Figure 1.-- Here we see American primary school children having fun by participating in a delightful children's band. We do not know where it was taken, but the building at the black is clearly a school. The portrait was taken about 1922-24. The picture appeared in a group of photographs that were all designated "the early 1920s." It seems to be some sort of children's party--perhaps a birthday party because the kids are all wearing party paper hats. One can imagine the joyful noise with cymbals, triangle, drum, whistles, etc. The boys' clothes are interesting because of the variety displayed. One boy, playing the triangle, wears above-the-knee knickers with beige long stockings and a white shirt. The boy next to him, with the drum, wears striped long trousers and a colorfully striped sweater. The boy conductor, standing on a chair, wears a one-piece play-suit with an opening in front designed like the flap of the traditional sailor's pants. The suit seems to be white, but the strip across the front with the buttons for the flap is of a contrasting color, possibly red. The girls wear knee socks with their dresses, but in two cases have rolled the knee socks down around their ankles. The only long stockings, apparently help up by supporters, are worn by the boy with the knickers. As part of their party costumes, all the children seem to have some sort of colored hood or makeshift cape around their shoulders. Perhaps a mother or a teacher fashioned these costumes for some sort of party performance. Some of the children seem to be wearing canvas hightop shoes or sneakers (notice the boy conductor's shoes). These children would appear to be about 5 or 6--either KIndergarten or First Grade. |
