The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-05-18

Knapp, Herbert s. Chapman, T. L. Wood,
w. o. Chapman, G.. X. Putnam, b. p. Wes-
ton, M. F. Atkins, f. II. Brewer, G. s.
Whittier, F; j. McCqen, R; B. Denny,
Dell L. Sanders, G. j. Staniand, e. e.
Blakely, G. e. Moulton, and f. ID. Dewey.
To the right OF the host, "on the end"
Will G. Berry, E. e. Piper and w. o. Lowe
clicked the bones, and opposite was the
" tambo" section-George III. Rofe and
Frank L. Pratt, with a vacant chair for
Burt NJ. Shepard.
After few alleged jokes had been
sprung, inquiry was made for Mr.. Shepard.
Rolfe remembered that he had seen him
that evening about five o'clock, full of
JOY" brought on by some trouble with his
wife" The door-bell rang, and few Sec
onds later in walked "Shep," vest unbut-
toned, neck-tie twisted, hair rumpled, and
general neglge appearance. To the
chorus of inquiries, What's the matter,
Bertie?'' he responded gaily with the song
4" I'm all right" and sang it finely, too.
More heart-rendng jokes, and then Mr..
Berry, to change an unpleasant subject"
requested Mr.. Rolfe to favor the company
with that song (Which he occasionally
murdered" What song is that?' asked
Mr.. Bancroft of Mr.. DeBoer, in utter aston
ishment. Oh" replied Mr. DeBoer, with
colossal sarcasm, :" its that famous pianta-
tion song Of Mr.. Rolfe's." The latter gra-
ciously responded with "Dar's a good
time comm" another of Mr.. Briggs COM
positions-a quartette principally, sung at
the end of the solo by Mr.. Bancroft, Mr..
Chapman, Mr.. Shepard and Mr.. Sabin.
Then more jokes, and another frst-rate
song, "Sailing home to sweet Kathleen"
admirably rendered by George A. Knapp,
Alteration between End-men Piper and
Lowe, in which Piper is twitted about
" those yeller feathers of Deacon Pinka-
puuk's." Piper alleges that he is innocent,
and in clever end-song explains, " amt
'sponsible." Mr.. Bancroft received his Gus
tomary warm greeting from the audience,
and sang Sweetheart, when you are far
away" written for him by Bert L. Taylor.
Audience and composer were entirely sat
istied with the rendition there was nothing
to criticise, so far as the singer was con-
cerned.
Mr.. Berry" asked the host, are you not
going to spring topical song on us this
evening"" We'll, don't know" replied
Will, with comical twist of his "plastic
countenance." "Dere are a few things I'd
like to tole you about that have Never been
fully explained" The house came down
during the next five minutes. Mr. Berry
did not have enough verses to satisfy the
audience. After that came a fine solo by
Herbert s. Chapman, Trusting" sung
with great expression. The Evening
Party " then adjourned, after a rollicking
chorus, 1" Red wine hath flowed"
There were several things in the preced-
ing which demand more than passing
note. Firstly, Mr.. DeBoer as interlocutor,
was superior to any that the writer had ever
seen before, in an amateur or professional
minstrel show. His lecture to Berry on the
hippant conduct of the latter, was a charm
ing bit of by-play, admirably seconded by
Williams "plastic countenance." The
end-men all did themselves proud. Mr..
Berry is born minstrel, and is ALWAYS
genuinely funny. Frank L. Pratt, who is
sedate enough in private life, brought down
tln hl,, kA l..
Rolfe and Berry made hit in their fierce
controversy brought on by Berry's sarcas-
tic illusions to Rolfe's singing. All in all,
it was pretty jolly and talented company
that Professor johnson" entertained.
After the selections by the orchestra
selection from "La Cigale the "great
moral second part " opened with the "gov-
ernor's body-guard," a collection of the
funniest looking militiamen that the gas
ever shone upon. Will c. Berry was cap
tain; NJ. F. Atkins, first lieutenant; John
Pratt, color sergeant; Dean Slayton, fire.
water bearer; privates, W. o. Lowe, E. E.
Piper c. A. Lang, F. H. Brewer, r. B.
Denny, B. M. Shepard and g. X. Putnam.
Memories of the past" a character sketch
by Mr. Bancroft, was warmly applauded.
quartette behind the scenes sang Nearer,
My God, to Thee "Stranded on the
Suwanee was a sketch by the Apollo
banjo club comprising G. X. Putnam, NJ.
F. Atkins, E. e. Piper, B. P. Weston and
70. E. Blakely. Piper in his makeup was
about nine feet high, and the contrast pro-
duced by his leading in Master Arthur
Dewey brought out a laugh. The boys
played two or three selections in their usual
good style, and Mr., Piper told in song
Broadway Swell and the Bowery Bum"
was produced by Charles j. Staniland and
George A. Knapp. Mr.. Stanilaud was a
picture of the heaviest kind of a swell,
while Mr.. Knapp looked as though he had
just stepped off the Bowery. Burt NJ. Shep-
ard as Patrick O'Finnegan of de Ate
Ward" recited the exciting incidents at
tending the eventful occasion "When
Hogan paid his rent" 1t was one of the
hits of the evening. John I. Callahan of
Barre did clog in good shape and for an
encore ratified off an Irish Jig Owing to
the encores and the waits incident to the
first performance of an amateur entertain
ment it was necessary to cut part of the
programme. The closing feature was the
march and drill of the Apollo guards, led
by Arthur G. Eaton. This was "alone
worth the price of admission" and to Mr.
Eaton is due much credit for the success of
this always taking feature of the Apollo
minstrels. The guards were +. E. Piper,
f. III. Mcclure b. NJ. Shepard, George NJ.
Goss, F. j. McCuen, f. n. Dewey, X L.
OltdNtS, VI. ~ IuIudlili GtOTBe IL, hOl16,
w. o. Lowe, G. e. Wilson and w. f. Ter
rill. AS the Roman soldiers knelt with their
shields above their heads, the red fire was
touched off, and the beautiful tableau of
Apollo witnessing the birth of minstrelsy"
unveiled, G. j. Staniland made one of the
best looking Apollos that ever graced
pedestal, and was an object of admring at
tention until the curtain hid him from view.
The performance Friday evening went off
much better than the opening night. A
new feature was the burlesque on the
county court, in which could be traced the
dry humor and clever pen of John II.
Mimms, the court reporter. Will @. Berry
made capital judge George A. Knapp,
with the assistance of few pillows, got up
a close resemblance to Judge Stanton; @.
A. Lang " took off " the county clerk, and
John p Adams was a perfect representa-
ton of Deputy Sheriff Tuttle in regard to
personal appearance.
The Montpelier Military Band orchestra
of nine pieces, under the leadership of
George E. White, went a long ways toward
the success OF the entertainment. The or
chestral score was the production of 7. r.
Merrill, Jr,, who is one of the best arrang-
ers in New England. Credit is due George
p. Whitney and Levi III. Bixby for their
energy and industry "a stage mauapara-nO