The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-05-09
PLEASANT EVENINGS.
THE DAIRY MAIDS AND
PANToMIMEs -AIooT SENATE

THE DAIRY sMAIDS-TABLEAUA M
PANToMInIEs -nlooT SENATE DANCE
SOIREE, &C. ~ ttasAs .r--
Staunton is glorious place for the impe-
cunious society man. He can indulge In
wild prodigali.y OF amusements, occupy tine
best seats at first-class entertainments, revel
in programmes, and measure up to the full
statue OF millionaire, for ought the world
knows, for the small sum of s'two dimes and
half, twenty five cents, or one quarter OF
DOLLAR just think of it; for the past
week scarcely night has slipped by with :
out aifording some opportunity for crafty
iag the esthetic, and exhibiting gallantry
on a very cheap scale. q Anuscments have
crowded on each other in quick succession,
and their merit has been enhanced and pop
ularity increased by the absence of all Pc
cuniary consideration, thus, at one blow,
cutting the Georgian knot, and Solving the
difficult problem OF .'how can 1 afford it. y
Hard times has raised up friends for the
moneyless, and considerable nature has rem
aered hacks superfluous luxury, ard every
sensible girl has declared them intolerable
Within the week there have been some hall
dozen entertainments, and only one of them
THE DAIRY MAIDS RECEPTION, +
cxacted the lucre ssi ;:r s2!5
This last was such novel affair, at least,
it was endowed with such a novel name,
that the curious were anxious to know. ex-
actly what the programme was, and SO early
Thursday night the Grange Hall was well
filled, and some twenty or thirty maids, at
tired In the most gorgeous of milking cos
tunes, made tn cir appearance on the stage
Tie unsophistcated looked in vain for the
traditional COW, pail and stool, which iii
olden times were deemed Indispensable ad-
juncts to the dairy, but in these days Of
$50, 900 water works, the tactical fluid of the
vulgar animal has to be so thoroughly
drenched with double refined taxed water,
that the more advanced fally expected to
see fine large fountain and barrel Of
chalk presented to full view. in order to give
some color Of genuineness to the entertain
ment. Both classes were. however, disap-
pointed, the only quadruped visible being a
handsome Stief Piano. Indeed, the impress
sion prevailed that the Introduction OF an
old fashioned COW to the imp ediate circle of
those modern professionals, would have
caused such scampering of feet, commo-
ton OF skirts and lifting up Of voices, as
would forever have ruined the faultless ac-
oustics of that architectural triumph-the
Grange Hall. rsiff s5S .i.
Promptly at eight O'Clock the Dairy Maids
stepped forward, and gave an excellent rem
dition of that sweet ballad, "Auld Lang
Syne." This was followed by other choice
musical selections, including splendid solos
by Misses Lizzie Daniel, Cora Turner and
Efie Stiff, and that sweetest of trios, s'Dis-
tant Chimes" by the three. Between the
music came Rotations by Masters Ashby
Houshour, and w. II. Snuff, and Miss Rosa
Glenn, all of which reflected credit upon the
were considerably marred, however, by the
miserable acoustics OF the Hall. Prof.
Scharf read the famous s.Bardell and Pick
wick'' trial in his Usually happy manner, and
the entertainment closed with the chorus,
''Dairy Maids are we,'' after which the
audience repaired to the hume rous tables
and partook of refreshments. At one OF
these tables fresh milk. cream and other
products of the dairy were dispensed. This
was, perhaps, the most popular of all the
stands, and literally patronized.
Altogether, the evening was pleasantly
spent, and the entertainment was voted a
success, the credit Of which was due. main
ly, to the indomitable perseverance and
tireless efforts of Mrs. James w. Newton,
who we regret to learn, allowed her zeal to
outrun her prude nee, and the result OF her
over-exertion was severe illness the Eext
morning, from which she is now slowly recov-
ering.
The net proceeds of the entertainment
were some one hundred and thirty odd dol
lars.
TABLEAUX AND PANTOMIMES.
There is always rush to the D. d. 3. In
stitItion every time an entertainment is an
nounced. The attraction is duplicate, for
not only do people feel assured of real, hear
ty enjoyment within the walls of the chapel,
but the cool inviting aspect of the groun6s,
its dark, deep shale and sparkling .foun-
tans seem to welcome in such a cordial
manner, that it is well worth the outlay of
time to visit them, even il the inducement
was solitary. AND then, too, pleasure is so
contagious, and the pupils enter into the
performances with SO much of zeal, life an
spirit and sach whole-soul enjoyment,
that it is impossible not to feel the pleasant
and inspirIing effect
Last Friday night, as usual the chapel
was crowded with fashionable audience,
and the programme was an admirable one,
notwithstanding the absence of music from
the stage. 1t consisted of tableaux and
pantomimes. and no one who has not wit
messed the deaf and dumb in pantomime car
form an idea OF how realistic and expressive
it is. The whole life of these unfortunates
is pantomme, and their portrayal of its
emotions and passions through the dumb
medium of signs, is wonderful. Without
the least difficulty the audience was en-
abled to understand the incidents and stu.
atioas of each scene and fully appreciate the
| minutest detail
The opening tablcau, s.From shore to
Shore" representing boat ladened with
travellers, crossing stream, was gotten up
splendidly, and could scarcely have been
better. After this. followed tableaux and
pantomimes arranged with rare taste and pre- :
duced with the most pleasing effect. Per-
haps, the best Of the pantomimes was that of
Glove under difficulties in which the
tribulations, trials and final triumph of
Cupid's victim were presented with faith
fitness and force that brought into play all
the varied properties of the tender passion,
as well as erascible tendencies of the stern
pa-ri-ent. We have not the space to de-
scribe in detail each scene of the entertain
ment, but all of them were excellent, and
richly deserved the most flattering com,nen-
dations. They attested in an eminent de-