CHAPTER XIV

COSTUMING

The question of costuming may be dealt with in much the same manner as that of stage setting and properties. Costumes are unnecessary in many of the simpler plays, and even where they are used they should be so treated that they are of minor importance in the minds of the children. It is nearly always the case that the very smallest suggestion of a costume-a sash or a cloth around the head is satisfying and sufficient to produce the proper atmosphere of the play. There is danger of placing so much emphasis upon this phase of the work that the children attach undue importance to it and thus lose the real spirit of the dramatization.

If costumes are used they should not be saved for the final performance, but the children should have the pleasure of wearing them at each practice where they are actually living over and over the lives of other people. Children should get their ideas of the dress of the times from pictures and descriptions and then in very simple ways try to represent what they have observed. The simplicity of the costumes among the Hebrew people makes the problem comparatively simple.

ΙΔΑ

There is very little definite knowledge about the exact costume of the ancient Israelites, for they have left no records. The only sources of information on the subject are the few references to dress in the Old Testament and the few Jewish figures found among the Egyptian, Assyro-Babylonian, and Persian carvings. The conclusion has been reached, however, that the ancient Hebrew costume was in general similar to that of the modern Arab.

It is fairly certain that among the earliest tribes a simple slip or short tunic, with close-fitting sleeves, was worn. Later a big loose mantle was usually thrown over this slip. The little undergarment was white, woven from wool, or sometimes made out of skins; the outer garment was frequently striped, a bright color with white. Among the old patriarchs the outside cloak reached to the ground. It was often in the shape of a blanket, and was draped by throwing one end over the left shoulder, then passing it across the front of the body and under the right arm, then across the back, and to the left shoulder again.

At a still later period there was the long gown, which reached to the ankles and was belted in at the waist by a girdle. This was sometimes covered by an outside robe which was like a cape. Frequently these garments were brought over the heads in order to protect their wearers from the sun.

As a rule the servants and lower class of people wore only the one garment-a short tunic, with or without a girdle. The richer men wore the outside cloaks. Kings and nobles had many kinds of

cloaks which were very elaborately decorated. They had silk girdles, while the poorer men wore leather girdles. See Figs. 23-27 for costumes made by the children.

The women's dress was very much the same as that worn by the men. All garments may have

been a little longer, but the draping and the kinds

of garments were the same. beautiful veils and shawls.

Great ladies had

Both men and women wore sandals. The soles were made of leather or thick woven cords. They were fastened to the feet by means of strings