A STAR IN THE WINDOW

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 7 A STAR IN THE WINDOW The idea for this playlet was inspired by one given during the 1969 Centennial Convention of Supreme Chapter held in Des Moines, Iowa. It was performed by members of Chapter K, Nebraska. What couldn t be recalled from seeing the 1969 production was searched out and found in the pages of OUT OF THE HEART and from articles in THE P.E.O. RECORD. Names used are authentic found in early P.E.O. records. Carolyn Savage, Chapter CX, Hominy, OK CAST OF CHARACTERS: President Ella Davis V.P Bertha Fender Secretary Josie Blackburn Treasurer Rose Farley Chaplain Carrie Stewart Initiate Fannie Dibble PROPS: 1 large gold cardboard star (20 in diameter) 1 large gold cloth star for floor (96 in diameter) 6 gold cardboard P.E.O. pins (2.5 in diameter) 1 feather duster 1 small lace covered table 1 gavel vintage or facsimile wearing apparel with hats & gloves, if desired MUSIC: Battle Hymn of the Republic or good rousing March (on piano or tape) TODAY S PROGRAM TRIES TO PORTRAY A P.E.O. MEETING OF AN EARLIER DAY. A VISION DIM GROWS CLEARER TO MY EYES. COME LET US GO BACK IN YEARS, WE RE DUE A SURPRISE! IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT P.E.O. MEETING DAY IN THE YEAR 1889 FOR CHAPTER K, NEBRASKA. HANNAH KNAPP, HOSTESS FOR THE AFTERNOON, PREPARES HER HOME FOR HER P.E.O. SISTERS ACCORDING TO CUSTOM. THE SILVER HAS BEEN POLISHED, THE FLOORS WAXED TO MIRROR SHEEN, THE RUGS SWEPT AND BEATEN SPANKING CLEARN, THE FURNITURE RUBBED AND OILED TO A GLOW, THE WINDOWS WASHED AND POLISHED TIL SPARKLING. THE LAST, AND MOST HAPPY TASK OF ALL IS YET TO DO..... THE JOB OF HANGING THE LARGE GOLDEN STAR IN THE WINDOW THAT THAT WOULD-BE CALLERS WILL KNOW THAT A MEETING IS IN SESSION, AND THAT NON-P.E.O. S ARE NOT WELCOM UNTIL THE STAR IS TAKEN OUT OF THE WINDOW LATER IN THE DAY. VERY CAREFULLY PLACES THE STAR IN THE WINDOW, AND MAKES LAST INSPECTION WITH HER FEATHER DUSTER, MAKING CERTAIN THAT ALL IS IN ORDER. THE MEMBERS ARRIVE ONE BY ONE, ALWAYS, AND ONLY AFTER MAKING CERTAIN THAT NO ONE FOLLOWED THEM OR GUESSED WHERE THEY MIGHT BE HEADED. IT DEFINITELY WAS A SECRET WHO BELONGED TO CHAPTER K, OR SO THE LADIES LIKED TO THINK! AUSPICIOUSLY ARRIVES, TREATED WITH GREAT RESPECT BY THE HOSTESS, AS THIS IS THE

2 Page 2 of 7 BERTHA: PRESIDENT!. HANNAH CONSPICIOUSLY GIVES THE P.E.O. GRIP (MAKE UP SOMETHING). (ARRIVES IN A DITHER) GOOD DAY, MADAM PRESIDENT AND HANNAH! I SPIED THAT MAGGIE CARTER ACROSS THE STREET, AND SO IT BECAME NECESSARY THAT I REDIRECT MY PATH IN ORDER THAT SHE CARRIE: COULDN T SEE ME COME TO CHAPTER MEETING! OH MY GOODNESS, WHAT A CLOSE CALL! (ARRIVES, GIVES GRIP TO HOSTESS) SISTERS, I AM A MITE CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF FUNDS IN OUR TREASURY. I DO HOPE THAT A SISTER OR TWO IS TARDY TODAY AND WILL HAVE TO PAY OUR 10 FINE! (ARRIVES, GIVES GRIP, GREETED BY SISTERS, WHO NOTICE HER ENGAGEMENT RING) WHY YES, SWEET SISTERS, MY LONG-TIME BEAU, BRADLEY BLACKSTOCK HAS JUST RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM MY FATHER TO UNITE WITH ME IN MATRIMONY. I AM DELERIOUSLY HAPPY, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT WHEN I BECOME