Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-17
A CANTATA IN TEXAS.
The Texans Enjoy ESTHER Interpreted by
Home Talent.


We are prone to form a bad opinion of
the morals of Texas by the reports that
are conveyed to our ears through the
venial press. One would be led to think
that every citizen carries from six to ten
revolvers, to say nothing of few dirks
and several torpedoes in his coat-tail
pocket. Now, am pleased to correct
this false impression, having but recently
returned from that State. where I at
tended cantata Of "Queen Esther"
Will you let me tell the gossipe1s how
the affair passed off, st. Nilliad is a
pleasant town near the Mexican line. It
is noted for its docility No man is al
lowed to carry more than six pistols Ut
once there, and the Magistrate recently
fined a dead Niger for carrying shot
gun concealed about his person. The
Sunday school scholars are made to de-
post their pistols in the vestibule before
the school opens, and no minister is per-
mitted to keep more than two shot-guns
in the pulpit.
The cantata, the first ever gotten up at
St. Killiad, was a sublime affair. Hobson
Hall was filled at an early hour During
the opening chorus strange noise was
heard behind the stage, and the manager
said that their Hannah rad accidentally
shot himself while practicing with Nor
decai, and Bill Briggs vas substituted.
Bill forthwith made his appearance, with
pants stuck in boots, in the most non
chalant manner, and began to call Nor
decai a secondhand clothing store and
other pct names. I saw at once that Bill
had the heart of the audience, for cries of
"Go in, Bill! "Give 'em !" came from ev-
cry part of the house. I really think that
Bill actually believed himself to be Ha-
man; but he was finally coaxed from the
stage by the muzzle of several shot-guns,
that ere pokcd at him from the wings,
and Ahasuerus came on.
"Bully for Ahhaz!'' yelled boy in the
gallery.
The Assyrian king stopped suddenly
and looked up at the enthusiastic youth:
SSee here" lie said, "this is religious
play, and decency has to be observed.
That boy forgets that this is the State of
Texas, and we're going to have order if
we've got to get it with pistol. I'm
playing Ahasuerusj just now, but after the
show Ill be Sam Turner again and if any
man wants to see me then he can make
his wants KNOWN
The cantata proceeded but l felt I'M
easy. I thought that, for an Assyrian,
Ahasuerus handled his revolver in very
careless manner, but somebody said 1t
was natural. The King had hardly got
securely seated on his throne, when
Hannah rushed from one of the wings and
said that he unerstood that two Mexicans
were in the house, and that he wouldn't
play until the Greasers we're put OUT
A sacred concert shouldn't be spoiled by
the presence Of couple Of lousy Mexl-
cans. His remraA were greeted with tu-
multuous applause, and sudden tusscl
near the door followed. The next day
the Coroner held an inquest on the bodies
of Rive Go,iad and St. Jose Mi guel, two
Mexicans who had displayed bad sense
in attending sacred concert in St. Kill
lad. After the tussel just referred to
the cantata proceeded.
Mordecal wasn't the meek-looking fell
low had expected to sec. He was a SIX
foot chap, with a practical mustache,
who remarke ed to Hannah in hearing of
one-haf the audience that he was the
oman eatln' alligator Of Texas He GER
talnl y in appearances bore out his re-
marks He and Ahasucrus had several
spirited interviews, and once, while Es-
ther was singing tor the King, Mordecai's
revolver was accidently discharged; kill
ing tae boy ~ho was overhead helping to
manipulate the scenery. AS the hang
ing OF Hannah approached I moved to-
ward the door. From some side remarks
which heard Hannah drop ON his down
fall, I expected a lively time. knew
the Bill Briggs would not be seized with
out desperate resistance, so I sloped.
1t came just as I expected. The King
and his body guard made a rush for Ha-
man, and the fun began, Bill got the
drop everywhere. Bullets whistled
through the auditorium. but not a man
moved hut one red-shirted fellow from
Galveston, who jumped on the stage and
| knoc <eds Ahasuerus down.
Next morning heard all this summed
| up as follows: Hannah shot IN the mouth
and cut in the groin; Mordecal killed
dead; Ahasuerus' nose broken and shot
| in the thigh; two Assyrian officers badly
wounded, Queen Esther badly bruised.
The St. Killiad Weekly BucksAot called
it one of ''the livcliest cantatas ever wit
| messed in the State, and hoped it would
| he repeated at some future dav.''