Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-03-05
Uncle Josh by the Custer d


Uncle Josh by the Custer Dramatic Club.
Garlock's opera house was crowded
on the evening of the 2Gth with the
theatre going people of Custer City who
had gathered to greet the Custer Ora
matte Club, which appeared for the
second time during the season Of 9l-92.
Uncle Josh" was the title of the drama
which tie club had been working upon
during the " or three weeks preced-
ing. and the entertainment which they
finally gave was far ahead of those
given by the average travelling combinA-
tion of professionals. Each part had
been assigned with a view TO meeting
the ability Of the individual, all had
been carefully studied and well com
mitted, and the acting was free and easy,
marked by the absence Of that self
consciousness which usually troubles
the amateur.
From the time the audience assembled
until the curtain rose on the first scene,
and after that between the acts, Mrs. +.
l.. Taylor presided at the piano, aud the
rendition Of classical selections by that
accomplished lady, contributed largely
to the success of the entertainment.
For the benefit Of those who we're I'M
able TO be present We will give a brief
synopsis of the comedy drama, Uncle
Josh"
The scene of the various events is
New York City, and the characters are:
Joshua Jarvis, Uncle JOSH" a Vermont
farmer; Count De Courviile Gerald
Murray, a young New Yorker; Epson
Downes, q New York dude; Joe Clark,
a bnnko stecrer; Mulcliaey, n dive keep.
err; trastus, a colored servant Mrs.
Reynolds, a widow, and sister o "Uncie
JOSH" Lefty Reynolds, a daughter Of
Mrs. Reynolds; Minerva C~iackett, an
old maid.
Uncle Josh. who had lived all his life
on a farm in Vermont, visits his sister
at her home in the city Of New York.
The old man, while oniwardly green
and yerdant, is in reality sharp and well
posted and while playing the innocent
never fi = to give the worst of it 10
those who attempt to impose upon him,
or his lady relatives. Upon his arrival
in the city he is ~accosted by Joe Clark,
a bunco s~teerer, but the latter is imme-
diately put to flight by Josh who recog
nizes him as a aconidence man. Epson
Downes, a friend Of Mrs. Reynolds
family, meets the old gentleman at the
depot, bat he also is regarded with sus-
picion, and is made to shoulder the
carpet bag Of the visitor and pilot him
to his sisters residence. Here "Uncle
Josh" is cordially received by Mrs. Rey-
nolds and her daughter, and is their
guest during his %sojourn in the city.
Before he returns to his Vermont home
he renders the ladies a great service.
Lefty Reynolds has two suitors, Gerald
Murray, whom she looks upon with
favor, and the Cont De CourviiIe, a
financially wrecked Frenchman, who is
determined to win the hand and for
tune Of Lefty Reynolds by fair means
or foul. The two suitors are often in
%terrupted in their wooing by Minerva
Clackett, an old maid who makes her
home with the Reynolds family. and
who is getting desperate in her efforts
to secure . husband. When Uncle
Josh" appeared upon the scene he put
the Count down as q scoundrel, and In
msny wavs acts as an obstacle to the lat
ters suit for Miss Letty's hand. The Count,
determined to get rid Of the NEEDLE
some uncle, employs Joe Clark and
Mulchaey to assist him. Joshua hap
pens into the dive, which is kept by
Mulchaey, and while there the three
conspirators attempt to drug him, but
their would be victim Is on his guard.
and the drugged cider which is set be-
fore him is slyly exchanged for the
glass which has been given another.
The Count failing in this instance, trys
another scheme equally desperate, to
rob Gerald Murray OF his promised wife.
He forges papers which he uses az
proofs that Mrs. Reynolds marriage was
not legal. and Tins casts a shadow upon
the birth Of her daughter. These he
shows to Lefty and threatens to expose
the faysiIy unless she win marry him.
TO spare her mother. the loyal girl
breaks her engagement with Gerald
Murray and becomes the afianced wife
OF the Frenchman. Her reasons for so
doing she reveals TO no one. But Uncle