“Just wait a minute until the Independence Wizard comes in,” said Miss Elsworth mysteriously, “and then the best part of the fun will begin.”
The children were breathless. Presently there were three sharp raps at the door, and the Independence Wizard was ushered in.
Two artistically draped table-covers, a wig, mask, skull-cap, and glasses had transformed Miss Elsworth’s brother into a very presentable wizard, and after entertaining the children for a half-hour with parlor magic he produced from apparently nowhere a bundle of bright-colored tissue-paper, some tinsel, a rubber ball, a large potato, a dried sunflower stalk, and several other mysterious things, and said: “Presto! change! The weather is not quite all we expected outdoors; but we are independent, and will make our own fair weather right here. We will make our own fireworks, too, and fire them off without even waiting till night. That is what wizards are good for, if they are Independence Wizards; and every one of you is going to learn the wizard trade, beginning this very minute; that is, if you want to. Do you?”
Of course they did, and the girls were assured that this splendid offer included them too; for would they not make the very best of witches?
With the aid of his sister, who had mysteriously disappeared a short time before, and who reappeared now as the Independence Witch, with a book of magic all her own in the form of a magazine saved for just such an emergency, the wizard soon had the children absorbed in making the charming paper fireworks fully described by Lina Beard in The Delineator for July, 1902. They can be fired off indoors as well as outdoors; and the gorgeous comets, brilliant pinwheels, sparkling calumet with its bright sparks flying all over the hair and clothing of the experimenters, the sunflower-stalk sky-rocket, and the bamboo pistol with potato bullets, were all as fascinating as they were harmless.
After the bright showers indoors had made the revellers quite forget the dull showers outside, a giant firecracker candy-box was called into use; and with songs, stories, and a lunch which disappeared so rapidly as to convince any skeptic of the acquired magical powers of those present, the fireworks were sorted out, and many of them were found to be quite uninjured. These were carefully packed in a box for the Children’s Home, and the Juniors voted that rainy day the best Independence celebration ever held in Joyville.
An Indian Festival.
Chicago’s one hundredth birthday was the occasion of a celebration interesting to many thousands, and not the least interesting feature was the Indian village in Lincoln Park. Picturesque in their typical costumes, the red men appeared much as their ancestors did a century ago. From Chief No-zu-kah, the medicine-man in his coonskin cap and red blanket, who rattled his medicine-bags as he walked, down to six-year-old Hach-si-acha, the braves and squaws were the centre of attraction; and this, together with an Indian festival once successfully given by a wide-awake older Endeavor society, inclines me to think that the Juniors should have one of their own, improving on all former undertakings of the kind, and perhaps on nature as well!
War-paint and feathers, beads, blankets, and moccasins, should be brought into use for the costumes. Decorate the rooms with plenty of boughs and foliage, to represent a woodland scene; hang cages of singing birds from the branches; and have a wigwam in one corner, with a buffalo robe spread in front of its entrance. Two Junior “Indian” girls who have learned the now popular basket-weaving, may be seated here at their work, with finished baskets for sale. One or more flower-girls may wander about, selling colored grasses and other similar treasures. One of the Junior boys may represent a medicine-man, and sell roots and herbs; another may sell bows and arrows to all who wish to test their skill at the target, which must be so placed that stray shots can do no damage. A loan exhibition of Indian curios will be instructive, if there is some one to explain them; and the Indian portraits, in colors, to be found among the Perry Pictures, will prove interesting. A fancy-work booth may contain feather fans, dainty bags of beadwork, dolls dressed as pappooses and squaws, and birch bark made into all kinds of pretty conceits, from toy canoes to bon-bon-boxes filled with salted nuts instead of candy.
The bows and arrows will play a lively part in the evening’s festivities. A small sum may be charged for each trial, if desired. Archery is said to be the coming sport; and, if it is indeed soon to be revived from its centuries of partial sleep, and thus rival golf and other favorites, one cannot begin to practise too soon! It is certainly graceful, healthful, and fascinating enough to warrant the revival.