A MARRIED WOMAN, I MUST TURN IN MY P.E.O. PIN FOREVER. I DO BELIEVE THAT RULE IS UNFAIR, AND JOSIE: JOSIE: SHOULD BE CHANGED, DON T YOU AGREE WITH ME? (ARRIVES DRESSED IN BLACK. HER PIN IS DRAPED IN BLACK RIBBON, AND SHE GIVES GRIP, GREET SISTERS VERY SEDATELY) EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING, BUT JOSIE, CAN YOU TELL ME WHY YOUR PIN IS DRAPED IN BLACK? (TEARFULLY) WHY YES, WHEN A DEAR FRIEND OR A MEMBER OF THE P.E.O. S FAMILY EXPIRES, SUCH AS MY DEAR BROTHER-IN-LAW, ALBERT EARNEST, TO SHOW RESPECT, A P.E.O. DRAPES HER PIN IN BLACK FOR 21 DAYS. DURING THIS TIME, THE P.E.O. ABSTAINS FROM FREQUENTING PLACES OF AMUSEMENT, OR OTHER FRIVOLOUS INDULGENCES. THE CUSTOM OF DRAPING ONE S PIN VERY POSSIBLY STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT DURING THE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, WHEN WORD CAME AT IOWA WESLEYAN THAT A STUDENT SOLDIER HAD DIED, HIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS DISPLAYED AND DRAPED. CHAPTER A ORIGINALLY STARTED THE CUSTOM AND THE FANNIE: PRACTICE CONTINUED UNTIL THE EARLY 1920 S. AS EACH MEMBER ARRIVED, I AM CERTAIN THAT YOU NTOICED SHE WAS GREETED WITH A DEFINITE HAND CLASP..... THIS WAS THE OFFICIAL P.E.O. GRIP..... A NECESSITY TO KEEP INTRUDERS FROM SNEAKING INTO A MEETING OF SUCH SECRECY! (AS SHE ARRIVES SHE IS HURRIED OFF TO ANOTHER ROOM BY HERSELF BY OUR HOSTESS FOR THE DAY, HANNAH) THE MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER. (POUNDS GAVEL ONCE) THE GUARD WILL TAKE THE PASSWORD FROM ALL PRESENT. (TAKES PASSWORD) MADAM PRESIDENT, ALL PRESENT ARE ENTITLED TO REMAIN. THE GUARD WILL SEE THAT THE DOORS ARE CLOSED AND TAKE THE PASSWORD FROM ALL WHO ENTER. WE WILL RECITE THE OBJECTS AND AIMS. (GROUP RECITES SAME, ENDING AT ADHERENCE TO THE QUALITIES OF FAITH, LOVE, PURITY, JUSTICE AND TRUTH..... THEN ADDING..... TO CARE FOR EACH

3 Page 3 of 7 OTHER IN TROUBLE, TO SYMPATHIZE IN AFFLICTION, AND TO CONSOLE IN GRIEF. THE CHAPLAIN WILL CARRIE CONDUCT DEVOTIONS. READS SHORT VERSE FROM PROVERBS. GIVES FACSIMILE OF P.E.O. PRAYER WHILE ALL STAND, THEN EVERYONE BOWS ON ONE KNEE TO REPEAT LORD S PRAYER TOGETHER. IF YOU MISSED THE OPENING ODE, IT WAS NOT ADOPTED UNTIL A SONG WAS WRITTEN FOR CHAPTER A IN EARLIER YEARS, BUT TO DATE IT HAS NOT BEEN LOCATED. AS THE SISTERS BECAME OLDER, ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM JOINES THE GROUP TOO, SO OF NECESSITY, THE PRACTICE OF BOWING DOWN ON ONE KNEE TO SAY THE LORD S PRAYER WAS EVENTUALLY ABANDONED. THE NEXT BUSINESS IN ORDER IS INITIATION. THE OFFICERS WILL STAND AS THEIR NAMES ARE CALLED BY OFFICE. (OFFICERS STAND) PRESIDENT, ELLA DAVIS; VICE PRESIDENT, BERTHA FENDER; SECRETARY, JOSIE BLACKBURN; TREASURER, ROSE FARLEY; CHAPLAIN, CARRIE STEWART; GUARD, HANNAH KNAPP. MUSIC BEGINS FANNIE: THE GUARD WILL BRING IN THE CANDIDATE FOR INTRODUCTIONS. (GOES TO GET CANDIDATE.....MARCHING STIFFLY. OFFICERS MARCH TO FORM LINE AFTER MARCHING AROUND ROOM TO MEET CANDIDATE. HANNAH FORMALLY INTRODUCES FANNIE DIBBLE TO OFFICERS.) (LAST TO BE INTRODUCED) IT IS MY DUTY TO COLLECT THE INITIATION FEE OF $5.00 PRIOR TO YOUR INITIATION. ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY THIS SUM? OH YES! I AM PREPARED TO PAY! (GIVES TREASURER $3.00 IN SILVER, SO YOU CAN HEAR IT CLINK) (ESCORTS FANNIE OUT OF ROOM. THEN BRINGS IN FLOOR STAR AND CEREMONIOUSLY SPREADS IT ON THE FLOOR, OTHER OFFICERS HELPING) THE OFFICERS WILL MARCH TO THEIR RESPECTIVE PLACES BETWEEN THE POINTS OF THE STAR. GUARD CANDIDATE PRESIDENT SECRETARY TREASURER CHAPLAIN VICE PRESIDENT THE GUARD WILL CONDUCT THE CANDIDATE TO HER PLACE IN THE CIRCLE. MUSIC STOPS

