(A trumpet is heard. Curtains are slightly drawn.

Enter Herald. )

Herald:

Good greetings, friends! Glad greetings, one and all ! Haste Ye! Make ready for our noble queen, The Fair Louisiana, she who reigns O'er more than half the mighty new-found world. How tender is her sway, and yet how strong, To hold within her hands, like children's toys, The splendid regions of the northern lakes, The mystic, dreamy, soulful south-land far. See, how she comes with Springtime in her tread, Upspringing 'neath her feet the clover sweet, Upon her head the starry jessamine- Plucked from the whiteness of the Milky Way. Magnolias are her cheeks, and her rich lips The ripened seed of all Magnolia blooms; Wood-brown her eyes with depths as calm and clear

As gentle bayous overhung by trees. France wears her as a jewel in her crown, Brave, noble France! And yet in years to come France must resign this gem, must yield this gift To that strong mother of a younger race, America, born of the giant might Of all the mingled forces of the world. Yet let us not o'er-vision you with dreams. Louisiana comes; greet her with joy!

5

ACT I. KATLAHA'S MARRIAGE FEAST.

7

CHARACTERS.

Louisiana

Kwahonoshe ..................Chief of the Colapissas

Okesok.......................Chief of the Choctaws

Shamgolo............................Son of Okesok

Katlaha....................Daughter of Kwahonoshe

(Indians, squaws, and children)

SCENE.

(A Southern forest: live oaks, magnolias, and longleaf pines. On either sideare palmettoes and yuccas in full bloom. In the distance are maize and tall pampas grasses, and through the vista is seen the wide expanse of the Mississippi River, on whose banks, drawn up in number, are Indian canoes.

In the foreground is a throne-chair, on which Louisiana is seated.

On the ground, in a wide semicircle, Indian chiefs sit in council, and standing in the center of the ring is Kwahonoshe.)

Louisiana:

Hail Kwahonoshe! What say now the chiefs? For three nights thus you sit and hold debate.

Kwahonoshe:

Louisiana, we have watched the signs. Two nights agone the moon rose fiery red, And shooting stars trailed through the breathless night. The owlet hooted, and the sleeping cocks Began to crow, mistaken in the dawn. Then, old Pahoha let his arrows fly In sign and signal of pernicious war. But, as we stood with all our bows new-strung, Out of the rainless sky there carne a sound, Heloha's laying of her thunder-eggs, And Malatha, her spouse, with lightnings rent. The great trees.-So, in truth, we knew full well They frowned upon our enterprise.

Louisiana:

Right glad Am I. I love not wars! What then did ye?

Kwahonoshe :

We sent the pact of peace; our arrows hung With fledgling doves. And from the Choctaw chief His squaw is come, to ask in seal thereof Katlaha's hand for Shamgolo.

Louisiana:

And gives your squaw consent?

Kwahonoshe:

A squaw thinks as her chief.

(Sounds of approval from the chiefs, who rise. Enter old squaw with Katlaha, other squaws, and maidens.)

Louisiana:

Katlaha, come my child, did'st know that ere The moon shines white upon yon yucca blooms, Shamgolo comes to claim you as his bride?

Katlaha:

Entreat me not, O Kwahonoshe, I Know not this youth. No Colapissa yet Has wed when love came not to light the fires Within the wigwam, nor to weave the mats The bride walks over to her marriage couch.

Kwahonoshe :

Who speaks of love? You stand and idly prate As any forest maid that saunters forth Beneath the stars to seek adventure. What Know you of love?

Katlaha:

Once long ago, before The Colapissas moved from Talcatcha, I saw a stranger on our shores. He stood With arms outstretched to greet the golden sun, And when he saw me, smiled and asked if I Were dawn just stept from out the rosy East.

Kwahonoshe :

How now? And so for this strange unknown youth You dream and prate of love, and now defy me?

Katlaha:

My father, force me not! Would not this chief Content him with another maid? There be,

O Kwahonoshe, some more fair to meet His fierce desire. Louisiana, speak! I do entreat you speak in my behalf.

Louisiana:

Katlaha, you must give consent. The tribes Be then at peace. Young Shamgolo is tall And strong, your ogla needs his strength of arm ;

Pahoha is grown old, and even he, Brave Kwahonoshe, soon must lay him down Beneath those mounds your fathers builded them

Beyond the stream. This stranger youth who stole Your heart, you know not of. Who then will draw The bow in your defense?

Katlaha:

Enough! I yield, Shamgolo asks my hand- that shall he have! My heart belongs to me to reckon with.

(Noise is heard without. Shamgolo arrives with his companions, who carry rough torches of fire to light the marriage feast. They approach. Katlaha, as is the custom of Indian maidens, retreats. Shamgolo tries to catch her. She evades him and finally is caught in his strong arms. Katlaha raises her eyes slowly,-then, as if overcoming her dislike, looks defiantly into the eyes of the bridegroom. )

Katlaha:

(with surprise and great joy)

You! You! My stranger! What mad dream is this?

