The Portland daily press., 1889-11-14
music AND DRAMA.
NYE AND RILEY.


When two humorists like Bill Nye and j.
Whitcomb Riley take the contract to enter
tain large audience of the size of those in
attendance on the Stockbridge courses, they
assume burden that most newspaper funny
writers would shrink from. While this class
of men have pretty good opinion of their
own powers, that native modesty which
characterizes newspaper men in general.
would cause them to pause before attempting
to fill their hearers with wit and humor for
two hours at a stretch. 1t is therefore
feather In the cap of these two gentlemen,
who performed the feat last night, to say
that they accomplished the task successfully.
Shortly after eight o'clock the familiar
features and figures of Messrs. Nye and
Riley were seen on the platform accompanied
by those of Mr.. Elwell of the Transcript,
and that gentleman introduced the visitors
to the audience Then Mr.. Riley, with that
keen sense of humor which recognized how
out-of-place a pitcher of ice water was on
the .reading-desk when an imitation of
Niagara was going on outside, seized the
pitcher and carried 1t off triumphantly while
Mr.. Nye proceeded to introduce Mr.. Riley,
promising the introduction with the refer
ence to the pouring rain that greeted him
last season. He omitted the good joke he
perpetrated then when he remarked to his
audience, after talking some forty minutes,
Ladies and gentlemen, you have probably
heard all you want to from me and have
seen all want to of you. Good night" 1t
would be absurd to attempt to analyze or
crlticise an entertainment such as that OF
last evening. Messrs. Nye and Riley are so
far removed from each other in their methods
aud styles Of humor that each serves as a
contrast and help to the other. Mr.. Nye's
interference with an anecdote" was the
best thing he gave his hearers while Mr..
Riley's recitation of his poem of the farmers
son who rose from private to lieutenant,
possessed great pathos as well as realistic
force. The audience all through the eve
ming laughed and wept by times
The next entertainment in the S.ockbridge
course will be Stoddard's lecture on "Napo-
leon," December I'd.
JAY HUNT
The musical farce comedy "a Royal
Flush" which was SO thoroughly enjoyed at
the theatre last evening, will be repeated at
the matinee next Saturday, at which time
prizes will be given to the boy and girl oc-
cupying lucky seats. AS the piece abounds
with few songs and specialties it is well
calculated to please the ladies and children
and large audience should result.
Tonight the sensational comedy drama
"New York by Gaslight" will be presented,
introducing Jay Hunt as Tony Tucker and
Duddie Douglass as Jennie Brown with
songs, dances and specialties.
ToDMoRDEN BELL RINGERS.
The Todmorden Bell Ringers gave de-
lightful opening to the Deering Village I'm
provement Course, last evening Their
selections for the bells were agreeable play
ed with much skill, and the other features of
the concert were much enjoyed. Mr. Stan
ley sang to great acceptance.
DEERING UNION COURSE.
Bear in mind that the entertainment in the
Union course. Woodfor1's, will be given this
evening by Madame Fournier-Wise, soprano,
the Breton and Normandie Ladies Double
Quartette. with recitals by Mrs. Ada Brown
Spofford. A mistaken idea seems to have
gone out that owing to the number of season
tickets sold no good seats will remain for
evening ticket holders. On the contrary
there still remains number of good seats
and there need be no fear that every person
attending the opening concert this evening
will not get good seat.