4 Page 4 of 7 FANNIE DIBBLE, YOU HAVE COME AT OUR INVITATION TO UNITE WITH US IN THE BONDS OF SISTERHOOD. WE WELCOME YOU INTO OUR CHAPTER. (SECRET WORK) WE HAVE THREE RECOGNITION SIGNS AND ONE DISTRESS SIGNAL. THEY ARE: ARE YOU A P.E.O.? (TWO FINGERS TO RIGHT TEMPLE) I AM. (LEFT HAND TO LEFT SHOULDER) WE ARE SISTERS (RIGHT HAND TO RIGHT CHEEK) DISTRESS SIGNAL (RIGHT HAND TOUCH PIN ON LEFT SHOULDER) FANNIE DIBBLE, DO YOU PROMISE TO NEVER REVEAL ANY OF OUR SECRETS TOLD TO YOU THIS DAY? OUR FIVE CARDINAL VIRTURES ARE..... FAITH, LOVE, PURITY, JUSTICE AND TRUTH PRETENDING TO TAKE AND GIVE LESSONS OF THE STAR, WHILE NARRATOR GIVES THE HISTORY OF THE STAR CEREMONY. THE FIRST INITIATION CEREMONY WAS THE OATH, WRITTEN BY ALICE BIRD ON THE DAY P.E.O. WAS FOUNDED, AND USED THAT AFTERNOON FOR THE INITIATION OF THE SEVEN FOUNDERS. IT CONSISTED OF 35 WORDS AND WAS A SIMPLE PLEDGE OF SECRECY. IN 1877, A SENTENCE WAS ADDED CONCERNING PINS OF EXPELLED MEMBERS. THE REGULAR INITIATION CEREMONY WAS ADOPTED IN 1882, BUT BEFORE ADOPTION, CHAPTER A MADE TWO CHANGES; HOPE WAS CHANGED TO JUSTICE, AND FIDELITY TO TRUTH. MUCH OF THE CEREMONY, THE BEAUTIFUL WRITING AND THE PATTERN OF THE CEREMONY, ARE STILL IN USE TODAY. EFFOE HOFFMAN ROGERS ENLARGED THE CEREMONY IN 1886, WITH MINOR CHANGES TAKING PLACE THROUGH THE YEARS, EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRED FOR THE ADDITION OF THE INITIATORY EMBLEM. MISS IDA B. JOHNSON, A TEACHER BY PROFESSION AND A MEMBER OF CHAPTER K, NEBRASKA, WAS THE ORIGINATOR OF THE STAR CEREMONY AND IT WAS ADOPTED BY SUPREME GRAND CHAPTER IN 1899, JUST TEN YEARS AFTER THE TIME OF OUR LITTLE PLAYLET TODAY. IN 1907 THE CEREMONY WAS REVISED TO CHANGE THE PASSORD, BUT THE CONVENTION OF SUPREME CHAPTER CHANGED IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL FORM IN WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SLIGHT CHANGES THROUGH THE Y EARS, THIS TRACES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESIDENT: THE INITIATORY CEREMONY. (WHEN NARRATOR FINISHES) YOU CAME A FRIEND YOU ARE NOW A SISTER. MUSIC BEGINS

5 Page 5 of 7 MARCH IN TURN TO GREET INITIATE AND GIVE HER A WARM KISS AND HUG. MUSIC STOPS JOSIE: BERTHA: THE SECRETARY WILL READ THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING. (READS MINUTES..... ON SEPARATE SHEET) THE NEXT BUSINESS IN ORDER IS REPORT OF COMMITTEES. