, 1879-08-09
81 90 PER YE.
A CaAtata In Texas.

We are prone to form bad OPT
the morals Of Texas by the repo Pine
Are conveyed to our ears through Any
nal press. One would be led to the
that every citizen carried from six
reyolvers, to say nothing of few
and several torpedoes in his CO acek
pocket. Now, / am pleased to o,-ds
this false impression, having but recs
returned from that state, where l atten,
ed cantata Of Queen Esther. VIII you
let me- tell the gossipers how the affair
lassed off St. kiiliad Is pleasant town
near the Mexican line 1t is noted for
its docility No man is allowed to carry
more than six pistols at once there, and
the magistrate recently fined dead mig.
ger for carrying . shotgun concealed
about his person. The Sunday school
scholars are made to deposit their pistols
in tho vestiha.e before school cpc.i,, and
no minister ia permitted to keep moro
than two sbot-guas in the pulpit
The cantata, the FIRST ever gotten up at
st. killiad, was sublime affair Hobson
Hall was filed up at an early hour Dur
ing the opening chorus strange noise
was heard behind the stage, and the man
ager said that their Haman had accident
ally shot himself while practicing with
Mordecai, and Bill Biggs was substituted.
Bill forthwith made his appearance, with
pants stuck in boots, in the most aon-
chalant manner, and began to call Morde-
cia second hand clothing store and other
pet names. saw at once that Bill had
the heart Of the audience, for the cries of
go In, Bill !" "Give EN- !" came from
every part of the house. l really think
that Bill actually believed himself TO be
Haman but he was finally ooaked from,
the stage by the muzzles of several shot
guns, that were poked at him from the
wings, and AhaSuerus came on.
q Bully for Ahaz :" yelled boy in the
gallery.
The Assyrian king stopped suddenly
and looked up at the enthusiastic youth.
"See here" he said, this is a relig-
ious 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 the pistol. I'm
playing Ahasuerus Just now, but after the
show I'll he Sam Turner again, and If any
man wants to see me then he can make
his wants known.
The cantata proceeded, but l felt un-
easy. l thought, that, for an Assyrian,
Ahasuerus handled his revolver in n very
careless manner, but somebody said it was
natural. The king hardly got securely
seated on his throne when Haman rushed
from one of the wings and said that he
understood that two Mexicans were in
the house. and that he would not play
until the Greasers were put out. A
sacred conce,t shouldn't be spoiled by the
presence Of two lousy Mexicans His re-
marks were created with tumultuous ap-
clause, and sudden tussla, near the door
f. is!lSxsa .ss.. 4. The n. ne5 day TN hsia
and St. Jose Miguel, the two Mexieans
who had displayed bad sense i'll attending
a sacred concert in st. killlad. After the
tussle Just referred to the cantanta pro-
ceeded.
Mordecai wasn't the meek looking fel-
low ! had expected to see. He was SIX
foot chap, with piratical mustaehe, who
remarked to Haman in hearing of one
half the audience, that he was the man
eat;n' alligator of Texas" He certainly
in all appearance bore out his remarks.
He and Ahasuerus had several spirited in
terviews, and once, while Esther was sing
ing for the king, Mordeeai's revolver was
accidentally discharged, killing the boy
who was overhead helping to manipulate
the scenery. As the hanging Of Haman
approached / moved toward the door.
From some side remarks which l heard
Haman drop on his downfall, l e1pected
a lively time. l knew that Bill Biggs
would not be seized without desperate
resistance, so l sIoped. 1t came just as I
expected. The king and his body guard
made rush for Haman, and the fun be-
gan. Bill got the drop everywhere. Bull
lets whistled through the auditorium, but
not man moved except one red-shlrted
fellow from Galveston, who jumped on
the stage and knocked Ahasnerus down.
The next morning heard all this sum-
med up as follows Haman shot in the
mouth and cut in groin /; Mordecai killed
dead Ahasuerus' nose broken and shot
in thigh two Assyrian officers badly
wounded Queen Esther badly bruised.
The st Killiad Weekly Buekshot called it
one of ''the hveliest cantatas ever wit
messed in the state, and hoped it would
be repeated at some future day"