Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-13
CITY AND DISTRICT.
BURNT CORK AND SWALLOW TAILS.

n III -.
Fun for Sweet Charity's Sake-A Large
and Fashionable Audience Enter
tanned by the West End Minstrel
Troupe.
IL was difficult to detect any familiar features
In the appearance of the fourteen young gentle
men who appeared standing in row on the
stage of Wizards hall when the curtain rolled
up on Monday night Their black faces gls-
tened and their woolly heads shore above the
ample expanse of shirt bosom and collar of an
evening dress costume. The four end men,
with the simple taste which characterizes the
burnt cork profession, had the lapels and col
lars OF their black dress coats faced with bright
scarlet silk. while strip of the same color ran
down the sides of the trowsers. The end men
had also been allowed q certain latitude in the
choice of neckties and collars. and as the result
some novelties were exhibited. The example
OF the interlocutor. Mr.. w. >. Keen, who had
donned a white shirt and collar. was followed
by the other members of the troupe, and the
severe simplicity of the center was enhanced by
OF the entertainment was for the benefit of
such a meritorious charity as the Woman s
exchange, the young gentlemen of the West
End minstrel troupe not only gave their SER
vices, but were inclined to do their best for the
entertainment of the large and fashionable
audience which filled the hall Their efforts
were received with appreciative applause.
While the audience were waiting for the cur
tain to go up they were amused by looking over
the program, which was as follows. THE real
names of the performers not being given on the
printed program, are inserted in brackets:l
Part first-Overture, by the full company, T..
Thomas mot leader; produced from Tam
Hero of Trafalgar III NeIsoni Sunrise in the
Morning, wrestled with by Ham Saverly III.
Stewart Climbing Up the Golden stairs, by
Please don't stair this artist out of countenance
Tell Me. Love, a Tale totrd by Hank Froward
fully walled by Duegh Hogerty III T. Smith !
a nis song giggisd by A T. Riddle M, Let's
requested not to sleep aloud during the rendition
OF this vocal gem, out of compliment to the com
:. Now is the winter of our discomfort made
glorious summer by the favorite son, S. w.
by the W. E. NJ. T. Band. Banjo Trio by Messrs
Shorty III. CoOlidgel, Grimes [R. Thompson
and Chestnuts III. Burrl. The schottische rem:
dered by these musical wonders is composed
expressly for this occasion by Professor Burr
a Few Moments of Twaddle, by A. T. Riddle.
The Famous Dutch Duo, Hans Mulehahy III.
Stewartl and Mile Dinah StrOllofsky [H. T.
SMITH. Recitation, recited by William Cereal,
alias Billy Oats, III. SpoffOrd.1
lnterspersed among the songs which were
fully up to the average of professional minstrel
efforts. were those little interchanges of
lnterlocutor. and naturally most of the jokes
We're about the W oman's Exchange. For instance
matrimony,' and when the interlocutor had
given it up in despair, he said: Because it is
Tor w oman S Exchange Then MIR. Stuart in
quired why it was that man was able to go
to the Exchange and buy angels food and
baby shoes without fear of being robbed. The
entire company protested against the inference
TO be drawn from such question, but Mr.
stuart proceeded to explain that all the women
OF the Exchange were fair, and he concluded
that 1t was well-knOwn that u Fair Exchange
Is no robbery"
The second part brought out the talent of the
company for specialties. and the banjo playing
and the Dutch dialect was very well done Mr.
Burt Riddle gave rumbing talk in imitation
fame, and Mr.. Hub smith, as a Ianguishing tiirt,
brought down the house. The members of the
company were as follows: Bones, A. T. Riddle,
H. g Stewart; tambos, III. I. Smith, II. Spofford;
interlocuter, s. w. Keen; II. Nelson, l.. c. Chew,
Jno. Iarrow, X. Thompson, z. Sprigg. II. Cool
1dge, H. Burr, H. Chadwick, l.. Turner.
The Pubic Schools and IIOodIumism.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
In recent interview with Commissioner Ed
monds, published in your paper, reference is
made to the opinion of certain policemen to the
effect that the eXpulsions of boys from the pub
lie schools is the most efficient cause of vaga-
bondage in the District, and it is limited that
the school authorities should refrain from re-
sorting to expulsion as punishment.
On pretty thorough knowledge OF the facts
dissent from that opinion. The number of boys.
both white and cOlOred, expelled from school
and not restored average about one hundred a
WHITE Sumo OF them are put to work, others
leave the city and few are sent to private
schools; the rest are not numerous enough to
constitute the gangs of hOOdlumS that infeSt
this city and Georgetown.
Besides, the boy does not become hoodlum
because he is expelled; he is expelled because
he is already one. He shows himself in school
1nsOient, shameless, turbulent and disobedient:
he is too tough to be moulded by school drill:
too far gone in vice and blackguardism to be
reached by advice, expOstulation, entreaty or
the moderate punishments permitted in the
SCHOOLS. AT last point is reached when the
question is shall the boy be expelled or the
whole school demoralized?
How can he be kept? The school building is
not a police station with prison annex; nor is
there whipping-post. and the teacher is lady
pubic school Is not a refOrmatOry.
The true cause of hOOdlumism lies not In the
public schools, but in detective or bad homes:
In orphanage. in the neglect, ignorance or bru-
tality or vices of parents. Hoodlums do not
come out OF happy family circles, out of homes
where the hearts of children find the affection
they crave, and their hands and minds natural
occupation; but they abound where peevish-
ness, sulkiness, drunkenness, selfishness and
stupidity have destroyed all the lOveliness of
home. Children run in gangs on the streets at
night, because there at least they find some
thing to interest and make them forget the
nresomeneSs, dlScOmtOrts and ill humOF of the
dwelling There too, they learn vice.
Who can make the homes attractivee Not
the teachers or the schools. These can belp
good parents; they can't reform bad ones. This
Is the work OF the preacher, the priest, the
church and the press When parents learn to
make home attractive, there will be no hood
school.
AAAS S<Atchl vi PARENTAL TemISSneSS may be
grasped al from the tact that, in December
1888, the whole number of white children on
the school rolls was 16,479, and in the follow
ing June the average daily attendance was
only 1878. Here was a falling off of more
imam three thousand, of which number not
more than nfty were caused by expulsion! The
greater part OF the remainder may fairly be at
trlouted To the Indifference, weak indulgence
ana thoughtlessness of the persons having
charge OF children. Speaking generally the
discipline of the public schools is far better than
That OF the homes; and, in very many cases it lis
the only means OF teaching boys punctuality
Promptness and obedience to law But il is
Holly 10 expect IL TO couneract all the bad effects
OF wretched home surroundings. TRUSTEE
-o
OeDut In Trteste. Austria, of q Wash
ingtOnian.
THE DAUGHTER OF GRACE GREENWOOD
MAKES GREAT SUCCESS.
Miss Annie Lippencott of this city, daughter
OF "Grace Greenwood" made q most successful
debut In Trieste on the 22d ultimo in the opera
OF "Crispino e la Comare." We give extracts
from some of the notices which appeared In
the papers Of Trieste the following morning:
II independents says: "In the part OF An
META, singer of ballads, wife of old CrispfnO
there was presented last night young Ameri,
fab In 1xr Sol