Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-03-13


characters bringing up the rear. The
number of men in line was %, and the pa
rade surpassed that of the ordinary min
strel show.
All but few seats in the second bal
cony were occupied and many people were
standing when the curtain arose in the
auditorium for the first part of the carni-
val of fun. No one was in sight except
members of the orchestra. The seats,
rising in regular order, were covered with
white cloth, and, at signal, the company
marched in at the entrance 20 feet above
the stage floor, came down the centre
aisle, and then proceeded to their respect
i've places. -Four small pages in long frock
coats and high hats headed the procession,
and 80 members Of the company were at
tired in white duck trousers, dress coats,
and sashes of purple. Not only the min
strels, but the orchestra and the ushers Of
the house had been transformed to Eth
opans by the use of burnt cork. The au-
dience was caught at the very entrance.
The opening chorus, which was from the
opera "Erminie' was rendered with fine
effect, and at its close the end men, Durgin,
Smith, Putnam, Turner, bones; and Es-
tey, Gale, Brasor and Wyatt, tambos,
came in with a pretty waltz step. The
end men were attired in striking coats of
blue plush, pink vests, and black tights.
The catchy song, "You ought to join our
club" was given by the four pages, George
Childs, A. Dugan, Charles Stolte, c. w.
Leitsinger.
w. H. Henley, the interlocutor, was
dressed in yellow satin. The first songs
that were rendered were Loves awaken
ing" w. S Stearns: Down at the silver
Wedding Chas. A. Smith with a lively
dance THE sailors anchor L. f. Cox
son. These were inteIspersed with bright,
fresh Jokes (many of them of local refer
ence) and repartee between the interlocu-
tor and the end men. Mr.. Henley's at
tempt to make an omelet in Col. Hooker's
hat with eggs taken from Frank Turner'S
mouth convulsed the spectators The
"second edition. introduced p. j. Mulva-
ney as successor to Mr.. Henley as inter-
locutor, and the sylph-like Richards and
Burpee as additional end men, all three
being in stunning costumes. The fusil-
lade of jokes kept on, and the songs which
came next were j. Harry Estey's "Oh, my
JONAH II. NJ. Woods THE song heard
last night" in which he assisted Messrs.
Stearns, Eddy and Mulvaney; "T'other
side de stars F. S. Brasor; "Oh, day of
bliss" Mr.. Mulvaney. The grand finale
of the first part brought in Mr.. Henley,
with Richards and Burpee as the 1.-TWO
little girls in blue" and the entire com
pany.
Messrs. Henley, Gale, Mulyaney and
Turner did a negro sketch capitally.
George Child's topical song touched up
the town house and other local matters,
and he was recalled twice,
''Old Rogers was rash
With the peoples hard CASH
And the other lines making a decided hit.
Randolph brothers did an exceptionally
good clog dance, and were recalled. NJ. j..
Moran's exhibition of fancy club swinging
was a good feature, and over 80 different
movements were noted. W. H. Henley
had a taking sketch and song "Girl want
| ed" The march of the Cuban Volun-
teers" was one of the best things of the
evening, the rich costumes and correct ex-
ecution of many difficult movements arous-
| ing the audience TO high pitch of enthu-
siasm. At one time the l6 lined up in
| foot ball style. Capt. j. Gray Estey, the
commander, was in flowing robes of
white and purple. All the soldiery had
pink tights and bright helmets, but by
| fours the coats were gold and blue, yellow,
white and pink. Those who took part
in this were Putnam, Worden, Stickney,
| Fenton, Miller, Cleveland, Miller, Harris,
Austin, Randall, Austin, Bingham, Elmer,
Foster, Shumway, McRae.
| F. S BrasOr and j.. Harry Estey did an
Irish character sketch in a manner which
rivaled Murray and Murphy at their best,
the concluding part being a set-to with the
| gloves. The "what-is-it'' by himself -
brought in the strangest looking dwarf
| imaginable, who tripped across the stage
with dancing steps. THAT isn't Brattle-
| boro boy, that is somebody they have
| brought in from outside sang out the
man in the gallery who knew it all, but
the audience was cheering and the dwarf
was coming back. Half way across the
stage he shouted "We've had enough OF
this" and Strengthened up to full height,
with a basket about his body. The per
Torrance was known as the basket trick
and VIM. Martin did the act. Masters
Childs, Stolte, Dugan and Letsinger, as
the Brownie policemen were "Brattle-
boro's finest" and their song told OF
their valorous deeds. Randolph Brothers
did a song and dance act cleverly.
The farce Wanted" was fitting eli
max to the evenings entertainment. P,
j. Mulvaney was Manager Henry Abbey
The different applicants for positions with
his theatrical company told what they
could do, the companies they had been
with, etc. Each gave a specimen of hi.
work, and while the salaries at last en-
gagement had ranged from 500 a week tC
$500 a night Manager Abbey secured
them at $1.15 to $3.50 per week. F. S,
Brasor as VIM. Henry johnson, colored
gave a song and dance. John D. Austin
as Fergus Mccain, in search of 'my
friend Casey" sang "If Casey is a bettel
man than l am" and did a breakdown in
No. 10 brogans; Austin Miller was an ac,
robatic countryman with red onions fo
sale; Fred c. Gale as Charlie Fresh anC
W. II. Henley as Herman Pill did clever
turns; Frank Turner as Angelo Peanutti
ground out an alleged tune on the hanC
organ, and VIM. Martin was "de monk =
Eric Landry introduced French dialec
and the well-known recitation "On Lac
Champlain;" Luther Miller was dude I,
perfection and as a high tenor sang, or be
gan to sing "Sweet Marie;" j. Harry Es
tey as "Lillie Long" or, as he said, fSara
Heartburn, half sister To Sara Bernhardt'
was rare and radiant maiden, a stun
ming gown of purple, a blond wig, whit,
hat and sufficient cheek coloring making
the transformation, while the airs anC
graces and affectations of femninity wer,
assumed in a manner which was simply ir
resistible Martin Austin as "Enry Hery
ing" introduced high tragedy with strik
ing effect. Manager Abbey's whole com