59 pages

English

History Plays for the Grammar Grades

chuig - Mary Ella Lyng

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59 pages

English

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Publié par	chuig
Publié le	08 décembre 2010
Nombre de lectures	20
Langue	English

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Project Gutenberg's History Plays for the Grammar Grades, by Mary Ella Lyng

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: History Plays for the Grammar Grades

Author: Mary Ella Lyng

Release Date: March 26, 2009 [EBook #28415]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORY PLAYS ***

Produced by C. St. Charleskindt and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)

HISTORY PLAYS

for

THE GRAMMAR GRADES

Copyrighted, 1922, Mary Ella Lyng

To MISS CORA GALLAGHER Principal of MCKINLEYSCHOOL In appreciation of a pleasant association and many kindnesses.

INTRODUCTION

The play idea will always appeal to the minds of children. History, so often thought to be a dry subject, is made a live wide awake game when the pupils live the parts. The great men and women of history are made real to them. This method has been worked out by the pupils in the fifth grade in the McKinley School in San Francisco and found to be most successful. The chief characters in Mace's Beginners History, the California State Text, have been dramatized. The children read the story and study by outline. Then with the help of the teacher the important events are made into a play. Much outside reading is encouraged. This awakens an interest in good reading and an ability to do independent studying. The lives of great men and women represent great things. Studying about these people is an inspiration to the children for the bigger and nobler things of life. "Lives of great men, all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And departing leave behind us— Footprints on the sands of time." —Longfellow. MARYELLALYNG

CONTENTS

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS JOHN SMITH and POCAHONTAS SIR WALTER RALEIGH

5 7 8

WILLIAM PENN10 SIR FRANCIS DRAKE11 PILGRIMS13 GEORGE WASHINGTON15 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK20 ANDREW JACKSON21 JOHN C. FREMONT24 WEBSTER, CLAY and CALHOUN27 THE STORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN33 GRANT AND LEE35 ROBERT E. LEE36 SOME WOMEN OF HISTORY38

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

INTRODUCTION: Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, more than four hundred and fifty years ago. Genoa was a rich town on the Mediterranean Sea. She had trading routes to India, China and Japan. Columbus was fond of stories of the sea and liked the study of geography. He was anxious to go to sea and while a boy made his first voyage. When he grew up to be a man, he went to Lisbon the capital of Portugal. The bold deeds of Henry of Portugal drew many seamen to this city. Lisbon was full of learned men and sailors longing to go on long voyages. These sailors had tried to find a shorter way to India but without success. Columbus thought this could be done by going directly west. He thought the world round although most people at that time thought it flat. After many trails he laid his plans before the

[Pg 5]

Court of the King of Spain. The first act will be Columbus at the Court of Spain.

ACT I.

(King and Queen on throne—courtiers around.) (Columbus enters and bows before king and queen.) Q. ISABELLA: You have come to us to talk about a shorter way to India? COLUMBUS: Yes, your Majesty. According to this map and the proof I have gathered, I believe India to be directly west. I have gone on long voyages and have talked to many seamen about the signs of land to the westward. I believe the world to be round and if your Majesty could aid me I know I could find this shorter route. QUEEN: We would be glad indeed to aid you, but at the present time Spain has little money. The war has taken so much. WISE MAN OF SPAIN: Your Majesty, this man thinks the world round. That is foolish. If you use your eyes you can see it is flat. To sail westward in the hope of getting to India is impossible and ridiculous. WISE MAN: Your Majesty, I think this man right. He says the world is round and I think if we study carefully, we will find it is so. If it is possible we should give him a chance. End of Act I.

INTRODUCTION:

ACT II.

Columbus receiving little encouragement and after several years of waiting, set out to try his fortune in France. He stopped at a convent to beg for some bread. The Prior became interested in his plan and went to the Court of

Spain, and begged the Queen not to allow Columbus to go to France but to help him in his plans. The next act will be Columbus talking to Queen. QUEENI will pledge my jewels in order to: Columbus, raise the money for a fleet. I will fit out an expedition and make you Governor over the land you discover. COLUMBUS: Thank you, your Majesty. The lands discovered will be taken up in the name of the King of Spain. QUEENtake a vow to use the riches you: Will you obtain to help drive out the Turks from the Holy City of Jerusalem? COLUMBUS: I will take that vow. (Columbus takes vow). End of Act II. The voyage across the ocean was a long and tiresome one. The sailors became discouraged and wanted to return to Spain. Columbus kept on and finally was rewarded. The next act will be the discovery of land.

ACT III. (Columbus talking to sailors:) COLUMBUS: I rejoice my friends that you have had the grace to chant the vesper hymn in so devout a spirit at a moment when there is so much reason to be grateful to God for His goodness to us. What cheering signs have encouraged us to persevere. The birds in the air, the unusual fishes in the sea and the plants seldom met far from rocks where they grow. I deem it probable that we reach the land this very night. I call on you all to be watchful. (Columbus and Luis walk apart from the other sailors. Columbus a little in advance, stops, calls Luis.) COLUMBUSLook in that direction, seest thou: Luis! aught uncommon?

[Pg 6]

LUIS: I saw a light, Senor. COLUMBUS: Thine eyes did not deceive thee. LUIS: What think you, Don Christopher? COLUMBUS: Land! Bid Rodrigo Sanchez of Segovia to come hither. (Rodrigo Sanchez comes. All look for light). COLUMBUS: This is land. We will behold it soon. (Sailors come up and look. All exclaim, Land! Land!) COLUMBUS: See the land, Luis? LUIS: Yes. COLUMBUS: Behold the Indies! Praise be to God! End of Columbus Act.

