The Audubon Societies m 



circle, the subscription dance, the Chautauqua lectures, and the church socials 

 may include everyone in town and give everyone some form of recreation, but 

 they are as little aid to cooperative service as a pasture full of wild horses are 

 to the farmer who is ready to plow. There should be some one form of recrea- 

 tion which includes everyone in the community and in which everyone has an 

 interest and, at least, takes some small part in order to have teamwork and 

 establish true neighborliness. 



Now what has this to do with a school-play or with birds? Just this: We 

 have all been working for years for the protection of birds or to awaken an 

 interest in birds in our home communities. Is it not about time we began to 

 play or, at least, began to get our neighbors to play at protecting birds. Per- 

 haps we have not been very successful in getting them to work for birds, but 

 possibly they would be willing to play, if their children were in a school pageant, 

 or masque, or play, based upon some phase of bird-life. I know they would. 

 Of the communities I am familiar with, the ones which show the greatest 

 spirit, the most widespread interest in birds, are those in which not only the 

 real bird-lovers have been working for the birds, but in which some school-play 

 or masque or pageant has been given by the school children. This common 

 endeavor arouses many parents who have never before listened to birds' songs. 



In 1916, New York City presented a masque by Percy Mackaye called 

 'Caliban.' I say New York City presented it because several thousand persons 

 of every station of life took part and every nook and corner of the city was 

 searched for costumes and accessories. Everyone felt that he was taking part 

 in it because he had furnished an aunt or a cousin or a family heirloom to help 

 make it a success. And it was a success and had a far-reaching effect, not only 

 upon the modern drama, but upon the people of New York City that took part 

 or helped to make up the audience. And it has been repeated with equal 

 success in St. Louis and Boston. 



Perhaps the most successful bird club in the country is that at the small 

 town of Meriden, N. H., located twenty miles from a railway station. One of 

 the reasons for its success and its far-reaching help to similar organizations 

 goes back to 1913 when it presented a bird masque by the author of 'Caliban,' 

 entitled 'Sanctuary.' Bird club and town are, today, almost synonymous, for 

 there is such a unity of spirit that rose from their common effort in presenting 

 this masque. Much of the credit goes to Mr. Ernest Harold Baynes, the leader 

 and director, for no masque or pageant or school-play can be a success without 

 an efficient director. In fact, the first thing to do when you decide to give a 

 school-play is to look about for the best director that the school or community 

 affords. Find him before you even decide whether to give an original play or 

 one of those which you will find in Bird-Lore or elsewhere. Don't be afraid to 

 invite him or her to undertake it, for even the busiest are flattered by an offer 

 to direct something, and to those that have the gift, it is almost a mania. They 

 would rather direct than eat. 



