The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-06-15
The ApOllOs at st. JOhnsbury.


The ApOllOs at st. JOhnsbury.
There is a tradition to the effect that
Montpelier and st. Johnsbury have each
entertained an opinion of the other not
wholly complimentary; that Montpelier has
considered st. Johnsbury too sanity for
any use, and that St. Johnsbury has re-
garded Montpelier as exceeding Hnright-
eous. But this is only tradition, and the
insecurity of its hold on the popular mind
was further shaken, last Thursday, when
the Apollo Club minstrels visited St.
Johnsbury and were warmly welcomed by
the good people of the town of weights and
balances.
At one o'clock when the minstrel
troupe" gathered at the Montpelier &
! Wells River station, there was probably the
largest and most varied assortment of silk
hats ever seen at one time in Montpelier.
F. Apollo Brewer and f. j. McCuen were
conspicuous by tiles that were built back in
the sixties. About seventy-five men, in
Guiding about twenty ministries, piled
into the observation car, the sides of which
bore in huge letters the inscription, apollo
Minstrels." AT Groton the Montpelier Mil
itary Band began to toot up, and thence on
to st. Johnsbury was a continuous stream
of brassy melody. Quite a crowd was gath
cred at the station TO greet the boys. A
| line of march was quickly selected, and,
| headed by the band, the procession of tall
hats began. The town awoke from its
| June-day drowse and tickets for the even
ing's entertainment sold like hot cakes.
| Shortly after six O'Clock the band gathered
| in front of the st. Johnsbury house, and
pumped more harmony into the ears of the
adniring multitude. George f. White,
solo cornet, rendered Kucken's Good
Night " in his usual faultless style, and as
he finished it man drove up in buggy
and observed to the crowd: 81 don't
! know what gou think, gentlemen, but that's
| the hest band that struck 81. Johns.
| bury"
There were about thousand people in
Music hall when the orchestra struck into
the opening overture, Among the Min
| strels," and the audience comprised the
! beauty, fashion, and intelligence of ST.
Johnsbury. The scale town is noted for its
pretty girls, and they were out in full force.
! The large audience was in a measure due to
the popularity of the Apollo Club, and also
to the efforts of Hubert W. Allen, Pearl f.
| B'odgett, and the rest of the syndicate "
who were instrumental in bringing the en-
tertainment to town.
The show " went off with only the few
slight bitches always incident to the best
amateur performance. Almost all of the
| Jokes in the first part were given a big hand,
and many of the songs were encored Mr..
Bancroft was cordially received, and pre-
sented with big bouquet. He is great
favorite with ST. Johnsbury folk. Will G.
Berry made big hit in the topical song,
"It's Never been Fully Explained" Every
verse Lit OIL some live local affair, and every
point was keenly appreciated. Here are
two or three of the verses. The last one,
Mr.. Berry in his excitement omitted.
This town has suffered and yearned, and asked
| For some sort of an institution
It's hustled and rustled and laid awake nights
All fired with resolution.
| The insane asylum, the Kelley club,
All went their various ways.
(SPoKEN) The insane asylum settled
down in the one-horse town of Waterbury
The patients probably needed rest and
quiet. The Kelley club had an eye to local
business, and picked out Montpelier as a
place where the festive jag luXuriates. But
st. Johnsbury was bound to have some
| thing, if they didn't lay up a cent, so they
/ scooped the fish hatchery-But-
It's never been fully explained,
! And just how they managed to get even that
! Has never been fully explained.
| There are a number of people here
Who are getting quite hgh-toned;
At the very thought of Railroad street
| They've been looking round for a sweeter name,
And have thought of quite "A few;
| But the sweetest name among the lot
Is Columbus avenue.
And why they didn't change it to "Man street,
Has never been fully explained.
The knights of Pythias thought they'd build
Themselves a nice new block;
| They rented the rooms ianitor hired,
And sold OFF all the stock.
| (SPoKEN)-But the bank hasn't shown up
yet, nor are there any signs of its immediate
naturalization. In fact, the whole affair
has
| Never been fully explained,
It's neyer been fully explained;
just when the foundation will be begun
! Has never been fully explained.
The second part went off with a snap.
Mr.. Bancroft scored his usual hit in his
sketch, Memories of the Past" and the
usual old lady in the audience wept copi-
ously. Perry and Childs, in song and dance
Ia1Ca Ill
applause, and Burt NJ. Shepard's descrip-
ton of how Hogan Paid His Rent"
brought down the house. The Apollo
Banjo Club and the Apollo quartet were
well received and George III. Wilder added
fitting climax by his beautiful flute play
ing. His selection was difficult caprice,
and for an encore he rendered Kinloch of
| kinloch." Frank Thayer assisted with his
faultless accompaniment although ham,
pered by the absence of bass pedal to the
piano. The Montpelier Military Band or
| chestra contributed in no small measure to
the success of the entertainment and their
fine playing was thoroughly appreciated.
st. Johnsbury people appear to know good
music when they hear it, The closing
march and drill of the Apollo guards was
never better executed, and never better
looking Apollo mounted his soap-box pedes-
tai than f. Huber Brewer.
AT the conclusion of the entertainment
the ladies of st. Johnsbury rendered the
company reception in the opera-house.
| There was notable absence of dress suits
and conspicuous presence of plug" hats
but more conspicuous than either was the
cordial hospitality and charming manners
of the entertainers. Music was secured for
dancing, and delightful lunch was served.
The Apollo Club is indebted to the ladies
of st. Johnsbury for a pleasant ending to
a thoroughly enjoyable day spent in their
town, and has been racking its collective
brains in an effort to think of proper sort
of reciprocity. Now, If the ladies of St
Johnsbury would only get up feminine
minstrel show, and visit Montpelier
1t was about 40 A. NJ. when the observa.
ton car left for Montpelier, and about &c
when the weary minstrels lay down &c
pleasant dreams.