The Newtown bee., 1899-06-30


 The children in the summer colony that enjoy the beauties of Newtown Street during the hot months, together with some others that are said to De in digenous to the place, have had passion for "shows" of late. This word may shock some in It's first sound as they call to mind Buffalo Bills Wild West show with it's war-whoops and savage yells, or The Greatest Show on Earth with it's three ring circus and acrobatic tumbling. However, the pastime in which these children have been indulging smacks in no way of the arena; for there has been nothing more harmful about their ''shows" than the exhibition of pet lamb or the display of the antics of guinea pig.
 One of the party of children struck bright idea when she suggested that the next "show" be held in the barn that goes with the Congregational parsonage. The next weighty question to decide was, What program could be devised in any way befitting the spaciousness and glo- ries of the place? The old barn, we doubt not, has held many & snorting charger, such as proverbially is the prop erty of 8 quiet-loving country parson :; but never before probably had it's leaky roof and decaying timbers echoed to such peals of laughter or witnessed such gay colors as adorned. it's somberness, last Friday afternoon, when tableaux were given representing the story of Cinder. ella with swing and an eclat we'll wor- thy of more aspiring talent. For Cin- derella answered the mooted question of what was suitable for so dignifed a place, and pet lambs and cavortlng guinea pigs were for the while relegated to the rear. For days practising went on under the able direction of Mrs Otis w. Barker, the lady of the manse; that is, you may call it practising by apology, for some of the participants had, like the Apostle Peter Of old, sudden impulse to go a-fshing and others were too busy solving the problem of how to have a good time to go through any such matter of fact thing as rehearsing. Mrs W. l.. Allen and Mrs Wesley F. Hayes found some apparel stored away in clos cts and garret, or some odds and ends which delft fingers could put together to make apparel; and when these were brought out into the light and the chil- dren had donned them, we doubt not that Solomon even in all his glory would have concealed himself in some out-of- the-wsy corner in comparison.
 Friday afternoon came, and with it the children and older ones until 40 had gathered on the parsonage lawn in front of the barn. We express 1t mildly when we say the older folks were spellbound i; the innocence of children and their keen enjoyment of simple things bound the spell. Helen Allen made capital Cin- derella and quite made the eyes of her half.sisters stick out with envy when they beheld her metamorphosed condi tion by means of the godmother's wand, just as it reads in the story. Addison Allen, as prince, seemed deeply interest ed in the trying on of that dainty slipper George Hayes, as an elegant guest, shared honors with the prince in the ad- miring glances bestowed upon him by the young misses. Florence Beecher and Loretta Hayes assumed all the airs which that green-eyed monster, jsalousy, can arouse as they impersonated the proud, naughty sisters who thought they had left Cinderella at home among the ashes and soot. Marie Beecher, perched upon a dry.goods box, shone resplen- dent as star. Lloyd Barker perhaps gave some hint of his future calling and the denomination that he will espouse as with high, stiff collar he rigidly held his book as the officiating clergyman when the finale came. Rev Otis w. Barker, acting as one of the curtain. raisers, told the story of Cinderella, DOT tion by portion, as each tableau came on. 80 that the audience knew exactly what they were beholding; otherwise, we men tionit in whisper, some question might have arisen. This entertainment was such 8 grand success that something like 1t may come before another moon has waxed and waned. We'll, long live the childten and long live their innocence and purity to flow, like sweet, limpid current through the turbulent ocean of the worlds shame and misery until this great ocean is like the sea Of glass about the Throne, pure as crystal.
 ----sse-----
 John w. webb has resigned his posi-