Omaha daily bee., 1896-06-21
ECHOES OF THE ANTE ROOM.

The entertainment % the week that should
be especially considered by this column was
given az Washington hall on last Thursday
evening In the strict sense Of the word
It was not a society affair. but as the young
women who had il in charge gave it under
the auspices Of Omaha lodge No. Is.
Ancient order Of United Workmen. it is
70 be considered as such.
No such entertainment has ever been
given before in this city by local talent
1t represented the negro life Of the south
before the civil war. without being a
minstrel show As the program stated no
attempt was made az mius.relsy as IL is
popularity applied 10 the stage, the object
being TO represent In song and dance as
nearly as possible the simplicity and
characteristics Of the negro and negro life
iu Dixie land during the last half century
The innovation was a great success. The
audience was not as large as % might have
been, but it was intelligent and sympathetic.
il was given an entertainment that was
marked by the highest Of merit, and. with
what is usually absent in such affairs. talent
Il appreciated that the presentation was
far above the medioCrity OF amateurish
effort and as an evidence OF this il may be
stated that those who have had the affair
in charge and the performers have been
petitioned to repeat the performance to a
vide circle in one Of the local theaters,
There are stock companies that would vel
come such an invitation.
The jubilee octet played the star part
Of the evening. This band OF singers, four
men and four women. all in color as the
rest OF the performers we're, rendered a
number OF selections with all the ]softness
and harmony which is essential to the happy
melodies OF the negro. The quartet was
composed OF NeSsrs A. N. LOnEwell, d. NJ.
Hayerly. W. C. Z. Cramer and George
Chaplin, Misses May Robinson, Nettie
Haverlv. and Nellie Haynes, and Mrs. \.
NJ Longwell.
The women appeared to good advantage
in the program. Mrs. A. NJ LonEweIl who
appeared as Mamie SNOWFALL. reminded one
OF Nay Irwin. or much the same figure
and appearance naturally. she has acquired
much Of that actress famous negro dialect
and gesture. Her address. Some cf the Re
suits Of LiuCUiu's Emancipation PrOClama-
ton" made a hit. brought about in great
measure by her delivery. Her costume was
appropriate, a ludiCrOus picture OF the
twentieth century colored girl.
Miss May Robinson furnished another
feature OF the program with her singing.
Her rendition of The Leader Of Company
b" and later Of Ben Bolt" in the Trilhy
farce in color. were most excellent. She
appeared again with three other young wo-
men. Misses. Haverly. Mary David and
Venie David. in a number that was called
y Master Now to Interfere With the
Favorite Game OF Craps" In this per
formance the dances OF the quartet we're
very pretty and clever.
The remaining numbers were also very
good. Master Alfred Longwell received
great applause. Master and Miss Phenty
were two other youngsters to make hits with
their dancing. Carl Hayerly and George
Hopper were excellent in two recitations.
Miss Haynes rendered a couple Of solos well.
Finally the program was rounded out by
an instrumental selection by Messrs. Miller
and Wood and the Inuis brothers.
The entertainment was set on the day
that President Lincoln issued his proclama-
ton Of freedom. and was meant to represent
the joy of the negroes over the good news
It had been planned by A. NJ. Longwell.
who has been the recipient OF unstInted
nraisa for the product.