JOHN SMITHandPOCAHONTAS

INTRODUCTION: John Smith was the savior of Virginia. He was an officer in the new colony sent out to Jamestown. Captain Newport one of Raleigh's old sea captains brought a colony of one hundred settlers to America. The first act will be Captain Newport talking to some London merchants. FIRSTMERCHANT: The King has given us a charter for our new colony in America. SECOND EMRCHANT: We need some men of adventure. CAPT. NEWPORT: I know a man, John Smith, who could make the colony a success. He has had as wonderful adventures as the knights of old. He has just returned from fighting the Turks. MERCHANTif the King will make him one: We will see of the officers in the company.

[Pg 7]

End of Act I.

ACT II.

INTRODUCTION: Smith was made an officer but was not allowed to take part in governing the Colony but resolved to help by visiting the Indians and gathering food for the Colony. The next act will be Smith in the Indian village. (Powhatan sitting around bench. His wives sit at his side. Women and children stand around. In front stood Powhatan's fierce warriors. Two big stones are rolled in front of Powhatan. Two warriors rush to Smith, drag him to the stones and force his head upon one of them). (Pocahontas the chief's daughter rushes in.) POCAHONTAS: Save his life! Do not kill him! POWHATAN: Your life is saved. You will be my son and play with my daughter. End of Act II.

ACT III.

INTRODUCTION: After awhile Smith returned to Jamestown. He found much trouble among the settlers. He took command and with the help of Pocahontas the little Indian maiden, restored order and saved them from starvation. Pocahontas was ever afterwards called "The good angel of the Colony." The next act will be Smith talking to the settlers. SMITHspeech). Every one of us must work.: (Making He that will not work shall not eat. You shall not only gather for yourself, but for those that are sick. They shall not starve. Some of you will plant grain, others will build better houses. If this will take place we will all be happier and more contented in Vir inia.

E dn fo mSith Act.

SIR WALTER RALEIGH

INTRODUCTION: Walter Raleigh was the Englishman who checked the power of the Spanish in America. He was a friend of Queen Elizabeth, and first gained her friendship, by an interesting incident. This act tells the story.

ACT I. (Walter Raleigh, Blount, and Tracy, walking along shore see boat of the Queen.) BLOUNT: See, the Queen's barge lies at the stairs. We had best put back and tell the Earl what we have seen. RALEIGH: Tell the Earl what we have seen! Let us do his errand, and tell him what the Queen says in reply. BLOUNT: Do, I pray you, my dear Walter, let us take the boat and return. RALEIGH: Not till I see the Queen come forth. (Queen comes, Raleigh removes his hat and stands close to Queen as she approaches with her court. She hesitates to pass miry spot. Raleigh takes coat from shoulder and lays it on the ground. Queen looks at Raleigh and passes on). BLOUNT: Come along, Sir Coxcomb, your gay mantle will need the brush today, I wot. RALEIGH: This cloak shall never be brushed while in my possession. BLOUNT: That will not be long, if you learn not a little more economy.

[Pg 8]

(Member of court comes after Raleigh. Queen and court at water's edge, waiting). COURTIER: I was sent to bring a gentleman who has no coat, you, sir, I think. Please follow me. BLOUNT: He is in attendance on me, the noble Earl of Sussex, Master of Horse. COURTIER: I have nothing to say to that. My orders are from her Majesty. (Walter and man walk toward Queen). BLOUNT: Who in the world would have thought it! (Raleigh is brought to Queen, who laughs, and talks to attendants). QUEEN: You have this day spoiled a gay mantle in our service. We thank you for your service, though the manner of offering was something bold. RALEIGH: In a sovereign's need, it is each man's duty to be bold. QUEEN: (Speaking to attendant). That is well said, my lord. (To Raleigh) Well, young man, your gallantry shall not go unrewarded. Thou shalt have a suit, and that of the newest cut. RALEIGHit please your majesty, but if it became: May me to choose— QUEEN: Thou wouldst have gold? Fie, young man. Yet, thou mayest be poor. It shall be gold. But thou shall answer to me for the use of it. RALEIGHI do not wish gold, your majesty.: QUEEN: How, boy, neither gold nor garment! What then? RALEIGH: Only permission to wear the cloak which did this trifling service. QUEEN: Permission to wear thine own cloak, thou silly boy? RALEIGH: It is no longer mine. When your majesty's foot touched it, it became a fit mantle for a prince. QUEEN ou: Heard Lords? ever the like, m What is

[Pg 9]

thy name and birth? RALEIGH: Raleigh is my name. QUEEN: Raleigh? We have heard of you. You may wear thy muddy cloak, and here, I give thee this, to wear at the collar. (Gives him a jewel of gold, Raleigh kneels, and kisses hand of Queen).

WILLIAM PENN

INTRODUCTION: William Penn was a Quaker and founded the city of Brotherly Love. He was the son of a great naval officer, Admiral Penn. When he became a Quaker his family were very much disgraced. His father drove him from home. The next act will be the meeting of King Charles and William Penn and others.

ACT I. King Charles and Court enter. Enter William Penn and others. All hats removed except King's and Penn. King removes his. PENN: Friend Charles, why dost thou remove thy hat? KING: Because wherever I am, it is customary for but one to remain covered. (King passes on). (Penn's father enters.) PENNSRI will not permit such conduct toward.: Sir, the King. Leave this place at once. End of Act I.

ACT II.

[Pg 10]