The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-05-05
Irving Literary Society Anniversary.

Reported for the Democratic Advocate
The exercises of the sixteenth anniversary
of this society were held at Odd Fellows Hall
on the 9th ult. A moderately large audience
was assembled to encourage the young men
with their presence and their quarters. The
programme consisted of two parts the irSt oi
which was literary, the second dramatic. Inc
entertainment was inaugurated by snort
address from the president, Mr.. +. Il. Schaet-
fer, who alluded IN appropriate language to
the purpCse Of the organization, ITS origin,
progress and present prosperity, and TO me
fact that this is the centennial year of the
birth of their illustrious prototype, Washing
ton Irving. After welcoming the audience
and sister societies, he introduced Mr.. A. L..
Miles, who delivered the anniversary Grafton,
ON the subject ''He Loved His Country Best,
having especial reference to the pure and ar
dent devotion cvinced in the life of Robert
Emmett, the Irish patriot. Mr.. Miles is avery
pleasant speaker, and his Grafton was listened
to with interest while he traced the career OF
Emmett from the time he first began to plan
the freedom of the Irish nation, through his
trials and dangers. until he finally came to
tragical end upon the gallows, not emitting to
show the influence of the true hearted woman
upon whom Emmett had bestowed his earnest
affection This Grafton closed the first part
and fittingly introduced the second, which
consisted of the drama, Robert Emmett,
founded upon the incidents previously men
toned. The following was the cast OF char
acterS:
Robert Emmet-The Irish Patriot..,.F. H. Schaeffer
Darby OGaff-A Sprig of the Emerald lse......E. IL.
O'Leary-An Old Soldier ................W. /. Todd
Dowdall-Friend to Emmet............J. l.. n Herman
keran-A W, M WI3.
Sergeant Topfall II: Nhite
Corporal j. SnTeeNe
hSTo H Georgs:.:. The Judges t Gist
Baron Daly.........".) CF T. fenpy
Maria-Emmets Wife.. Miss May Zimmerman
Judy O'Dougherty. Nc. Brown
They were all dressed in appropriate cos
tunes and performed their parts creditably,
but few were particularly enjoyable. Mr..
Schaeffer, as Emmett, had a prominent part,
and delivered his instructions and addresses
to his band of patriots with good effect. Mr..
Flagg, as Darby O Calf, was averitable ''sprlg
of the Emerald Isle," and he and his Judy
(Mr. Brown furnished the audience cOnsid-
cradle amusement. The mishaps of Sergeant
Topfall (Mr. White) were also very laughable.
Miss May Zimmerman, daughter OF Professor
Zimmerman, in the character of Maria, EN-
NETS wife. rendered the several parts in a
highly creditable manner. After the close OF
this drama the audience was further enter
tanned with an amusing farce, entitled ''The
Fellow that Looks Like Me-, setting forth
few incidents in the life of man who tried to
relieve himself of his shortcomings by explain
ing to his wife that there was another fellow
that looked just like him; but when his wife
and the waiter boy acted upon what he said
as true, he became involved in a serious d.
lemma, and finally attempted suicide by stab
bling with pistol and shooting with sword.
Mr.. A. c. Wilson, in the character of Cupid,
the waiter, was very entertaining. This closed,
the exercises. the intervals in which were oc-
cuped with enjoyable music discoursed by
members of the Westminster Brass Band.