Steven R. Shook Collection "Such loveliness as in this spot abounds must evermore and evermore endure." - Mildred Abt's character "Duna"The Prairie Club of Chicago formed in response to the popularity of a Saturday Afternoon Walking Club begun in 1908. The group sought to protect the natural landscapes around the region, including Indiana's Duneland. The club included early prominent park supporters such as Henry Cowles and Stephen Mather.
Steven R. Shook Collection Duna: The Spirit of the DunesBy Mildred Shire Abt (Mrs. Jacob J. Abt), 1913 Characters:
SCENE— The Dunes. [Enter Duna.] Duna:— And dull my eyes grow with too eager gazing; And Hope that once with vital throbbings pulsed Lies fainting in this breast nor will revive, In this forsaken haunt I'll stay my course Till yonder sun has sought his vesp'ral couch, Then with the silv'ry moon once more I rise To seek with yearning arms my loved home. [The song of the West Wind is heard softly in the distance.] That sighs and swells and woos with burning strains Till all my senses reel and robbed of will I follow blindly on where lures its spell. . O thou my spirit's home, sound loud thy call And drown that voice that holds me in its thrall! [She holds her hands to her ears and turns away from the voice.] [Enter the West Wind. His flowing hair, on which a bird with outstretched wings is perched, reflects the sunset glow. Joy is in his light step. He carries a lute. From his shoulders, mantle-wise, hangs a carpet of tender grasses.] 
Our hearth shall be the sunset glow Steven R. Shook Collection West Wind:— What evil can betide you, If here awhile your steps you stay And I recline beside you? Duna:— Too long you would delay me. Your witching voice, alas! I know. It seeks but to betray me. West Wind:— My strength would but uphold you. My bride I seek with wooing song— My love would fain enfold you. Your beauty rare, of elfin grace, (I've watched its daily flow'ring). With rapture makes my pulses race In ecstacy o'erpow'ring. I hide within the sun's bright beams And sport among your tresses; I waft you nightly tender dreams With fairy-soft caresses. On summer's filmy wings I fly My sunset home forsaking. With lilting song and fragrant sigh Your slumbering bosom waking. O be my love, and you shall know Delights beyond the telling— Our hearth shall be the sunset glow— In verdant fields our dwelling. We'll dance across my prairies free. We'll lightly scale the mountains, And all our blissful days shall be Like sprays from sun-kissed fountains. [He spreads his mantle.] Come, sweet, this grassy mat shall be A winged bark to guide Upon a smiling summer sea The West Wind and his bride!
To passion's wayward sway my purpose high — For pleasures soft I am not fashioned. The lust of tumult surges in my veins; The raging stress of longings wild I know; The brooding song of wind-tossed waves I hear— I hear it now — or do I dream again? O tell me true, what wondrous place is this? West Wind:— Save only thine, sweet maid— No sound save love's voice calling clear. Come! greet him unafraid. [Enter the East Wind. Seaweed is entwined in his yellow hair and forms round his neck a chain, from which a mother-of-pearl horn is suspended. His dress is yellow like the sand. From his shoulder floats a billowy, sea-green scarf with foamy white edges. At his approach the West Wind dons his mantle, with which he screens Duna from view.] East Wind:— Alone? or is it that thou bidest tryst With some fair light-o'-love thou'st newly won? O brother! when wilt leave thy dalliance soft? Duna:— East Wind:— 'Twas thou I felt! And now, O say not I am come too late! Thou'rt still that Presence free, that untamed sprite For whom long vigil prayerful I have kept. West Wind:— Delusions strange hath brought to mar thy peace, Come, Sweet, I prithee leave this madman's side. Duna:— Thou that my untamed spirit thou wouldst chain. And I, that gave an ear to guileful speech. But, haply, now that madness brief hath passed. [To the East Wind.] Arise! and tell me all I fain would know; How fares it here — is this my loved domain? [The East Wind leads her to a throne-like seat fashioned of leafy boughs.] East Wind:— Must weary be. I fear, and sadly spent. Duna:— That like a low'ring cloud my soul oppressed. A mist hath fallen from mine eyes. I see About me sylvan scenes more wondrous far Than in fair dreams I pictured