The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-06
PLAYS In A PRISON
The Penitentiary Thsater Dedicated in
Very Pleasant Fashion.
THERE is MUSIC AND MlRTH
Two Comedies Full OF Real. Live
Murderers. Burglars and Heavy
Villains Of All Sorts-A Dis
tinguished Audience.

the penitentiary tonight IT would have
done them good. They would nave
learned what most of the people or the
state do not know. first that Montana
has a prison of the best type, both In
respect of buildings and appointments;
second, that II Is conducted as cheapiy
as any other prison in the country;
and, third. that the policy OF the man
agement is one of kindness and encour-
agement to the convicts. policy keen
ly appreciated by them.
At s O'Clock the amateur theatricals
began before an audience which more
than filled the spacious dining room on
the upper floor of the brick building.
which has just been finished-in cele-
bration of which event the plays were
given. At least 300 visitors were
present and 1t was as well-dressed and
Withholding an audience as you will
see at any theater. The seats were ar
ranged on an incline running back
from the stage. The stage itself Is so
built that II can be run back when not
in use, taking up very little room. III
should be understood that the stage,
the curtain. the scenery. all the scenic
effects were planned and made by con-
victs. More than that. convicts COM
posed the play enacted, convicts got up
the costumes and convicts furnished
the music
Lawrence DAILY was the commanding
general of the occasion. He was down
on the bills as the business manager.
He also took leading characters in the
plays. He bossed the Job and he did It
well. Mr.. DAILY came to Deer Lodge
from Livingston where, 1t seems. he
had been too handy with his pen. He
had an able corps of assistants In John
j. Dynos, the stage manager, formerly
of Great Falls and also convicted of
forgery; Samuel Rae, the stage ma
chinist, who was sent from Missoula
to atone for certain eccentrictties OF
conduct resulting in another mans
death; and Patrick, alias Red" Cor
man, the property man. who-but Mr..
German needs no introduction to the
Standards readers. The orchestra con-
sisted of eight young men who, with
the other actors. Joined in the choruses
of the songs. with which the play was
most liberally interspersed. The MEM
beers of the orchestra were dressed in
black-no prison garb was anywhere
visible throughout the performance.
Something We Have to Guard
Against" was the title of the first part.
Its main idea was taken from Thrill
by" The scene represented a grove,
in which was a cottage owned by Mr..
Brown, who refused to sell II to Sven
gall. who owned the adjacent property
and to whom the cottage had become
an eyesore. Svengali undertakes TO
make IT too uncomfortable for the
Browns to live there. To accomplish
his purpose he sells his soul to the dew
A.. who thereupon renders him material
assistance in putting UP jobs on the
Browns. There are three clowns who
also Join in the scheme and whose
chief business II Is, between singing
and dancing, to hang up signs on the
Browns house. such as For Sale.
Rooms to Rent" Boarding" Girl
Wanted" and the like. PassersJby. at
tracted by these signs. rap on the door
and make inquiries of the Browns, and
then there is trouble. AS each visitor
departs Svengah hypnotises him and
the voices were excellent, some were
exceptionally strong and rich. One OF
the best was the baritone of Mr.. Nc
Kinley, recently sent from Butte for
highway robbery. Mckinley was right
on deck.
What is your manner" demanded
SvengaH, approaching him.
MY name? Don't you know my
name? 1t must be you don't read the
Anaconda Standard! Ny name is Nc
Kinley."
''Oh, yes" said Svengali, Tive heard
Judge Speer speak of your
Mckinley was enthusiastically en-
cored.
Svengalh in private life is Mr.. Hamil-
ton, a gentleman who took the liberty
of helping himself to other peoples
property in Butte without obtaining
their consent. He made a clever Sven
gall. Another good performer was the
policeman of the play. Mr.. Wilson, also
from Butte. and also at one time I'M
able to preserve the distinction be-
tween meum and teum. Then there
was a real nice, long, tall, red devil,
enacted by Mr.. Stevens. who some time
ago had a disagreement with another
gentleman at Thompson Falls. a mis-
understanding so serious as to result
IN the other gentleman's funeral. The
play was full of pleasantries and good
natured hits at Governor Richards.
who was present, Messrs. Conley and
McTague. the various district judges
and other Montana celebrities.
I've got new job" said one clown
10 the other. Best thing I ever had"
What is it?"
Stealing sheep from Nick Bielen.
berg"
Were you ever hypnotized?" asked
6vengal OF ]. Morgan.
Yes"
who did N?"
Judge Milburn down at Billings, and
I haven't got over IL yet"
One Of the clowns told the famous
egg story on Governor Richards II
brought down the house. The ap-
plause throughout was very generous
and as the evening wore on those OF
the players who at first had betrayed
nervousness got bravely over IL anc
threw themselves heart and soul into
their business" A. Brazier scored q
success with And the Band Played
On" Lawrence Daily was the easies
and most graceful actor on the boards
There was a grand march" OF 16 men
who executed some really difficult fig
ures with remarkable precision. The
afterpiece, "Confusions." was a med
ley OF hilarities. which kept the audi
ence In great good humor Their
wasn't a player among them who didn't
show the effects Of long, careful pa
fienf drilling To many Of the long