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE IN THE HOME OF ROSE FARLEY. JOSIE BLACKBURN WILL GIVE A RECITATION OF HER FAVORITE POEMS WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. (PROGRAM COMMITTEE) THE FLOWER COMMITTEE REPORTS THAT WE SENT FLOWERS OUT OF HANNAH S BEAUTIFUL GARDEN TO LENA KNOTT DURING HER RECENT ILLNESS. FOOD WAS SENT TO BERTHA FENDER WHEN SHE RECENTLY FELL OUT OF A TREE WHILE TRYING TO RESCUE HER CAT, CLEOPATRA. HOW HAPPY WE ARE TO HAVE BERTHA BACK IN THE FOLD OF SISTERHOOD BERTHA: WITH US TODAY! ARE THERE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAHPTER? FANNIE, DEAR, THIS IS FOR THE GOOD OF IMPROVING OUR STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY. I FEEL THAT I MUST REPORT THAT WHILE WALKING IN THE VICINITY OF THE LIVERY STABLE LAST WEEK, I COULDN T HELP BUT NOTICE A CERTAIN SISTER (LOOKS AT CARRIE, WHO IMMEDIATELY BOWS HER HEAD AND STARTS FANNING HERSELF) BEHAVING IN A FLIRTATIOUS MANNER TOWARD A TRAVELING SALESMAN. TSK, TSK, TSK, A LADY SHOULD NOT BE NEAR THE LIVERY STABLE IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT FLIRTING WITH A CARRIE: TRAVELING SALESMAN..... NEVER!!! WELL, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT A CERTAIN MEMBER OF THIS CHAPTER (LOOKS AT JOSIE) SKIPPED THE LAST MEETING BEACAUSE OF A HIGH FINE CARD PART..... CERTAINLY NOT GIVING HER LOVE AND LOYALTY TO P.E.O.!! (BERTHA IS SEWING AS CARRIE SPEAKS..... GETS FLUSTERD AND PUTS IT AWAY WHEN ALL EYES TURN ON HER) AT OUR LAST MEETING I COULDN T HELP BUT NOTICE THAT ONE AMONG US WAS SEWING DURING IMPORTANT BUSINESS. WE REALLY SHOULD SAVE OUR SEWING FOR OUR OWN PRIVATE DRAWING ROOMS, DON T YOU THINK?

6 Page 6 of 7 THE PRECEDING WERE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE CHIP BASKET, OR OLD FASHIONED TRUTH SESSION AT SOME OF THE EARLY MEETINGS. BECAUSE OF HARD FEELINGS CAUSED, THANK GOODNESS IT DIDN T LAST BUT A FEW YEARS. NO SUCH THING AS A DIMIT CARD EXISTED IN THE EARLY DAYS OF P.E.O. IF A MEMBER MOVED TO ANOTHER COMMUNITY, SHE MIGHT BE RE-INITIATED BECAUSE OF NO WRITTEN RECORDS. THE FIRST CHAPTERS WERE GIVEN A NOTEBOOK WITH A CONSTITUTION OF SORTS WRITTEN IN HAND BY THE RECORDING SECRETARY OF ORIGINAL CHAPTER A. THE FORMATION OF NEW CHAPTERS IN THOSE DAYS DEPENDED UPON WHO MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO A HORSE AND BUGGY AND HEADED IN THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE TOWN THAT WANTED A NEW CHAPTER. THE P.E.O. PIN WAS TO BE WORN ONLY BY MEMBERS. THERE NEVER WAS DIFFICULTY ABOUT A GIRL LOANING HER PIN TO ANOTHER GIRL WHO WAS NOT A MEMBER, BUT THEY DID LIKE TO LOAN IT TO A FAVORITE GENTLEMAN FRIEND OF THEIR PREFERENCE, AND THIS CUSTOM GREW WITH THE COLLEGE CROWD. PERIODICALLY, THE CHAPTER WOULD CALL IN ALL PINS TO SEE IF EACH MEMBER COULD ACCOUNT ALL: FOR HER OWN. WE WILL NOW HAVE ROLL CALL BY THE TREASURER. CALLS ROLL. STRANGE TO HAVE ROLL CALL THE LAST ORDER OF BUSINESS? PERHAPS, BUT IT DID KEEP THE MEMBERS FROM LEAVING UNTIL THE ENTIRE ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS CONDUCTED! AND NOW MAY THE SPIRIT OF SISTERHOOD BE WITH US AS WE WALK TOGETHER DOWN THE PATHWAY OF LIFE. BLEST BE THE TIE THAT BINDS OUR HEARTS IN CHRISTIAN LOVE THE FELLOWSHIP OF KINDRED MINDS IS LIKE TO THAT ABOVE. (HOLDING HANDS ON ALL VERSES AND RAISING ARMS TOGETHER ON LAST LINE) P.E.O. IS NOT TO BE DATED IT IS ALWAYS UP TO DATE. WE DO NOT OUTGROW ITS IDEALS, ITS DIGNITY, JUST AS WE DO NOT OUTGROW OUR ACCEPTANCE AND RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR MAKER. ANK YOU FOR HELPING US LOOK BACK WITH LOVE AND INTEREST AT THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF P.E.O.

