Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-01-23
Two Minstrel Shows.

This week has been remarkable one II
the show line; two minstrel shows on twe
successive nights, and the two leading
companies on the road, the w. S. Cleve.
land and the Hi Henry troupes, the forme,
showing in the opera house Wednesday
night and the latter Thursday night.
Circumstances compel comparison even
at the risk of being odious. Speaking
generally the Hi Henry is a much superior
troupe. Mr.. Henry travels in his own
private car; the members OF his troupe are
carefully selected and are gentlemanly fell
lows; every detail is watched with care
tulness that shows master hand at the
helm. The musical features OF Mr..
Henry's show are of high merit; the band
OF "a pieces was perhaps the finest that
ever paraded the streets of Bellows Falls.
The first part Of the performance Thurs
day evening, the more strictly minstrel
part, was much superior to the performance
Wednesday evening. The orchestra of Is
pieces was a superior one, and the singing
OF the double quartet and some of the So
los was superb. "Fondest Memories by
Mr.. Bayley, Zone day somebody's darling"
by Mr.. Gates, "The old chest in the at
tic" by MIR. Skelcher, and Rosey Posey by
MIR. Leighton were gems, and were en-
Enthusiastically received. Arthur Deming is
star among comedians and was by far
the best member Of the troupe in his line.
The Hi Henry company had a members
IN the troupe. and Cleveland about 80,
yet the latter troupe contains several
splendid comedians; Billy Emerson and
Lew Spencer have few peers. Then Mr..
Cleveland has introduced specialties that
MIR. Henry cannot equal Prof. James
H. Burton with his trained dogs gave an
exhibition OF canine intelligence that was
truly wonderful. The Biograph was an
other feature which, in the opinion of some,
was alone worth the price of admission.
This is truly marvellous invention and its
working had never before been witnessed
by many present. The New York fire
department., the rapids of Niagara, and
'he lightning express on the New York
Central railway were produced with thrill
ng effect. So realistic was the presenta-
ion OF the express train that it really
eemed as though fhe train was advancing
o the front of the platform at tremendous
peed only to dash into the audience. The
'iograph is operated by an electric current
nd brilliant light. Connected with the
pparatus is series of pictures side by
ide and two or three inches wide, making
string perhaps 80 or 40 feet long which
uns over wheel in such way that the
ght throws reflection on the canvas; at
he same time the string of pictures is given
wavy motion to give continuity.
The house Wednesday evening was a
loderate sized one, while that of Thurs
ay evening was large; this however is
ardly criterion by which to judge the
,lative merits of the companies. There
as difference of % cents in the price OF
an important item; then too, I
lie splendid music given on the streets was
, important factor in filling the house a
thursday night. e
This much more should also be said in :
vor of the entertainment given by Mr.. {
levelands troupe; there was nothing said
done during the entire evening that {
ould offend the most refined taste; this
as not true of the entertainment Thurs
~ evening as few of the songs and
kes were so worded as to be easily capa- Q
e of an off color Interpretation.
To sum the matter up; Mr.. Henry v
yes a superior entertainment as whole,
1t cannot equal his competitor on feature d
fractions. The former does business on c
-ictly business principles keeping an
gle eye on every detail; the latter h
lists too much to fate, and as a result has n
company of possibilities rather than W
alizations. ii