The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1881-07-21
The jug FestiVal-NOvel Entertainment
by COlored Church.

The entertainment was novel and
original, and worthy of the Suez Canal
projectors. Several weeks ago thirty
little stone jugs were given out to trust
worthy members of the Church, and
last night the jugs were brought in to
have their noses knocked Off with a
hammer, the money counted and the
most successful cashier duly rewarded
with presents and the smiles and con-
gratulations of the sisters at large. A
1gure Of an hour-glass suspended over
the pulpit, and above it the word,
Eternity was printed, with the in
quiry tersely put, ..How shall / spend
1t = At nine o clock the sexton appeared
with formidable hammer for the de-
molition of the jugs. While the con
gregation were waiting for the vessels
to be smashed, the secretary said a pie
would soon be brought over with three
live canaries imprisoned in its subter-
ranean department.. At 9:15 most of
the belated jug holders had arrived and
deposited their wares on the tables.
The scene in that part Of the room was
mostly antique pottery not unlike the
StoneWare. bazaarS of AlexandrOpol,
where American jugs lend an ancient and
picturesque air to those sidewalk booths.
Babies were wheeled down the aisles of
the lecture room by their fond mann
mas !; bright juvenile shayers in checked
frocks sang quaint little ditties as they
pushed their way among their elder
sisters in high heeled shoes and tight,
circulation-stopping dresses.
"Mr. Johnson here is your jug,n be-
gan the master of ceremonies. A
breathless silence followed. II am
going to disloeate the jugs nose with
this hammer.n Not a muscle moved,
not lip quivered, and, with a remorse-
less, unerring blow of the big hammer,
the superintendent smashed the Jug
into hundred pieces. Two dollars
and thirty-eight cents to Brother John
son. Mr.. Secretary. please record .itn
The secretary did SO, and the smashing
OF jugs went on to the end of the feast.
Every time the hammer came down on
the jug the noise was exactly such as
one hears when Professor Marsh caves
in the petrifed skulls of the, Deyonian
Age at the Yale College laboratory. The
broken jugs were thrown into a box
near the pulpit, and the, money care
fully saited down in stout linen BAG.
The parson, who was closely scrutiniz-
ing the proceeding, began. to breath
quite freely as the bag filled up. The
deacon congratulated him on the out
look. and presently the young colored
swelis, who had cautiously remained
outside the church to avoid undue as
sessments, began to file; into the sacred
edifice and make themselves quite at
home, much to the satisfaction fof the
dusky bellies in high heeled shoes. who
kept their eyes glued in the direction
OF the ice cream. Prizes were then
awarded to those who had collected the
most money in their jugs. "A hugh
meat pie was brought out, with q small
cage inside of it. The canaries. were
enclosed in this cage, and CONSEQUENTLY,
could not participate in the devourino
of the interior of the pie, ..but they did
a powerful heap Of smelling, y remarked
Chaplain Cooper, as he handed ,ayoung
man a thirty-cent plate of ice cream
with a strawberry in it. When the pfc
was opened, out flew. the birds, and
there was a general and highly exhila-
rating prize scramble to catch them.
Several liquids aud fruit stands were
upset but the birds were finally caught,
and the fortunate captors carried them
home. Pastor Franklin and his staff of
assistants gave thanks to the brethren
for their aid in conducting the novel
scheme for raising his salary, and at
half past ten o'clock those who did not
have carriages took "a short CUT TO,
home, and the janitor sealed up the
door as carefully as if it were the
National Park Bank. k.-Ne,0 York Herald.