The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-07-17
A CANTATA IN TEXAS.
The Texans Enjoy Esther Interpreted by
Home Talent.

We are prone to form 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 a cantata Of "Qucen Esther
Will you let me tell the gossipc1s how
the affair passed off St. Nilliad is
pleasant town near the Mexican line. 1t
is noted for its docility. No man is al
lowed to carry more than six pistols at
once there, and the Magistrate recently
fined dead Niger for carrying shot
gun concealed about his person. The
Sunday -schonl scholars are made to de-
post their pistols in the vestibulc before
the school opens, and no minister is per-
mittcd to keep more than two shot-guns
in the pulpit
The cantata, the first ever gotten up at
St. Killiad, was 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 / adj accidentally
shot himself while practicing with Nor
dccai, and Bill Bri ggs was substituted.
Bill forthwith made his appearance, with
pants stuck in boots, in the most nom
chalant manner, and began to call Nor
dccai secondhand clothing store and
other pct names. I saw at once that Bill
had the heart of the audience, for cries OF
$50 in, Bill!' "Glvc EN- came from cv-
cry part Of the house. l really think that
Bill actually believed himself to he Ha-
man; but he was finally coaxcd from the
stage by the muzZle of several shot-guns,
that Ncrc pokcd at him from the wings,
and Ahasuerus came on.
"Bully for Ahhaz" yelled a boy in the
gallery.
The Assyrian king stopped suddenly
and iooNcd M at the enthusiastic youth:
"Scc here he said, '*this is religious
| play, and decency has to be Observed
| That boy forgcts that this is the State of
Texas, and were going to have order if
we've got to get it with pistol. I'm
playing Ahasuerusjust now, but after the
! show Ill be Sam Turner again and if any
man wants to see nc then he can make
his wants known
The cantata proceeded but | telt I'M
easy. I thought that, for an Assyrian,
Ahasucrus 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 lie wouldn't
play until the Greascrs were put out"
| a sacred concert shouldn't be spoiled by
the presence Of a couple Of lousy Mcxl-
cans. His rcmraA were greeted with tu-
multuous applause, and a sudden tussel
near the door followed. The next day
the Coroner held an inquest on the bodies
of Rive Go,iad and ST. Jose Miguel, two
Mcxicans who had displayed bad sense
i'll attending a sacred concert in St. XII.
lad. After the tusscl Just referred to
the cantata proceeded.
Mordecai wasn't the meek looking fell
low had expected to see Hc was a SIN
foot chap, with Il practical mustachc,
who remarked to Hannah in hearing of
onc-half the audience that he was the
''man- eatln' alligator of Texas He GER
talnly in appearances bore out his re-
marks. He and Ahasucrus had several
spirited interviews, and once, while Es-
thcr was singing tor the King, Mordccai's
revolver was accidcntly discharged; kill
ing tie boy ~ho was overhead helping to
manipulate the scenery. AS the hang
ing OF Haman approached I~moved to-
ward the door. From some side remarks
which heard Hannah drop on his down.
fall, I expected lively timc. I knew
the Bill Briggs would not be seized with
out desperate resistance, so 1 slopcd.
1t came just as expected. The King
and his body-guard made rush for H;l-
man, and the fun began, Bill got the
drop cvery-a here. Bullets whistled
through the auditorium. but not a man
moved hut one red-shirtcd fellow from
Galveston, who jumped on the stage and
knoc <ed Ahasuerus down.
Next morning heard all this summed
up as follows: Hannah shot In the mouth
and cut in the groin; Mordeca, killed
dead; Ahasucrus' nose broken and shot
in the thigh; two Assyrian officers badly
wounded, Queen Esther badly bruised
The St. Killiad Weekly Buckshot called
it one of "the livcliest cantatas ever wit
| messed in the State, and hoped it would
| be repeated ut some future day.