout the wide and varied field of poetry, offers like opportunities to the facile pen of the skilled playwright.

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES AND INCIDENTS.

ACT I. THE PEACE PIPE.
Gitche Manitou (Great Spirit) descends from
Heaven and admonishes the tribes to cease warfare
and bloodshed—Indians discard weapons and war
paint—Gitche Manitou promises to send Hiawatha as
a guide—Fashions a Peace Pipe—Sets fire to the
forest and vanishes in smoke.

ACT II. HIAWATHA’S CHILDHOOD.
Tribe of Ojibways—Hiawatha a babe in Indian
cradle—Nokomis swinging cradle—Indian lullaby.

ACT III. HIAWATHA’S WOOING.
Scene 1—Hiawatha grown to manhood—Desires to wed
Minnehaha, a Dakotah maiden—Discussion—Departs
on journey—Nokomis sorrowing. Scene 2—Hiawatha
in forest—Shoots a deer—Shoulders it. Scene
3—Tribe of Dakotahs—Minnehaha Falls—Wigwam of
Arrow-maker—Hiawatha’s arrival and welcome—Wooing
of Minnehaha—Departure of Hiawatha and
Minnehaha—Climbing of Falls—Arrow-maker’s
despondency—Tableaux.

ACT IV. WEDDING FEAST.
Forest—Ojibway village—Arrival of Hiawatha
and Minnehaha—Welcome—Festivities—Feasts,
songs, feats of skill, games, dancing and
specialties—Tableaux.

ACT V. FEVER, FAMINE AND MINNEHAHA’S DEATH.
Winter—Tepee of Nokomis—Starvation—Minnehaha
begs for food—Enter Famine and Fever—Hiawatha
hunting food—Disheartened—Appeal to
Great Spirit—Minnehaha’s sufferings
and death—Lamentations—Hiawatha’s
return—Grief—Indian funeral—Tableaux.