The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-02
LADY MINSTRELS..
Unique Performance Last
Night at the Auditorium.
Program Of Merit Given Before
an Appreciative Audience.
The Entertainment Is For the Benefit Of Tower
Post and viii Be Repeated Tonight.

The long anticipated minstrel entertain
ment, the initial performance of which
was given at the Auditorium last evening
by the Charity Warblers, was pronounced
success, and frequent signs OF approval
from the audience denoted that the enter
tainment met with their appreciation.
The audience was a representative one
and Pawtucket society was well repre-
sented. There were sixty people who took
part In the entertainment, and the pro-
ficiency they have attained in the short
time of rehearsal is remarkable and de-
note the interest the participants took In
the performance and the object for which
1t was rendered. The members of Tow,r
Post, under whose auspices and for whose
benefit the entertainment was given, have
the satisfaction of introducing one OF the
most unique performances ever given In
this city. Tower Post must indeed be
popular organization when 60 of the fair
sex consented to allow burnt cork to con-
ceal their comely faces. The entire enter
ment went off without hitch OF any kind,
and this in itself Is praiseworthy feature
for an amateur performance.
After an overture by the orchestra, the
controlling spirit of the occasion, Miss
Addie lola Ames of Boston, was seen max
ing her way toward the directorsj seat.
Her appearance was greeted with round
of applauae. Miss Ames took the baton,
and led the orchestra throughot the per-
formance, as well as directing the per-
formers.
The curtain arose on q very picturesque
scene Fifty colored ladies occupied the
stage, taxing its capacity. The costumes
of various hues made the scene Of kalei-
descopic nature. The end men, or more
properly, the END ladies, were dressed In
red and yellow, seated alternately. The
interiocutor was dressed In red, and the
chorus in gowns Of black and yellow.
The performers were seated in a semi
circle, the chorus rising in the rear of the
stage In three tiers.
The first portion of the program was
the usual musical melange of minstrelsy,
and opened with chorus which was well
sung. The Is selections on the first part
of the program were interspersed with
Jokes, between the ends and interlocutor.
The jokes were principally local, and
many of them original. Two examples
will show the tenor of the fun from this
source. "Why are we like widows?" was
asked, the answer being, because we
wont remain in black long," The joke
apparently most appreciated by the audi
ence was .'sprung' by Miss Viva Dexter,
who informed the interlocutor in reply to
the inquiry, "What gospel hymn the
Charity Warblers should sing after the
performance" that 1t should be, "Wash
me, and shall be whittier than snow."
The audience were very appreciative, and
the efforts of every singer taking part in
the first part of the program was encored,
and they were obliged to respond. The
well drilled chorus made many of the
songs more attractive by uniform gestures
during the singing of the chorus. Indi-
vidual comment on the work of the vari-
GUS performers would be q difficult task.
The approval Of the audience speaks for
itself.
The work of the end ladies was es-
pecially good, and the way in which they
handled both bones and tambourine was
remarkable. "Climb Up, Chillun," by
Miss Viva Dexter was rendered in her
usual attractive and vivacious manner.
Miss Mira Bishop sang "Down In Old
Tennessee" very sweetly. "Visions Of
Childhood" by Miss Nellie North found
favor, and Miss Harriet Pollard's render
ing of III Am High Born Lady," was
very well done. The other numbers on
the program were all given In acceptable
manner. Mrs. Charlotte M. Broome filed
the position of interlocutor very ably, and
gave the position its traditional dignity.
The second portion Of the program
opened with a well sung medley by the
Charity Warblers. The Eclipse Silver Band
were obliged to return, and render another
selection. The singing of "Little Alabama
Coon" by Ruth Bucklin was very cutely
done. The cornet solos by Mrs. Nichols
proved her to be q finished musician. Mrs.
Fish made an admirable old colored
woman, and the closing number on the
program was "Pickanninny Dance by
Miss Rhoda Blake. This was 30 very well
done that Miss Blake was called upon for
another exhibition of her skill, and danced
the sailors horpipe very cleverly.
For many the event Of the evening was
the cake walk, and this was the closing
feature Of the bill. The judges were His
Honor John w. Davis, mayor of Paw
tucket; His Honor William Won Cots
chalk, mayor OF Central Falls, aud Hon.,
Fred w. Easton. These gentlemen took
seats in front Of the stage, and the walk
commenced.
The walk was participated in by ten
couples, and the costumes werc varied,
and gorgeous. Many were the styles in
troduced of high and fancy stepping.
The honors OF the procession were carried
OF however, by Walter and Miss Emma
Tibbetts. In walking, dress and every
particular they led the contest, and the
judges after short deliberation decided In
their favor.
Miss Tibbitts wore . gown of white,
trimmed with fancy lsces, and rod ribbons.
Her hat was Q creation Of straw, ribbons
and roses and the finishing touches 10 her
elaborate toilet was . white sunshade
trimmed with roses. Mr.. Tibbitts Wa 9