The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-07-17
A CANTATA IN TEXAS.

A CANTATA IN TEXAS.
The Texans Enjoy Esther" Interpreted by
Home Talent.
Bradford Era.
We are prone to form bad opinion of
the morals of Texas by the reports that
arc 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 a few dirss
and several torpedoes in his coat-tail
pocket. Now, am pleased to correct
this false impression, having but recently
returned from that State, where l at
tended Il cantata of Queen Esther
Will you let me tell the gossipe1s how
the affair passed off? St. Nilliad is IA
pleasant town near the Mexican line. It
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 a shot
gun concealed about his person. The
Sunday-school scholars arc 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 sublime affair. Hobson
Hall was filled at an early hour During
the opening chorus strange noise was
heard behind the stage. and the manager
fbaf I.rn hoI fo1l
shot himself while practicing with Nor
decai, and Bill Briggs was substituted.
Bill forthwith made his appearance, with
pants stuck in boots, in the most non
chalant manner, and began to call Nor
'lecai secondhand clothing store and
other pct names. l saw at once that Bill
had the heart OF the audience, for cries of
$50 in, Bill!' "Givc 'cm!' came from cv-
cry part OF the house. really think that
Bill actually believed himself to be Ha-
man; but he was finally coaxcd from the
stage by the muzzlc Of several shot-guns,
that were 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 looked up at the enthusiastic youth:
''See here,' he said, 'this is religious
play. and decency has to be observed.
That boy lorgets that this is the State of
Texas, and we're going to have order if
we've got to get it with Il pistol I'm
playing Ahasuerusjust now, but after the
show I'll be Sam Turner again and if any
his wants known
The cantata proceeded but l felt ull-
easy. I thought that, fol an Assyrian,
Ahasuerus handled his revolver in q 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 were put OUT
A sacred concert shouldn't be spoiled by
the presence Of couple Of lousy Mexi-
cans. His remraks were greeted with tu-
multuous applause, and a sudden tusscl
near the door followed. The next day
the Coroner held an inquest on the bodies
Of Rive Goiiad and St. Jose Miguel, two
Mexicans who had displayed bad sense
in attending a sacred concert in St. Kill
lad. After the tusscl just referred to
the cantata proceeded.
Mordecai wasn't the meek-looking tel-
low had expected to see. He was a SIX
foot chap, with u practical mustachc,
: who remarked to Hannah in hearing of
onc-half the audience that he was the
'man-eatln' alligator of Texas He GER
family in appearances bore out his re-
marks. He and Ahasuerus had several
spirited interviews, and once, while Es-
thcr was singing tor the King, Mordecai's
revolver was accidcntly discharged; kill
ing tae boy who was overhead helping to
manipulate the scenery. AS the hang
ing OF Hannah approached moved to-
ward the door. From some side remarks
Which I heard Hannah drop on his down
fall, l expected lively time. knew
the Bill Briggs would not be seized with
out a desperate resistance, SO I slopcd.
1t came just as expected. The King
and his body guard made rush for Ha-
man, and the fun began, Bill got the
drop every-Uhere. Bullets whistled
through the auditorium. but not man
moved but one red-shirted fellow from
Galveston, who jumped on the stage and
knocked 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 badl,
wounded, Queen Esther badly bruised
The St. Killiad Weekly Buckstot called
it one of ''the liveliest cantatas ever wit
messed in the State, and hoped it would
81 .,x ILL.,. 4