Richland beacon., 1880-07-03
DEVILS IN THE CHURCH.
I me. story Of Blni Cork Hlnsr n DC Road

Never heard of such thing BEFORE"
said Charley Bennett, after prying open
. window and plunging head first into
little wayside church to escape the
driving and chilling storm.
Heard of whatf questioned Johnny
Lyon, carefully unwrapping his coat
from sround his banjo and restoring it
to his shiverin9 person.
"A church theatrical and that's what
this Is bound to be tonight" and Char
ley also removed the wrappings from his
violin che rest II the boys following his
example, and producing bones and tam
BOURNE they had guarded from the
snow and sleet.
"Not much," put in Dick Lamb, with
. nonchalant whistle. "Its something
entirely new on the programme, and
ought to take"
III somebody dom take US for burglar
izing a church, I'll be satisfied" laughed
Larry Conners, the fourth of the quar-
tstte that had busted upon the road,
slid out of the hotel window after dark
viii. .tk4ir instruments tall the valua-
6les :hey had), leaving the landlord
minus for three days board, and were
"hcofing' it back to Chicago.
"No danger of that" answered Char
ley, bat it an entirely new wrinkls
in the minstrel biz is . church theatrical,
and ought to draw a crowded house."
eyes, said Johnny Lyo 11oaectively,
"I've heard of an orthodox diaDen ing,
and even q militant, bus never NY
thing like this before" ~ - --'r
"Except." interlarded Dick, "the
one that was . church mp stairs, and .
saleoa below, and on the pillars of which
Edgar A. Poe is said 70 have written:
THERE'S aspirit abe,s and q spirit below,
spirit q icv and .ptrit cf xoe; -
Ard the spirit bdow IL The spiiit Of Wine"
"wish l was there now" groaned
Larry. ~ /4,[
"Nhssei In the churchr'
"No, you fool. in the gin mill. I
ne YER was 50 dry in my life. =
"Wet, yousn1ean."
"Yes, oua;d, but dry q . powder
house within" ,
"No matter, We sre in snug auartera
for the night, and can take things COM
Portable" .SFITur,s III. 81.
"If.ome constable don't make it lively
for us" :
"Pm not going 70 freeze, anyhow" =,
Searching around, Charley found I
stove, . pile Of wood, and by the aid q
matches and unused programmes of the
"Grcat and unrisaled Con9o Minstrel.
and un ,pproacha6le delineators Of AT
Yican character ETC., etc.. he soon had
. cheerful fire, and the boys were gath
sred round the roaring stove, and In
dulped in merry tests at their own ex'
1hey were what is (was) called .
".n.n company" though the term was
,ncoinedNthep, for it was in the early
SsIN burnt cork artists in the West
eM country. The original Nniis'y
Mins,rels with "Ncd At the heao, ana
"Georce" at the end. had made their hrss
visit to hicago, and the boys were WIG
nth delight. Everybody who could
thmmb a string, draw boy. manipulate
honcx. beat "Descnn skin and ein! at
~ tnne. fancied they saw an unworked
hon MA cf uFfbld wealth and waded ils
Tna ..(,cneoS were among the earliest
- take the fleld sand leave it With
and s,.5 cons very short allowances
of money and large stock Of assurance
thev started out - astDnnn toe uys;
and ~ NthMrRiie q sOfyheir onglna'
occupations one was pnntef, one ".s
butchers sub, one general ioaier, ano
tSs other . bar-keeper, and through the
Sn.,;ne of the first named, they were IN,
Sshted for their bills-and always wouio
with advance agent and treasurer