The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-02-03
THE RIRMESS.
comPANY X. en.ND FEsrIyAL


the EVent, Costumes, EIc.
The Kirmess, under the auspices of
the Bennington Rifles was formally
opened Tuesday evening in the New
Opera House, and has continued each
night since. The event closes to-mor-
row with a matinee in the afternoon.
and a grand performance, introducing
nearly all the parts in the evening. A
week of much enjoyment had been an
ticipated, and the fultllment did not be-
lie the promise. AS upwards of 300 of
the boys and girls of the village, to say
nothing of the men and women engaged
are necessary to produce the spectacular
effects, widespread interest had been
of course awakened, and this served to
pack the house on most of the dates of
the Kirmess.
The Kirmess was opened by Gen. julius
J. Estey, Commander of the Brigade to
which the Rifles regiment is attached.
His address was brief. He alluded to
his interest in the National Guard
evinced by his connection with it for
over IS years. anS believed that the
events of the past year in Pennsylvania
and New York proved the necessity of
an efficient militia to quell internal dis
turbances. The crowded house. he was
sure showed that Bennington appreciated
Company X, of the First Regiment, and
this interest was reciprocdted by the
command. He then formally declared
the Kirmess opened, and the curtain
rose on the "Tableau of Nations" The
General occupied the left hand box of
the Opera House, and seated with him
were Col. T.. l.. Bates of the Governors
staff, Mai. r. J. Cotfey of General Es-
tey's staff, Harry Estey and ladies'.
Among the audience were delegations
from military companies in New York
and Vermont, and ali the leading society
people of the town.
The Rifles issued a neat SOuUenir pro-
gramme of the event, covering the order
of exercises each evening, and other i'm
portant particulars. The booklets are
fine samples of the bookmakers qrt and
were eagerly purchased Each evening
has an entire change of programme, put
ting on the boards for one performance
about twelve to fifteen of the twenty
three separate numbers prepared for the
entire Kirmess. This plan afforded a
variety and avoided any appreciable rep
elton from night to night, For an ex-
ample of this idea we give the opening
evening as follows: GOldsmith's orches-
ira; opening address; "Tabeax of Ma
iions;i "Babes in the Woods" Spec
ialty, Whitney Brothers; "Gypsy Tab.
leau and Chorus:' 1.-The Blossoms"
WAND Drill" exhibition drill, Com.
pany K, V. N. g.; Queens of the Sea;'
''The Gondoliers:" French Huzzars;"
'Corsican Dance;'' Court Minuet;"
''Tambourine Drill" solo, selected,
Leila Mcintyre; AFRICAN Minuet," in
Producing gems from the opera.
! As our readers know, the Kirmess was
gottenlup under the direction of Capt.
Chas. w. Eddy of HoOsick Falls, N. Y,
commander of the famous 32nd Separate
Company of the N. Y. N. g. The
thorough drill of each part, and its mas
terry of intricate military and other move
ments, attests the ability of Captain Ed
| dy, whose company scored last year at
muster 80 cut of 100 possible points.
Captain Henry D. Fillmore, of the Rifles,
is the, manager, and ably supports the
director Prof Goldsmith leads his or
chestra in person, and the Executive
| Committee consists of the following:
Mesdames Henry s. Bingham. Edward
| ID. Bennett, Robert j. Cofree, Henry ID.
Fillmore misses Alexandria Clark. Mary
L, White, Mary l.. Hutchins. The Recep-
ton Committee are: Captain H. d.
Fillmore, Sergeants E. J. Stratton, c. r.
Burnham and 9. w. Pierce.
| The elaborate costumes in particular
detail would be very difficult to describe.
We shall go into description only in a
modified sense, and in connection with
the names of the part, the patronesses
and chaperones, and the persons taking
part
The Reconnaissance Robert Ben
nett and Frank Bradford, patronesses.
The ladies are dressed in nice costume,
white waists, b ack skirts and fancy caps !:
Miss Ethel Remington, leader; Misses
Josie Moore, Jennie HARDWOOD, Florence
Sweet, Sarah Harrington, Lille Buss,
Nellie Knapp, Florence Sibley. The gen.
.tlemen wear suits to match, knee pants,
short coats, light stocking and low
shoes: MIR. Lyman Armstrong, leader;
Messrs. Leland Fillmore, Ernest Lam
bert, Henry Caswell, Eugene Holt,
Robert Bennett, MineO Cleveland, Chas.
Kendall. The audience were delighted
with the appearance of these ladies and
gentlemen, and they ELECTED much APP
plause.
Scarf Drill.-Mesdame c. yelling
Thatcher, Willis S. Phillips and Chas. H.
Dewey, chaperOns. The misses of the
scarf drill appeared in black tarlatOne
dresses, short skirts trimmed with gold
stars; full waists trimmed with gold
lace and spangles; black Oxford caps,
with bells, black stockings and shoes,
yellow ties; carrying yellow scarfs.
| They gave a nice number and were
heartily applauded. Mabel Sweet and
Bessie Fox were the leaders of the two
lines, followed by Matte Oh istol, Mabel
Graves, Mamie Mexican, Maggie Temple,
| Lulu Burch, Flora StrattOn, Grace Davis,
Maude johnson, Lena Walker, 0lgo Cur
tbs, Lottie Remington, Grace Sibley, Adj
die Kelley, Jenny Venable, Nellie Plank,
Frances Hackett, Adella Briggs, Jennie
Brandt, Minnie Sibley, Lillian Davis,
Maggie Wright.
| Babes in the Woods.-Mesdame III. ID.
Fillmore, H. l.. Hoover and J. II. Sip
perly, chaperOns. Twenty-fonr little
girls rendered this part in a delightful
manner. With the fine scenery of the
Opera House and lights, they appeared
the varlest "babes IN the wood" that one
could imagine. Leila Mcintyre and Bes-
sic Bennett were the leaders, and they
were dressed in pink short skirts, pink
tights and slippers to match, wearing
silver crowns. The two who followed
in the files wore white of same style,
without coronet. There were two in
blue, two in yellow, two in green, Eight
in all white,-cOlOrs alternating, each
pair having wings to match suits. The
material was tarlatone, decorated with
tinsel, bangles and bullion. Following
the leaders were: Vera Bull, Bessie