The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-03-15
The ssDeestrict Schosl'' lsrtalnment

a
The "Desstrlst Schosl'' Entertainment.
Never within the recollection Of the
writer has there been such q crowd in
the Armory at . pay entertainment as
there was at the "Deestsict School" last
Saturday evening. Early in the week
all except the raised seats were taken,
and repeated calls soon made it Mt ces.
sary to draft plat Of this portion of the
hall and place these seats on sale. Yet
long before eight o'clock Saturday night
every seat in the house was taken and
a number Of ladies and gentlemen were
turned away. This unusual sale Of seats
must have been very gratifying to the
managers. The night proved to be disa-
greeable, but notwithstanding the in.
clement weather the hall was filed to
overfowing. Promptly at eight o'clock
the performance was opened by the
rendition of the quartettes "Forty Years
Ago" The selection was In perfect har-
mony with the nature Of the entertain.
ment and was very delightfully given by
the Presbyterian choir-Mrs. Alice Spar.
CUR, Mrs. R. 7. Hough, Mr., E. r. Pier.
son and DR.. Sigel Roush, accompanied
by Miss Bechtolt, Of the Conservatory.
After this the teacher and scholars Of
the "Deestrict School" fled in and took
their places on the stage which was
made to represent the, Inside OF the
old school.house Of forty years ago. No
sooner had Mrs. Pugsley, dressed and
fixed up in the most killing manner, en-.
tered than the house fairly went into
storms of uproarious laughter. Amidst
this hilarity all the members came for
ward and took their seats. To attempt
q description Of the costumes would be
worse than folly, for the English Ian.
guage with all it's adjectives has none
that would correctly describe some of
the "make ups" Many Of the scholars
we're not recognized by their most init
mate friends in the audience. The ex-
ercises began with recitations and the
regular Friday forenoon work in school
with the addition Of rehearsing the
pieces for the afternoon when the school
directors were expected to be present
We shall not attempt to individualize,
for all did wonderfully well and kept
the house in constant uproar. Finally
noon came when they all fled out with
baskets and buckets in hand to enjoy
their frugal meal Of turnips, cold meat
and buiscuits, with more soda in them
than flour. The noon intermission was
filled up with several exquisite musical
numbers. The duets by Mr.. Thompson
on the flute and Miss Dill on violin, &C.
companied by Miss Bechtolt on piano
were simply grand. They were called
back several times and - an encore 'The
Blue Bells of Scotland" was given in a
manner that must have touched bar
monious chord in every heart. "Annie
Laurie''by Mrs. Spargur and Mrs. Hough
was one of the most touching numbers
of the evening-old yet ever new and
beautiful. 1t is needless to attempt an
adequate description Of the periermance
as all well knew who were present. The
school came in and 80 did the board
composed of DR.. Fullerton with his cork
leg and horse cough, Col. Walker with
hair flowing loosely over his shoulders
from beneath q little scull-cap, Rev
Beecher, the Colonel in white pants and
brass. buttoned coat who was, ''stuck" or
duty, and r. T. Hough with his gum
boots, red necktie made from . pair o.
red suspenders and "long green" tobacco
They listened to the exercises, between
"knappes" and at the close three were
for turning the teacher off and one, DR.
Fullerton, widower Of six long weeks
wished to retain her. Finding himsel
in the helpless minority he did the mex
best thing by taking her to his bosom
and making her the comfort of his life
amid cheers by the house, sobs by tn,
school and fond embraces by themselves
At this interesting and touching poin
the school arose and began singing
"Auld Lang Syne" and were Joined b,
the audience who arose to the flare o
tableaux and red lights. This seen,
closed the "Deestrict School" entertain
ment, one of the richest shows ever pro
duced inHillsboro. The managers deserv
great amount of credit for the emf
nently successful manner in which they
originated and carried out this "catch
ing" and novel entertainment.