fond their beauty. Say on. What hast thou wrought? I long to hear. [The West Wind, who has been impatiently attending, draws nearer as the East Wind speaks, and at last sits at Duna's feet, absorbed in the recital.] East Wind:— I knew that there thy dwelling place should be. I've stormed and raged across the waters blue Till, panting 'neath me rose the swollen waves, In anguished labor broke against the shore And brought forth grains of purest golden sands To make for thee a worthy couch, my queen. And then again with moaning sound I rose To drive before me all those gleaming grains That make these wondrous shifting hills thou seest, So thou shouldst never weary grow nor sad With gazing on a never changing scene. Duna:— East Wind:— The little wavelets wait with glee my coming. With gentle breath I blow them to and fro, And oft on sea-weed chains I've helped them string The fragile shells, to guard for thine adorning. Duna:— East Wind:— The tidings glad of this, thine home-coming. [He sounds a ringing call with his horn to the North and again to the South. The North and South Winds enter on eager flying feet. The North Wind wears a gay coat of dappled autumn colors. His cheeks are rosy and his eyes are young and keen, but his hair falls snowy white about his shoulders. The South Wind is a languid youth, soft of speech, his eyes dark with reverie. His raven hair is crowned with a garland of gentian.] 
Steven R. Shook Collection The North Wind:— The South Wind:— Both:— Duna:— With you, my friends and faithful servitors. Now let me listen whilst the tale you tell, The stirring tale of all your mighty deeds. South Wind:— O Queen. Hush'd dreams of sacred beauty stir Within my poet's breast. And when no more My heart can hold its rapture full, I speak And flowers spring from up the earth to paint With prismy colors pure my dreams divine — When melts the last of Winter's snow and earth, Her gladness sings with tender songs and green, I spread beneath thy feet my carpet blue, My thoughts of heav'n, my lovely violets. And then I scatter winged fancies round; Hepatica, so faintly purple tinged; The frail anemone on slender stem; The care-free daisies dancing on the green And starry grasses bright with gleaming eyes; And phlox and columbine, and lupine loosely spiked; While through the air a subtle fragrance steals From blossom-ladened bush and tree distilled — I lift my eyes and see! The golden rod Still flaunts his yellow crest, and redly glows The scarlet painted cup. The aster blooms In gracious purple clusters. All are thine, To fill with gladness all thy waking days. I crown thee with these gentians fringed with hope; A pledge of joy that knows no halt nor end. 
Steven R. Shook Collection Duna:— I take thy pledge and feel that this is true; Such loveliness as in this spot abounds Must evermore and evermore endure. And thou, O knight of unaffrighted eyes That bold defy Old Age's ruthless hand. Speak thou, the whilst thy message we attend. North Wind:— Queen, a selfish joy is mine, in that Thou camest when with radiant harmony My brush doth Autumn's glory loud proclaim. I splash my colors with a wanton hand, Flamered, and gold and brown and dappled black. For fain thine eyes with teaming life I'd fill Before the hush of night's gray pall descends. And then when heavy droop thy lids and wan, I spread a downy blanket light as foam So that thy lovely form may warmly rest In deep untroubled sleep till morning's dawn. Duna:— Such sweet repose thy words bespeak, I greet With joy the grasp of slumber's heavy hand. North Wind to East Wind:— Wilt, brother, call our loyal company to hail Their queen before her couch she seeks. [East Wind sounds a musical call.] West Wind:— Before with grieving heart I from thee part. And yet I murmur not, since 'tis decreed
That virgin thou shalt ever reign and pure, Whilst I thy lover evermore must be. And sigh and woo, nor ever hope return. [Exit the West Wind, sadly singing his song, as the vassals of the Winds enter. Those of the East Wind wear flowing robes of green and white and bear golden cornucopias filled with sand which flows gently to the ground as they kneel before the queen. Those of the South and North Winds bear offerings of flowers and autumn leaves, which they bank about the throne, circling about Duna to the music of the West Wind’s song.] |
Last updated: August 7, 2023