Shamgolo:

My sweet Katlaha, this be no mad dream. Through burning days and sleepless nights I've fought The arrows of the Colapissas. Then Bold Okesok, my father, swore that I Should wed you even though the streams ran blood.

Katlaha:

Then you did love and seek me, Shamgolo?

Shamgolo:

As one whose wandering spirit seeks its mate. The grounds of Aba with their singing birds And luscious fruit could hold me not, if you

Had stood without.

Katlaha:

But why, when once you knew The wigwam of my father, spoke you not?

Shamgolo:

Our tribes were then at enmity. Besides I chose to win you as a chieftain should. My wife should not be bought as other maids, Katlaha, while my bow could bend for her. Sooner would I have sought to stain the sun Than lay my bear skins at your father's tent.

(While they are speaking, preparations are being made for the marriage feast. A rough log is chosen over which skins are thrown. Two seats in the centre for the bride and groom are covered with white bear. The end ones for the chiefs of each ogla are of otter and deer. Kwahonoshe and Okesok take their seats, and while soft music is played, Shamgolo leads Katlaha.)

Shamgolo:

Belov�d come! Our marriage seats are spread Old Kwahonoshe and Okesok wait! They make agreement, but we give consent; They bind the fate of tribes, but love binds us.

(He leads her gently, and they take their seats. Suddenly the music changes. It becomes rough and barbaric. The other Indians, men, women, and children, gather together. They lock arms and move sidewise, first in one direction and then in the other. A leader stands apart keeping time with two sticks, and with grunts and sounds and noise of tomtoms they follow the music. Finally one assumes leadership. They fall into a long line as each grasps the shoulders of the one in front. They are led through a series of serpentine movements, coiling closer and closer, until they resemble a huge snake. A Herald's bugle is heard. The music abruptly stops. The Indians, in startled amazement, rush for their bows and arrows, then, as if powerless, stand still with spanned bows. Curtain drawn for a moment only.)

ACT II. ARRIVAL OF LA SALLE.

CHARACTERS.

Robert Cavelier de La Salle......Canadian Adventurer

Zenobre Mernbr� ..............A Recollect Missionary

Jacques de la Metairie .......................Notary

Francois de Boisrondet

Nika ............................La Salle's Hunter

Sarget .........................La Salle's Servant

Kwahonoshe

Okesok

Shamgolo

Katlaha

French gentlemen, priests, Indian guides, squaws and children. Indians present in the last scene.

SCENE

(Same as close of last.)

Enter Herald.

Herald:

All hail, Louisiana!

Louisiana:

Herald, hail!

Kwahonoshe:

What means your bugle?

Herald:

Kwahonoshe, hear,

And all you chiefs assembled. On your shores Are bark canoes in number. Their great prows Bear images of strange design. And men, With faces whiter than the moon, arrive With cross-bows, swords, and flags they hold aloft.

Okesok:

Be these men Gods? Louisiana, read
The portent of their coming. Means it war?

Louisiana:

It means, Great Chief, that on this splendid land
Your sun is set, and shining in the East
A golden sun awakes a new-born day.
Already crumbled are your Temple mounds,
Already darkened are your Temple fires.
The walled towns your fathers builded them
Already are forgot; and burned out now
Your wigwam fires. For Nations, like the day,
Have their bright morn, their noon, their setting sun.

Okesok:

Our sun shall set not while we wield our bows! The land is ours, our fathers gave it us.

Louisiana:

All hail, Robert Cavelier de La Salle! And you, mon P�re Zenobe Membr�, and you, Messieurs, my welcome, one and all!

La Salle:

All hail, Louisiana! In the name of France We come with purpose strong, backed by our swords, To take possession for our noble king, Louis Ie Grand, of France and of Navarre, This mighty river that seeks outlet here, And all the land that stretches on its shores, From that wide region of the Algonquins far To this of Colapissas by the Gulf.

Kwahorwshe:

That shall you not, you white-faced god! Our bows And arrows and our tomahawks shall speak Far louder than the names of kings unknown.

Pere Zenobe:

My children, listen! Span you not your bows. The king of France shall reign, and over all The Bon Dieu stretches out his hands. Kneel down Before the cross. Believe! Give him your souls, And your allegiance give to France's king.

(He shows them the crucifix, and they turn away as if terrified. Shamgolo holds Katlaha trembling in his

arms.)

Shamgolo

Awake, belov�d, from this strange alarm. This is our marriage morn. What cause for fear? What are these strangers, what their king, their cross?

Katlaha:

Shamgolo, clasp me close. I tremble still. I hate their faces and their cold, dead god.

