Philadelphia Times 3/3/1889, p. 4

Indians Singing Pinafore

THE OPERA DONE BY A TROUPE OF ABORIGINAL AMATEURS

Dusky Lads and Maidens Strike Out a New Line of Usefulness and Accomplishments for Lo

Pocahontas, with her hair banged, crimped, and done up in a Grecian knot, her lissome form draped in a white satin dress of most approved fashion and her pleasing, intelligent face beaming from beheath a triumph of the milliner's art; Powhatan, in full naval uniform, crowned with a cocked hat and long white plume; Massasoit in a mariner’s garb and Thyandenaga, singing "Kind captain, I have important information," would have been more fanciful than a chimera to the American Colonists. Yet that would have been strictly after the entertainment given last evening at the Lincoln Institution, 324 South Eleventh street. The assembly room was crowded to repletion by an audience which included some of the most fashionable people of the city, and all of them expressed their surprise as well as their satisfaction at the excellent manner in which a company of the Indian pupils presented the burlesque opera of “Pinafore.” It has been urged against the possibility of thoroughly civilizing the Indian, that it was beyond the power of art to educate him in music; last evening’s exhibition demonstrated the incorrectness of the assertion.

With the insufficient accompaniment of a single piano and hampered by the lack of stage accommodations, “Pinafore” was probably as well rendered by these Indian boys and girls as it could have been by a company of equal age and no longer education taken from the whites of our city schools.

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS

Captain Corcoran Karontowanen, an Iroquois

Sir Joseph Porter Thonwenjorem, an Iroquois

Ralph Rackstraw Sha-go-wash, an Chippewa

Dick Deadey Shaoanes, an Iroquois

Josephine Chubb, a Mohawk

Buttercup Wanske, a Modoc

Cousin Hebe Wiciyaci, a Sioux

The chorus was composed of Katinsiakeron, Tsioenrati, Shariowane, Toronhiovente, Oranmahen, Zalwce, Hokshclaciga, None, Memashegawomkey and Sansway, who formed the crew. The first four of these are Iroquois, the next four Sioux nd the last two Chippewas. The girls, sisters, cousins, and aunts, were: Wastewin, Missipi, Toyankewaswina, Zatakazingog, Pejisnahnihdewin,Luwina, Minawoniquewraimoque, Smoke, Fridaygray, Sissii, Kasewaien and Alice Pourier. Ochsegahonegah, or Lillie St. Cyr, a pretty and phenomenally bright little Sioux girl of five years, dressed in a handsome suit of crimson silk, evoked hearty applause and many charming compliments. The Sioux, Cheyennes, Pawnees, Chippewas, *Mohawks, Diggers and Ogalallas are represented by these Indian maidens, and they are representatives of whom their tribes may well be proud.

The Josephine, whose English name appears as Louisa Chubb is a prepossessing girl of 16 possessed of a more than fair soprano voice, and although suffering from considerable embarrassment, sang her part faithfully, with clear enunciation and without a trace of alien accent. In fact the ear gave no intimation that the singers were not of the Aryan race. Little Buttercup. whose name has been Anglicised into Nettie Hansell, is of the Digger tribe of Modocs, the tribe which Captain Jack and Shacknasty Jim led to the famous victory over the whites in the Lava Beds.

Between the acts Tebkoytahdleuh, or Joshua Givens, a full-blood Kiowa of 29 who has graduated with honors at the Indian college and who is just about to be ordained a Presbyterian minister, made a brief speech. One remark he made is pointed and logical. “The theory,” he said, “that there is no good Indian but dead Indian is disproved by this presentation here to-night in which Indian boys and Indian girls have delighted and won the applause of a large fashionable intelligent and critical audience. They must be good to have done so well, and their achievement shows you, our white friends, that if you educate our people we will help you solve the Indian problem.”

Upon Mrs. John Bellangee Cox, the directress, and Superintendent William M. Hugg the chief burden of preparing the entertainment fell, and they naturally felt great satisfaction at the congratulations showered upon them and their pupils by the ladies and gentlemen who enjoyed the novelty of “Pinafore” by an Indian company.

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• Transcribed by HS 2024-08-28