Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-17
THE FoREsTERs' MINsTRELs.
Highly CreditRble Performance by
Amateurs---the General Program and
Some OF the taking" Features.


Some of the Taking" Features.
Brattleboro's local talent in minstrelsy
had an excellent chance to display itself at
the Auditorium last Friday evening In the
entertainment given by the Catholic order
of Foresters. For minstrel show prepar-
ed and presented solely by amateurs 1t was
without doubt the best ever seen in town,
and the committee who had the affair in
charge may well feel satisfied with their eff
forts. A large and demonstrative audience
was present.
The first part of the entertainment-an
old-fashioned "nigger'' show-was especi-
| ally creditable to the performers. 1t was
given entirely without the bitches and
waits which so often characterize an anna
teur performance of this kind. The Jokes,
all of which were of a local nature, were for
the most part new and funny, and the
songs, well rendered without an exception
were unusually effective. The curtain
arose upon the regulation circle of darkeys
surrounding the centre man or interlocu-
tor, T. A. Austin. At his right sat the bones,
John Stewart, George Danyew, Joe Mar
tin, William Dunlevy, w. o. Young and
j. j. Eckles, while on the left were the
manipulatoTs of the tambourines John Gal
vim, j. E.Galvin, d. +. Shea, W. b. Mettee,
Z. j. Lavelle and p. II. brisbane. The end
men, six in number, were dressed in blue
plush coats and black silk trousers. The re-
naming ''coons' in the circle were clad in
green and white. After lively overture by
the company, the following program was
rendered interspersed with the usual hits
and gags upon local people:
'she was Bred in Old Kentucky" Joe Martin
1.-THE Bridge" John Calvin
MY Ann Eliza"
and j. E. GalvinJoe Martin, John Stewart
THE Horse That Was Won on Rattle
Professor Ford's Dancing School" J. E. Calvin
my Old New Hampshire Home" T. A. Austin
Three of the songs were composed especi-
ally for the occasion by members of the
company. Although all three were rich
with fun the one which took the best, per-
haps, was 1.-THE Horse That Was Won on
a Rattle" to the tune "She's more to be
pitied than Censured." 1t was sung very
effectively by John Stewart. The song
dealt with the trial of Carl Henkel in his
lawsuit with Frank Larrow and John
Bissett, ending with the suggestion that,
"The horse should be pitied, not censured,
for he's not to blame for this row." The
encore verse was a grind on local cele-
brity.
The second part of the performance con-
sisted of the following program:
Clog Dance Ed and George Gagne
Club Swinging NJ. j. Moran
Stump Speech John calvin
Buck and Wing Dance John Ross
Song Miss Kate O'Connor
Specially, The Alabama Coons."
Cornet Solo SeWall Morse
Dutch Song John Calvin
Jig Dance Mettee Sisters
Erin's Flag John Eckles
Snecialty W. b. Mettee
Nothing Too Good for the Irish" Joe Martin
Patriotic March Company
Site Swinging Ed Gagne
Song, Dedicated 10 Lieut.. Curtin Kate Calvin
The best of the specialties was the Gala
bama Coons," in which five couples partic-
ipated. 1t was in reality a cake walk
given in true darkey style by the following
gentlemen, George Danyew, z. ID. brisbane,
Joe Martin, John Stewart and Frank Shea,
and the following women, w. b. Mettee, W.
o. Young, j. e. Calvin, William Dunlevy
and Edward Lavelle.
The costumes of the participants were
exceedingly "taking." The dancing of
John Ross, a real darkey, who came from
Cuba, was feature of the entertainment.
The club swing of NJ. j. Moran, and the
work of the Gagne brothers were also
worthy of mention. The dancing of the
Mettee sisters was very good considering
the ages of the children, and the recitation
of Master John Eckles was an unusual
outburst of youthful oratory. Miss Kate
O'Connor and Miss Kate Calvin sang very
acceptably.
The entertainment was brought to a
close by a mock trial in which John Gal
vim was judge, j. j. Eckles prosecuting at
torney, and d. F. Shea attorney for the
defence.