"CAMINOS DE ORO"-A MASQUE OF THE YELLOW MOON-PRESENTATION BY P. U. H. S.

"Caminos de Oro" P. U. H. S. Devotes Masque of Yellow Moon To de Niza Epic

JUST a few days more than 400 years will have passed since Fray Marcos de Niza first trod the soil of Arizona when his memory will be honored in Phoenix with a three day celebrationa parade, a masque, and a grand ball. Fray Marcos, you remember, was the first white man to come to Arizona. He came on a journey of discovery, impelled by an earnest desire to "save souls," to bring the light of the Christian Catholic faith to the brown savages who lived far, far to the north of Nueva Espana. Fired by his zeal, and the rich stories told by one Estevan, a Moorish slave who had heard the tales on his travels with Cabeza de Vaca, the good padre set out, with Estevan as guide, to explore an unknown country, a journey not for himself, but for his God and his king. He found wilderness, desolation, arid desert, and hostility engendered by the arrogance and insolent audacity of Estevan. But he saw all with an eye colored by his desire to see great things, and was so inspired in his relating of his discoveries that upon his return to the viceroy's court in Mexico City he transmitted his enthusiasm to the court and Coronado's famous expedition was the result. Disgrace, misery, unhappiness, disillusionment were all that resulted from that fateful trip. Fray Marcos' report of golden cities was deemed false, and in a measure it was, but the Spaniards for many moons were bitter about his tales, and Coronado died in obscurity because of his unsuccessful attempt to find the things Fray Marcos said were there.

Last year's Masque, "Under Four Flags," was a glorious production. The framework for the back-drop was made of four-by-four timbers, stood 40 feet high. Careful drill and practice as shown on the left results in a spectacular scene as shown on the right. Ten thousand people cram Phoenix high school stadium to view these great presentations. (Photos by Harry L. Crockett.) The staging of a Masque is a tremendous undertaking. Preparations and thought begin a year before presentation night. A cast of 1200 or more must be trained, costuming, make-up, printing, and the mass of details that go into a smooth, clock-work dramatic show all these things require time, hard work. The finished product is a distinctive accomplishment for any community. (Photos by Harry L. Crockett.) But with the flowing centuries, a new conception of the riches of the country through which these men passed has come, and they are today held in high esteem for their intrepid souls and earNo happier combination of talents could be imagined, for with these two working together, each succeeding pageant has been more beautiful, more artis-certain that no coming pageant could surpass the one just staged.

But each year, as pageant time rolls round, it becomes evident to those who watch the progress of the Masque that fertile imaginations and artistic skill are again producing a masterpiece.

Practice session the band playsthe dancers work out their routinebooks are on the benches-watching students look on from the sidelines. (Photo by Harry L. Crocket)

Artistic than the last; and each year it seems

They have chosen to call the 1939 pageant "Caminos de Oro"-"pathway of gold" and it will tell in pageant form the story of the quest for gold which sent the good padre on his way, the truth of what he found, and the minting of the hidden gold.

Earnest zeal which carried them forward.

So, this year-1939-Marcos de Niza walks again, a proud man, a happy man, safe in the knowledge that his God gave him wisdom beyond his time to see the things which the more worldly could not see, to know the things which we today know, a country rich in all the things the Spaniards sought but could not find. To honor Fray Marcos, Arizona is par-ading before the eyes of the world, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of his coming.

The first episode will tell in graphic form the story of the greed of the Conquistadores, the avarice of the Spanish court, the faith of Fray Marcos and his willingness to undertake the almost impossible journey of exploration to the north to find the truth of the stories of Estevanico so that he might carry forward his work of spreading the faith.

The second episode "The Verity"-will tell the story of the real gold which lay across the country, the gold of yellow poppies, the gold of happy Indian souls, and will bring in the legend of the Yellow Moon.

And he will be the central theme in the 14th annual pageant of the Masque of the Yellow Moon, to be staged May 5, by the student body and faculty of the Phoenix High School, and sponsored by the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce.

The third and final episode will be the flowering of the gold which lay hidden from Spanish eyes, the gold of the country itself, its agriculture, its mines, its culture and development.

And through it all walks Fray Marcos, sad at first but vindicated and held in This stupendous undertaking will be directed by Cordelia McLain Perkins, head of the Fine Arts department of the school who has directed each of the preceding pageants. And, as always, it will be written by Neil Estes Cook, head of the English department of the Phoenix Junior College.

high regard after 400 years. The Masque of the Yellow Moon is remarkable in that everyone in school has a part in it. More than 3,000 students of the high school and junior college make up the cast. And the work of making scenery, costumes, is made a school project, done on school time, so that it does not interfere with regular work. In the sewing classes, the girls learn Three bands supply the music for the Masque the R. O. T. C. band of P. U. H. S., the P. U. H. S. Girls' band and the Phoenix Junior College band; comprising a group of more than 200 musicians. Dance rehearsals take place during home room pePeriods for the divisions of the student body. It's hard work but work directed toward worth-while accomplishment. (Photos to cut and make their costumes as a part of their semester's work.

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by Harry L. Crockett.)