Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-05-14
WHEEL CLUB MlNSTRELS.
The Boys Get Good House and Give a
BATTLING Good Show.

The Boys Get Good House and Give a
Rattling Good Show.
Last Thursday night occurred the
second annual minstrel entertainment
given by the Mt. Kilburn Wheel club.
1t was the best, all things considered, of
any minstrel troupe that ever gave an
entertainment in this town. When the
curtain rose for the first time 81 men
were seated upon the stage, two of the
end men being missing. But in mo-
ment they rushed down the aisles and
clambered upon the stage, asserting that
the. Brattleboro Insane asylum had
broken loose and had detained them at
the station. The point of this will be
understood when it is said that 53 from
Brattleboro attended. w. A. IruaX
acted as interlocutOr and made few re-
marks, after which came the opening
overture by the company. Carl Randall
sung My Jacks Come Home To-day"
followed by the song Try, Try Again"
by w. X. Bennett, which was packed
full of pointed local illusions which did
not fail to bring storms of applause at
sang the ssOld Farm House," and was
followed by Harry Elliott in the ballad,
ssThe Bold Jack Tar" Tracy Leonard
sang "There's Wedding Tonight and
George B. Wheeler closed with "God
Bless Our Home" All the songs had a
male chorus, and were of a higher class
than are generally heard on the minstrel
stage.
Part second opened with an cover
ture" by Wheeler's orchestra. Messrs.
Hadley and Thompson rendered banjo
and guitar duet, and were followed by
the "Colored Four Hundred'' in their
artistic drill and chorus The company
| was composed of II members with W..
E. Conway, as captain, and were dressed
! in Prince Albert coats, white trousers
and gloves and tall hats Their evolu-
lions were made without word of COM
mand. The scenic effect of the drill was
very fine, and the march toward the
front of the stage drew forth rounds of
applause every time. Blake Brothers
favored with clog duo which pleased
the people and w. X. Bennett sung
Afterwards" Before this, Mr.. Cleve-
land of Fitchburg gave an exhibition of
banjo playing. The song and dance,
"Iven' by Messrs. Bowtell and Elliott
was thought by many to be the finest
thing of the evening. Frank Moore de-
livered an Grafton. Tracy Leonard sang
"Chestnut Green in costume, in which
he was interrupted by Mr.. kirkland of
Brattleboro, who presented him with q
diamond ring valued at 81 %. Retiring
for an instant Mr.. Leonard returned and
sang "The Irish Jubilee" The grand
finale was "The Coopers' Chorus taken
from Boccacio's celebrated opera, but in
Producing some local hits which were
appreciated. There were exhibitions of
dancing, among the rest being George
Davis in his ballet skirt dance. The
closing song by the company, keeping
time by the stroke of their mallets on
the barrels. was as good as is often heard
The club cleared over $l75 by their ven
ture and proved to the town that first
class entertainment can be gotten up
without calling in any help from outside.
Every man belonged in Bellows Falls
and surely no one who attended can say
aught but praise for their work. Brat
tleboro sent SO; Ludlow was represented
by 15' and Windsor had delegation
present The house was we'll filled, and
| if any went to scoff they remained to
/ praise. Whenever the club announce
another entertainment they may feel
assured that they will have full house.