St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-10-23

he lOng-dWalIeu anu lHuCH-ldlkeu-Ol
minstrel combination has given its per-
Torrance. Secrets kept for month or
more have been divulged, and the only
thing to wonder about now is how the
actors managed to keep them so long
contrary to the natural prochvity OF
their sex. So much interest was aroused
that when the tickets went on sale Mon
day morning there was a jam which
lasted for about an hour and when the
curtain went up at SIS Wednesday
evening the performers were greeted by
a splendid audience, bad weather not
withstanding. In the audience were "a
from Newport and about 80 from st.
Johnsbury.
An overture by the Lyndonville orches-
ira started the programme and then the
curtain went up and revealed as fine and
unique a sight as was ever seen on Music
Hall stage. There were six end women
dressed in short striped black and yellow
skirts and light waists, with about Is
more performers in short black skirts
and fancy waists, all blacked and with
the regulation negro curly hair. In the
center was the interlocutor, elevated
ABOVE lHe TSSl, uOI p'etNhSu anu III Ioe-
tune that contrasted strongly with the
remainder OF the performers. The chairs
were all covered with white cloth. When
the performers were seated they formed
a half circle and presented an appearance
that was alone worth the price OF adj
mission.
The grand first part was over an hour
long and MANY hearty laugh did the
audience get out OF 1t. The hrSt
thing was the rendering OF the 'Darkey
Musketeers" by the whole chorus, which
was finely done, and the way those six
end women handled the tambos and
bones indicated much practice or natural
talent. The darkies on the two ends,
Pearl White and Topsy Turvey, remind
ed one very much OF Mrs. w. S, LETTERS
and Mrs. NJ. ]. Robinson, though we
woudn vouch for their identity. Chloe
Black and Appleblossom were about the
size of Miss Irene Howe and Miss Clara
Stern. Sally Gumdrop and Dinah Dew
drop would compare well with Miss
Della Watson and Mrs. A. l.. Finney.
The above are the ladies some thought
the six end women would look like alter
applying bucket ofwater to their faces.
ANYWAY. they showed their teeth,
blinked their eyes and made up faces in
true minstrel style. Topsy Turvey' S rem
dering oil Waiting for de horn to blow
was fine, as was also Pearl Whites "lt
must, we'll | must" The selection by the
Stovepipe Banjo Ouartette, or more liter
ally the Misses Watson, Miss Grace
Woods and Miss Clara Stern, was
heartily encored. The rendering OF Ben
Bolt" by the Ebony Quartette, or Miss
Knight, Mrs. Ben Pierce, Mrs. Erwin
Hutchins and Mrs. Stella Morrison,
pleased the audience SO well that second
appearance was demanded. "Rock-a-
bye my honey" by Miss Snowfall and
"Clim'in on my golden wheel" by Apple
blossom were well received. lnterspersed
between these selections were numerous
Jokes, both personal and otherwise, that
kept the audience in hearty laughter.
Chloe Black hung up her stocking last
Christmas and Topsy Turvey said the
Board of Health ordered it down. o. G.
Chase was arrested for getting fast
because the other day he actually walked
from the Union House to the postotflce
and back again in 80 minutes. Will
Webb was different from can OF pre-
serves in that the preserves sometimes
worked and Will didn't. An elephant
got off the train here one day to have his
trunk re-checked and it took A. L. Flnn,ey
so long to do it that they have had a
petrifed elephant on exhibition at the
depot ever since. There were many
more, too numerous to mention
Lottie Ligntloot, Spanish dancer or
Miss Gordon of White River Junction,
did her part we'll and received an encore
Madame Dinah Dewdrop, possibly Mrs.
A. l.. Finney, in her stump speech ex.
NAMED IN an interesting and spicy way
why woman wanted their rights and
were wrH gong to have them. She Appeared 'ss'l
on the stage with boa around her neck
no less than II feet long 49, r..,..:oo.x
The closing part by the 20 little p,ee. h
inniys was 6ne. They marched upon inc