Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-18

An Entertainment by the Inmates That Was
Greatly Enjoyed.

An Entertainment by the Inmates That Was
Greatly Enjoyed.
There was merrymaking and laughter and
song at the Reform School last night Such q
condition Of affairs is by no means extraordi-
nary in that excellent institution, but on this
particular occasion the ebullitions were largely
for the amusement and edifcation of such an
audience as always journeys to the school to
enjoy the annual entertainment which the boys
so gladly and so acceptably give. Last nights
effort more than repaid the scores of Washing
tonians who, uniniuenced by the Indictment
weather, drove out from tine city, for in every
respect it eclipsed all of the many endeavors to
please that have preceded it.
ALL THE BOYS szEnED HAPPY.
To some of the youngsters the school may be
place Of punishment, but there evil
dence OF irksome restraint in the 200 shining
faces white, yellow and black-that grinned
boyish welcome to the guests from above the
cieanlv, brass-buttoned uniforms of blue. The
big room was comfortably filed-visitors being
to the sides and rear-when Col G.. A. Shallen-
berger. the fatherly superintendent. prefaced
the program with a few appropriate remarks.
When he sat down Prof. Frank Wilson stood
up, and then-Miss Gertie Wilson at the organ
the school sang The Flowers That Bloom in
the Spring" with remarkable accuracy and
spirit Inc renultion OF tnlS fragment OF the
''Mikado' was applauded. as everything
else-not in a perfunctory. we-are-supposed-t to-
do-it sort Of way, but meaningly and with
evident appreciation. Then a bunch of bright
little white scholars. members of the &c" FAM
lily, presented ''Ioung America. or the Boys Of
90, two-act comedy that caught the house.
GREAT NISsrrEL SHOW.
Telephone the news on high" sang the
school, and good was, the singing that an
I'D L. \
would permit nine big colored boys to present
the Columbian Edition of Minstrel Novelties
1t was a great show, what with fantastic CO.'S
tunes. homemade gags" imitation diamonds
that were nearly as large as George Thatcher's
biggest. vocal and instrumental melody and q
liberal besprinkiing of leg shaking. Columbus,
the Gem of the Ocean," called for q chorus by
the entire school, during which a dininutive
addition to the troupe. clad in starred and
striped garments, waved the national colors
from tie front Of the stage and stirred the
chorus to increased but none the less melodious
exerflon. Among the many vocal selections
rendered by the minstrels were 1.-THE Little Low
Log Cabin" ''Going Up to Glory by the Hook
and Ladder Route" Little Boy Blue and, as
an encore, ''Sweet Geneyieve.'' They put up
marvellous imitation of the Marine Band Drum
Corps music and there was some highly credit
able dancing.
SOME CREDTrABLE DANCING.
Eight black boys. four of them dressed az
girls, testified by their capacity for endurance
that the school regimen is promotive of hard
muscle and staying qualities, for with fiddle
as a provoker of terpsichorean exercise they
danced with vigor and persistency that was
as surprising as il was amusing A demand for
more brought the smallest couple to the front
with a genuine breakdown" Following this
came remarkable exhibition of saItatorial
gymnastics. In perfect time with the air
Comm Thro' the Rye an agile colored youth,
dressed in sailor costume. did handsprings and
other acrobatic feats. The least slip in his cal
value OF the performance, but there was no
slip. so that number goes into history as q sur
prising success.
The Eminent Regent Wang was the
schools next contribution, difficult selection
most creditably disposed of. After this the
curtain went up on one-act farce. "Up In the
World, cleverly cared for by seven white BOYS,
two OF whom did admirably in female parts.
The Bulldog on the Bank and the Bullfrog in
the Pond and 'Bingo"-sung by the entire
school-was the best chorus work of the even
ing; each received the need OF praise it honestly
bestowed upon Mr.. Wilson. whose training Of
the boys bore such good fruit.
LITTLE sPEECRMAKING.
At that point the program was practically
ended, but President Falls of the board of trus-
U
say thing or two, something the champion of
a national university did with neatness and dis
patch. lie frankly admitted that the perform
ance had been surprise party to him and he
made plain his lively sense of gratitude by con-
graduating the government on the founding Of
such school, tine officers of the institution
upon their wonderful success, and the bows
upon the opportunities that were hourly
Afforded them TO acquire useful information.
President Falls, whose whole heart is in the
work of saving boys. spoke most encouragingly
ass uring the school that in the eighteen wears
OF ms connection with it no entertainment had
been SO successful. In consideration of this, he
announced, the board of trustees desiring to
show its appreciation of good conduct and in
telligent industry, had decided to shorten the
time OF each boy present one whole month.
Whereupon the school clapped its hands for a
minute or two and smiled all over its numerous
faces after the most gleeful fashion.
Col. Shallenberger then made few COM
mandatory comments on the action of the trus-
tees. the school sang its ''Good-n;ght' song
which, by the way, was admiral done, and
the public entertainment for 1898 was all over.
SOME OF TIE VISITORS.
Among the visitors present were Trustees
A. j. Falls, DR.. j. Z. Carpenter. j. Z. Fitch,
Col Cecil Clay. n. w. BurcheIl and W. s.
Thompson. S. W. Curriden. secretary; Mrs. A.
). Falls, Mrs Carpenter. Mrs. W. s. Thompson,
Miss Clay, ex-Gov. Hoyt of Wyoming. Judge
Sener of Virginia, Fl. L. Biscoe. J. r. Garrett
son, Mrs. s. W. Curriden and Miss Louisa
Powell. Allen s. Adams. Mrs. Mary Darrell,
Miss Kate Thomas. Rev. Byron Sunderland,
u. D., Rev. Samuel Won Eranken Holmes, Rev.
f. D. Power. ID. D., Rev. II. s. Childs, d. D.,
Rev. H. r. Naylor, d. D., and Mrs. Naylor.
Rev. Rush r. shipper, d. D., Rev. George o.
Little. d. D.. Rev. ]. q. Butler. d. D.. and
Miss Butler. Mr.. and Mrs. A. T. Stuart
and Miss Stuart, Mrs. Burris, F. NJ.
Rockingham, the Misses Thompson,
Judge kimball. Miss Miller. Miss Mcbride,
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Wilson and Miss Wilson,
Miss Gertie Stewart, Miss Georgia Sutherland,
the Misses Espey. Mr.. f. Bierer, ST., Mr.. Z.
Bierer, jr., Mrs. Col. Rives. the Misses Stick
ney, Miss Buckingham. Mrs. Burt, Mrs. Shep-
herd. DIR. 4. IL. Langley. Mrs. Il. T. Hum
phrey and Maj. and Mrs. Geo. H. Harries.
All the arrangements were most satisfactory
the visitors receiving especial attention from