The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1870-03-10
PLEAsANTVILLE.

Eds. Gd=ette:-
We attended the Amateur The
atrieal entertainment given by the
students of Fairfield Union Acade
my on tho evenings Of the I'd, I'd
and 4lh of March. The drop cur
tain, designed by Or. Willard, and
painted by Sadler, Of Ploasantville,
was q marvel of beauty We have
never seen excelled. 1t represents
a scene in "Merrie Albion" noun.
tains in the distance, and arustic
bridge over a quiet river, with
boats rejecting their shadows on
its placid surface. 1t is picture
like unto o dream Of fairy land,
and reflects great credit upon its
designer and painter. Had an ar
tisl Of celebrity, such as Beard or
Bierstadt, painted it, it would be
highly extolled ae q work of urt.
Other paintings were equally good.
One represents a scene in the Cats
kill mountains where the myth.
cal Rip Van Wrinkle took his twcu.
ty years sleep These paintings
were presented TO the institution
by Mcssrs Willard and Sadler.
Tho exercises were opened by
an address by Prof, L, ., Reade.
the principal Of tho institution. II
was the most practical address up
on education, the duties Of student
land teacher, that we have ever
heard Then the drama of Rip
Van WinkIe was enacted. This play,
dramatizcd from Washington lr>
wings we'll known stcry Of that
name, was we'll rendered in every
particular. Dr., Willard as rip
Van Winkle," =. i. Sadler as
"Derric Van Slaus," and A. L..
Brooke as Knickerbockcr,' ac-
o1itted themselves in their respect
i've characters with great credit
But it seems invidious to mention
names where all acquitted them
selves so well. Then Michael
Erie or the Maniac Lover" with
! A. Il. Kcllerman as "Michael Erie
was played. 1t was a success
throughout, and closed the even
ing's entertainment. Tho hall was
densely packed with an apprecia-
tive audience who kept the best OF
order during the exercises. The
evening of the 3d the farce of "The
Toodles" was enacted. We have
seen John Il Owens, u comedian
of acknowledged ability, in the
same character, and justice com
pels us to say that in our humble
opinion, Dr., Willard in the same
role was equally good. Miss Mol
lie Zehring personated Mrs. Ia
bitha Toodles" and acquitted her
self creditaHy-in fact, all of th'
troupe played thoir respective
parts to the satisfaction of all,
Then tho "Spectrc Bridegroom
: WAS eoacted Leslie A, Hill per
sonated 'Mr Nicodemus" the prin
cipal character, and it was wei
r eractod throughout Tho mex
evening Handy Andy" was play
, ed, and Rip Van Winklo was re
enacted. Owing to the unfavora
: bic weather there was not such
, large crowd as on the two prece
, ding evenings, The exercises, W
/, believe, gave satisfaction to all.
We almost forgot to mcntion tn
music. Gabriel played tho violi
j. not the ancient parsonage who /
t announced 10 "Joot his horL" u
some future, indefinite time, bu
Gabe Miller, OF Millersport. Tn
y piano was also played by skilliu
: hands. But right hero permit m
/ to suggest to the trustees that tha
y venerable asthmatic instrumen
" needs reconstructing so us to cno
. Bile people to distinguish its.ton
y from that Of filing a saw.
The entertainment was gotte
up for the purpose of securing ar
paratus and specimens for tn
v Academy Cabinet, and we believ
was a success financially.
: There will now be vacation {
'e three weeks, at the expiration {
o which, the next. term will con
II mcnce. Respectfully,
] lA