The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-11-21

stare mas peen infested with tough

to an encore which was not heard by
anybody but herself, again capers on
the stage. She has abandoned some
more of her raiment. Her entire ap-
pearance seems to say: II know that
am abandoned, and am proud Of it.
After waving her limbs about in the
air, like those of tree, she becomes |
utterly reckless and turning somer-
saults disappears through the wings.
This sort of thing must take great
deal of training, but she has had plen-
ty of time to train. Her dancing days |
were not confined to the springtime OF
life.
The next attraction is supposititious
colored lecturer, so to speak. There is
quite al army of negro delineators in
New York, and two or three are real
artists. This one was not of them.
There was nothing but burnt cork
and not enough of that, on his hands,
to indicate that he was representing a
negro at all. He did not even use the
negro dialect in his tedious rigmarole.
1t was relief to see him no longer on
the stage.
He was followed by Mr.. Raymond
More, who is not only a ballad singer OF
note-no pun intended-but also cOnr
poses his own songs. He is responsible
for Sweet Marie" which he sang and
delighted the audience. For an encore
he gave Dear Louise" something in
the same line. 1t was musical treat,
and in some measure compensated for
the suffering undergone in the effort to
feel amused over his predecessors.
Although parodied and burlesqued
scores of times, this song, like perspira-
ton in the theaters Sunday nights, has
| great run.
Then followed a couple Of contortion.
| lists. who performed feats that were
| almost incomprehensible, taking it for
| granted that they actually had bones
in their bodies. AS somebody behind
me remarked: How easy it mast be
for them to trim their corns."
The contortionists were succeeded by
two brothers, so it was stated on the
programme, but they were probably
brothers with different fathers and
mothers. They played on great va
rety of strange and peculiar musical
Instruments. All executions are more
or less painful, but the execution of a
solo on an exaggerated trombone was,
| think, the most painful execution
ever witnessed, and | have reported
half dozen hangings. 1t was simply
murder without any mitigating circum
stances. If, as has been stated, music
is prophecy of the life to come. and
tins was really music, there is pretty
hard time in store for us hereafter
From the way he acted inferred that
the gifted child of genius, while he die
not appear in tights, was drunk, never
theless.
The next performer was dog Of re
markable intelligence. However, he
had his trainer with him on the stage
Cards on which were the letters Of the
alpha bet were SO arranged that the dog
could pick them out and bring them tx
his trainer.
"Will any gentleman suggest a wore
of three or four letters" asked the gen
eral manager of the intelligent animal
Somebody got up and said: Rats
"Thank YOU" replied the smiling
manager, writing the word on IA black
board. Now, Fido, how do you spel
'ratsr"
, Fido walked slowly to the cardbOar
letters, picked out the letters in thei
proper succession and laid them at tn
f feet of his business manager, wherea
7 a howl of delight went up from tn
crowded house. How it was done
cannot imagine.
The rest of the performance was yer
much on the same lines, but with 81
perior artists.
There was one incident which we
not down on the programme, but whic
struck me as being irresistibly funn,
There was q very serious-looking co
ored gentleman in the audience, NJ
far from me. A lady banjoist on ii
stage was singing a negro camp-mee
ing song with great fervor. tt
Afro-American in the audience, WI
was about the color of the insic
of a box Of backing, became vel
much excited, and at last he jumped [
and shouted: "Glory! Hallelujah
The audience roared, but an usher,
a sort of naval uniform. pounced upc
the helpless African like duck upon
June bug, grabbed him by the cola
8, and after humping him on the wall
ic time or some, propelled him toward tt
% exit with great violence. ''Lutf n
d go, or dis chile's gwinter make trouble
IS expostulated the indignant Afr
" an Look out for his razor' sa
a some one in the audience. A secol
naval officer reinforced No. |, and t
r effusively-pious gentleman of col
was ignominiously hustled into t
street.
With the rest of the audience, l c
n joyed this more than anything on t
S, stage, and next dav told friend,
e. old New Yorker, all about it.
a Why" he said, with a superi
c. smile, ''that's done at every perfor
al ance. 1t is done to make talk, just
r. you have told me about it. The dar
er is paid for that"
er went next day, and sure enough
ne same scene was enacted, but the ST
i'd performer was apather negro, seve
1 Z