The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-09
KINGS DAUGHTERS
The Trouble That Arose In q
Rhode Island Town.
WY 4 DRAMA WAS NOT PLAYED.
Raising TIE Minisser's salsry-Diaesas
Objections - Jshn Aidsr's Bill
ssssy Of Village Lifs.


Of Cnrists. there is no question now that
they believe in . hireiing ministry. and
paying him. too. Sometimes. in the case Of
an impecunious church. the question Of
raising the amount of the salary becomes .
serious one, and ofisnsimes extraordinary
measures are rescrted 20 70 accomplish the
object. Such time came to . Methodist
church in one of our Rhode Island towns
where oft We went, the results OF which
we're very pretty church row, starvation
Tor the minister, and fun, endless fun, for
US outside sinners.
In our church there was . circle OF
kings Daughters; was not In the circle,
but understood it to he an organisation
of ladies interested ia church work for the
purpose OF making their work more effect
Ee. The minister's salary was in arrears;
the circle considered the case and decided
10 get up an entertainment of some sort
to the end that the necessary money
might be obtained. Many plans we're con-
sidered and il was finally resolved TO have
Cd sale. during an afternoon. Of such
things in the fancy line as their dainty
fingers could manufacture; Gu O'Clock
tea: and t5l an amateur dramatic, in the
evening. This amateur dramatic was to
be dramatization of Longfellow's Court
ship of Miles Standish.n
In order to carry out these schemes, The
Kings Daughters required the use OF the
kitchen. parlor and the large vestry. all of
which we're part of the church. So re.
quest was made TO the church authorities
for the use OF the aforesaid rooms A
meeting of the Official Board was held. and
the head" of our circle of the Kings
Daughters was summoned to set forth the
plans which il was their intention to exc
cute. The head" of the circle, who was q
personal friend Of mine, arose, told her
tale. and sat down. Thereupon Deacon
ID. arose and questioned whether IL
was her intention 10 have priafcd
tickets for the proposed entertain
ments. The head" replied that she had
not reached that stage in the business
which required the consideration of the
ticket question. but that while not desiring
to commit herself definitely to printed
tickets. she thought they might be con-
venient Thereupon Deacon n. inquired
of the head" whether it was the intention
OF the circle 10 give away their tea or to
sell il. The head" replied that the ques-
ton OF giving anything away had not
agitated the circle thus far; ordinarily,
gifts were not supposed to swell pecuniary
receipts. and since shckcls were the objects
sought. the s'headn thought they would
at least begin by selling tea. The
Deacon then cleared bis throat
with the usual cough. and came
TO the question OF the drama. The head"
replied that II was a simple thing drawn
from 1.-THE Courtship of Miles Standish."
The deacon then said that this was thing
Of which he had never heard. and asked
the head" to explain it more fully. The
head" was not equal to the occasion, and
the minister came TO her rescue; his salary
was trembling in the balance. He made
this luminous explanation; He was not
familiar with the text Of "Miles Stannish. -
but he had heard that il was considered
one Of Longfeliow's best works, and further
explained that the play was merely dra-
matization OF the poem. This lucid sx-
PLANTATION was not quite sati sfactory to
Deacon D., and since no other person
present could further enlighten him. the
meeting was adjourned without decision
having been reached.
The subject had now reached such q
stage of importance that second meeting
of the dignitaries of the church was neces-
sary, and second meeting vas held. The
customary formalities over. Deacon ID. in
formed the brethren that he had borrowed
the work mentioned at the last meeting,
The courtship of Miles standish. which
the circle of Kings Daughters were pro-
posing TO play in the vestry OF the church.
He had examined the work. and he had
found q white bull introduced Of the end
of the book. Thereupon Deacon r.,
another of the church dignitaries,
jumped to his feet and exclaimed:
There that ends II. As for having = live
white bull brought to the altar of this
Methodist church. | never will consent 10
it; and any way. think there would be
difficulty in procuring white one: If the
Daughters get him. he would have TO come
from some other place; and what wish to
inquire is this; this entertainment wouldn't
end TIL after 10 O'Clock nj night !. now,
where would the bull be kept, and who
would take care of him during the re-
mainder of the night7. The pleasures and
pursuits of literature had not hitherto
agitased the receptive mind of Deacon r..
who. moreover, had not the advantage
possessed by Deacon ID. OF personal in
vestigation OF the poem. else had be known
that
Raghorn. the snow white bull. that had fallen 10
AIdsns allotment
In tho division Of cattle might raminate in the
-ight;amc
Over the pastures be cropped, made fragrant by
sweet rfnnyroyal
The unfamiliarity OF the deaeons with the
occupations of John Aldcn's white bull
during the night season brought up seri-
Gus question Matters were much more
complicated than before. Deacon +. had
suggested certain very serious questions
for the Kings Daughters. The diff
cnlty In finding white hull had no:
been thought OF. and they could not readily
decide which OF the daughters should have
charge of the bull during the remainder OF
the night time after the entertainment. IL
did not occur To them that in case they
couldn't ind white buEi, they probably
wouidn't have to take care OF him. In
short. the bull question broke ap the meet
ing In good smart DIT of row, and With
out reaching decision as to the use OF the
basement Of the church.
A third church meeting was therefore
necessary. and SO third one Was held. Ar
this meeting the bull question did not
arise, bat the kind or amount of drsmatics
was the hone Of contention. tinssay. the
dignitaries Of the church decided that the
Kings Daughters might avail themselves
cf Puritan costumes wigs. a. mors. scenery.
etc, bus they must draw the line some
where. and so they drew il as . curtains
curtain Was too dramatic q thing 90 be
suspended tefoze tie altar Of . Methodist
vessry--xo the Kings DAUGHTERS were