The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-05-11
WHAT G The TRAMP SAYS.
Sill Kicking About the Irregular
lilies of The Mail.

Amateur performances rs u rule are
: hard to write up. There is something
which enters in the object for which they
are given or in the caste that renders
criticism uncalled for as we'll as unjust
and most likely unsatisfactory. However
the Roanoke Light lnfantary performance
I at TIE Academy last night deserves ia
vorable criticism of the highest order.
The play "Appomattoxn by Mr.. Sher.
man is full of life, strength ana, what al.
ways takes, pathetic humor. From the
appearance of the Hero of the Seminole
War; in the first act to the reconciliation
at the last, it is interesting. and exciting
The parts were vel taken and smoothly
rendered. Some of them remarkably SO.
The acting last night emphasizes more
s than ever the great need our city has of Il
dramatic association. That q play like
StsAppomnttoX' could be successfully rom
dered with scarcely Il fortnight's training
proves that there is talent here that de.
serves cultivation. Not the least to be
complimented is the military appearance
of the ST. Andrews Cadets. They can
drill and drill we'll. Their first lienten-
ant deserves especial mention. If the
play is ever given here again do not leave
them out.
A lady leaving the city yesterday who
was heard to say, "well, to think
haven't seen the new postoflice building.'
Her father, waiting to tell her good bye,
answered, "And you won't unless you go
down in the hole and look at it," 1t is Il
pity. But the ways of our "Tammany''
(and we have Il fine one) are hard to see
and such things possibly cannot be
helped.
Speaking of the postofice brings it to
mind that complaint rs to the Irregular
ity of the mails is still heard. 1t is disa-
greeable to have to revert TO this so often,
but as there seems to he no apparent raa-
son for the delay in the mails, those
handling them must expect criticism.
The young ladies of the city esp cially
have on more than one occasion been Sc
riously Inconvenience by the non-deliv
cry of invitations, which must undoubt-
eddy have been caused by careessness on
the part of someone. Important letters
mailed on che morning of one day have
not been delivered until the next even
ing and have then been carried to bust
ness addresses, although bearing dis
tinctly the street and residence numbers.
Cases of this sort 10 carrier may not
seem important, but they involve delays
that are as uncalleh for ms unnecessary.
We have been accommodated with n nice
new building in nice locality, bearing n
nice new flag on top and nice new signs
to show the ignorant where to put their
letters on the inside, nice pavements
leading up to it and the prospect of II nice
new Republican postmaster. Now can't
we have our mail.
BY the way there is chewing gum or
something of the sort in the openings
marked "L etters'' and letters have way
of sticking to the sides. Can't our nice
new civil service janitor fix that for u.s.
The telephone war is breaking over us
and we can talk now much rs we wish
1t is announced that the Bel Telephone
Company has reduced the price of phones
in business houses to $50 n year, the price
formerly charged for residence phones.
Residence phones will now be $12 year
or 81 per month. This is decided cut
on residence 'phones under the prices of
the new telephone company Their
phones will re $50 for business houses
and SEQ for residences. Opposition is IL
good thing. If tllis reduction has been
made before the new company has even
commenced operations, further and
more spirited cutting match may he
looked for when the new phones are in
Though hardly relevant just here, it
seems to MS that people in the past have
seemed often to forget thai when they
have called up Central they have been
speaking to ladies. Persons:
with the arduous and patience trying du.
ties of Il central Office do not known what