The three scenes of the First Part represented myths of the Indians who long ago used to live about Chautauqua Lake. The Spirit of the Lake appeared in a canoe drawn by invisible power. As she landed upon the island the Flower Sprites greeted her with singing.
"Can you make out Ethel Blue?" asked Mr. Emerson, peering through his glasses.
"It seems to me she is the next to the end in the front row," replied Mrs. Morton. "That certainly is Dorothy on the end."
Very charming they looked with their flowing white robes and their garlands, and very manly were the lovers, Wind and Sun, who wooed the Lake Spirit to remain on the island. Their wooing was vain, however, for the Spirit made them understand that she was to give her love only to a new spirit yet to come, Mankind.
The next scene illustrated one of the meanings of the word "Chautauqua"—"The place of easy death." An Indian princess, stooping to drink from the lake, was drawn down into its depths.
The origin in the lake of the fish called the muscallonge whose size and spirit make its capture a triumph for fishermen was the subject of the third scene, in which Indian braves fishing near the island were the central figures.
The presentation of actual historical facts began with the Second Part.
"I rather suspect," said Mr. Emerson amusedly, "that our young people are going to learn more history from this performance than I should have been able to tell them."
"Helen has been reading about the explorers in the library in the College. I imagine she has her eye on another history prize next winter."
"Here is what the program says is going to happen. Let me read it to you before the scene begins and then we won't have to bother our heads about the story and we can try to pick out our children."