7 Page 7 of 7 MINUTES CHAPTER K OF NEBRASKA P.E.O. MET IN REGULAR SESSION ON MONDAY, JANUARY 5, THE MEETING WAS OPENED IN DUE FORM BY THE PRESIDENT, ELLA DAVIS. JANUARY 5, 1889 CHAPLAIN CARRIE STEWART READ FROM CORINTHIANS II, LED THE CHAPTER IN PRAYER, THEN ALL BOWED ON THEIR KNEES FOR THE LORD S PRAYER. THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING WERE READ BY THE SECRETARY AND APPROVED BY THE CHAPTER. THE TREASURER S REPORT WAS GIVEN BY ROSE FARLEY. BERTHA FENDER MOVED THAT IN THE FUTURE THE LITERARY PROGRAMS FOLLOWING THE BUSINESS MEETING BE LIMITED TO TWO HOURS. AFTER LENGTHY DISCUSSION, THE MOTION WAS SECONDED AND PASSED. CARRIE STEWART PAID A FINE TO THE TREASURER FOR TARDINESS TO THE LAST MEETING BECAUSE SHE STOPPED TO HAVE A SODA WITH WILL BUNCHLEY. JOSIE BLACKBURN PRESENTED A WRITTEN EXCUSE TO THE PRESIDENT FOR HER PREVIOUS ABSENCE DUE TO PLANS MADE TO ATTEND HER SISTER S WEDDING. THE NAME OF FANNIE DIBBLE WAS SUGGESTED BY CARRIE STEWART AT THE PRECEDING MEETING, WHICH MADE IT NECESSARY TO PASS THE BALLOR BAG TO MEMBERS PRESENT. THEREUPON, IT WAS TAKEN TO THE HOMES OF CORA WILDMAN, MINNIE KRAMER, AND HATTIE WEBSTER, WHO WERE ABSENT BECAUSE OF ILLNESS. VERY HAPPILY, THE PRESIDENT REPORTED BACK TO THE GROUP THAT THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUSLY FAVORABLE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE SUSIE MCKEE WAS INDEBTED TO THE CHAPTER FOR HER SHARE OF THE BOOTH AT THE COUNTY FAIR, SHE WAS NOT PERMITTED TO VOTE. THE SECRETARY REPORTED THAT SHE HAD WRITTEN TO EACH SECRETARY OF THE OTHER SEVENTEEN CHAPTERS OF P.E.O. AS REQUIRED BY THE P.E.O. CONSTITUTION BEFORE HER TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES. THE PRESIDENT REMINDED THE CHAPTER THAT THIS SIX MOTH S TERM OF OFFICE WILL BE COMPLETED IN TWO MORE MEETINGS. EACH MEMBER SHOULD BE THINKING WHO WILL BEST BE PRPARED TO FILL THE NEW SLATE OF OFFICERS. SEVERAL MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CHIP BASKET WHEN THE PRESIDENT ASKED FOR SUGGESTIONS FOR THE GOOD OF THE CHAPTER. THE MEETING WAS CLOSED IN DUE FORM IMMEDIATELY AFTER ROLL CALL BY THE TREASURER. SECRETARY JOSIE BLACKBURN HANNAH KNAPP READ SEVERAL OF HER FAVORITE PASSAGES FROM WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE S ROMEO AND JULIET, FOLLOWED BY A FEW VOCAL SELECTIONS, THEN SOME ORIGINAL POETRY.