Shamgolo:

Think not on death, Katlaha, but on life. Let us steal forth, belov�d, through the dawn. This is our day of love, and comes the night, With throbbing hearts we'll dream beneath the stars.

(As they go out, Nika shows beads and trinkets to the Indians.) •

Nika:

Sarget

(overhearing conversation)

Take you this one of jade For that sweet bride, as marriage gift. And this Great robe to place before her wigwam fire.

(Kwahonoshe is pleased, and the other Indians crowd around, receiving gifts and examining the newly arrived strangers, their costumes, swords, flags, etc.)

Kwahonoshe :

(To La Salle)

Is it in truth, you buy our lands and give Us leave to stay? Perchance your noble chief Would trade our furs and give us implements To till the fields. Our Indian wheat grows tall, And on a summer's day the tasseled corn Waves, like the flags you carry, in the wind.

Francois de Boisrondet : In truth it is a land fit for our king, And in his name we now possess ourselves.

(He hands the column to La Salle who places it in the ground the others have been preparing. P�re Zenobe plants the crucifix near by and at its foot a plate bearing the Arms of France. While this is being done the Te Deum is played softly.)

LaSalle:

Louisiana, be our witness now This land is ours and all contained therein. By planting here this column we affirm No white man's foot has ever trod this soil, And by the holy cross we pledge ourselves To bring the light of God to this new race.

Louisiana:

Right well you've spoken, Robert de La Salle! We bear you witness. And now, gentlemen, Your own insignia. Where be Ie notaire? Monsieur La Metairie, stand forth! And you Messieurs, sign each and all his parchment. Let The great chiefs also set their seals thereto.

(While they are signing, the Te Deum becomes louder. Then is played the Domine, Salvum fac Regem.)

LaSalle:

And now, Messieurs with one accord we shout Vive! Vive! Le Roi de France et de Navarre! Louis Ie Grand, Louis quatorze de France.

(Curtain.)

ACT III.
THE SIEUR de BIENVILLE
and
LA NOUVELLE ORLÉANS.

Prelude.
THE DREAM OF CRESCENT MOON.

Scene 1.

Forest as before. Music. Louisiana still seated in throne-chair. In immediate foreground on a bed of Spanish moss are discovered Crescent Moon and Falaya, her Indian playmate. It is just before dawn. Through the semi-darkness are seen creeping stealthily out from the forest little live-oak trees hung with moss, which dance round them and hold lacy fingers to protect the sleeping children from the winds off the river.

As the scene gradually lightens, the flowers: violets, cherokee roses, yellow jessamine, trumpet-honeysuckle, and magnolias, play round them.

With a burst of light — Dawn enters and kisses them.

As Crescent Moon wakes they all vanish.

Louisiana Crescent Moon Falaya .... .. .......Indian playmate to Crescent Moon The Sieur de Bienville ..... Governor of Louisiana Colony Hubert .. . ........... . ............Director General

Boisbriant.. } Lieutenants of the Regent, Louis Philippe.

Chateaugué.

The Chevalier de la Tour .... ......... .....Engineer The Sieur Pauget ...............Assistant Engineer Le Page du Pratz

Gentlemen, Artisans, Sailors, Indians.

SCENE 2.

Falaya: (Just awakened)

Wake, Crescent Moon. I had a dream.

Crescent Moon:

A dream!

Falaya:

O! such a dream! I saw the oak trees come And hold their mossy limbs to keep us warm. And then the flowers bloomed — Magnolias And violets and yellow jessamine — How sweet they were!

Crescent Moon :

Ah! how I love them all!

Falaya:

I love the roses best. We have great vines With blooms as white as milk at Oumas, where Our wigwams are. The Cherokees in Spring Would make you dance with joy, O Crescent Moon.

Crescent Moon:

But Cherokees have thorns!

Falaya:

I dreamed again A sunbeam came and kissed us on the lips, It danced above our eyes and then bent down.

Crescent Moon:

O, would that I had seen it! But I too Have had a dream. I saw great galleons come With gods in shining silk and glad array.

Falaya:

And did they come from France like that La Salle My father told us of? Each night I think To see him come again. Would he take you My Crescent Moon? You would not go to France?

Crescent Moon:

Nay, not to France. Let France come here to us! You still could be my hand-maid and I, then, Would be a princess. Let us close our eyes And dream the gods are come.

Falaya:

Nay, Crescent Moon, The dawn is here.

Crescent Moon:

Not yet! The mocking birds Have still not warbled to the rising sun.

(They fold their arms round each other and go back to sleep. Enter the Sieur de Bienville, Hubert, Boisbriant, Chateaugu�, Chevalier de la Tour, Sieur Pauget, Le Page du Pratz, with followers.) .

Bienville:

Louisiana, hail !

The Others:

All hail to you!

.. Mn

Louisiana,.... :.