The Forrest City times., 1899-10-13
Will Allen Drtmgoole.

With n feeling of unworthiness and
II realization of the utter absurdity OF
pndeavoring to give words of praise
and adulation in anything like the
measure which they are deserved, We
cannot but be ashamed of any effort
we could make i'm reference to Will
Allen Dromgoole. This little woman
was revealed to us i'm a brief entertain
ment at the opera house Wednesday
evening, in which she impressed her
hearers as being u bundle Of love, pa
thos. mirth, grace, JOY and happiness
unfolding herself to her hungry listen
ers, and giving them short glimpses Of
each lovable trait of character, feeding
them, SO to speak, from The great foun
tain of inexhaustible feeling and intel
'!igence with which she is so richly en-
dowed.
The most gratifying feature OF 1t all
was the realization that the lovely lit
tie lady was telling us the stories which
the result of the lifelong efforts of her
own great mind and heart. Her charm
ing lfe-sketches werb drawn from ma
ture and in telling >hs of the simple
faith Of the "Old Negress. :" size led us.
with throbbing hearts and minds filled
with noble impulses, into the very
presence of God. With deep sympa-
Shy, tender pathos and happy mirthful
ness, we followed her. enraptured and
intensely interested, through the de-
lightful reading and she left us devout-
ly worshlping her and wishing for
more. Truly, the power and strength
of spirit embodied in the frail and deli
cate body of this little woman. was =
revelation to hee auditors.
The story OF the cOurtship OF the
bashful mountaiheer bachelor was a
soul-stirring, humorous effort and kept
the audience convulsed with laughter
throughout its reading The closing
of every sketch was greeted with hearty
bursts of applause, and ut the end of
the programs, or at least, When Miss
Dromgoole lhad become weary with
exercise, it was with much reluctance
that the grateful and appreciative au-
dlence left the building. Everybod,
wanted more of her.
"What shall we say of her ." is truly
an unanswerable and perplexing ques-
ton. Were we in command of the
most fluent vocabulary Of Auditory
words known to the English tongue.
our impressions of her could not be
portrayed in prose. 1t is likewise i'm.
possible to give anyone who did moi
hear her any idea of the magnetism
and inimitable grace of this charming
woman.
In giving us the picture of the beau
titul life OF devotion and constancy-
the undying rove and tender solicitude
OF the old negress for her "young
marster, " she lifted us above the com.
mon plain Of earthly things, and in
laying aside all preiudjces we beheld
Mann Tilda, rs the guardian ang,
OF the boy whom the faithful old darkey
had followed to the grave, and in flu,
filling her mission and promise to her
Old Mistis, had handed him safely
into the arms of his Maker. What a
lovely picture and small wonder such
romantic and realistic word paintings
lead us almost to the gates of heaven.
and enable us to partially realize the
greatness of the mind and heart which
conceived them Free Grace and
Dying Love" was the sweetest
csrel eyer sung" after all and, those
pathetic words sang in the negro dia.
lect by Miss Dromgoole. made our
hearts thrill with love for the black
angel and brought unconscious tears to
eyes unused to weep.
The responsibility for the corning of
Miss Dromgoole and for the Inspiring
literary treat given Us at the opera
house last Wednesday night NAV be-
credited to the Cosmos Cub. This
BODY OF ladies, in their struggle to
procure for our citizens elevating and
Instructive amusements. deserve the
commentator of everyone, and we
know that substantial encouragement
awaits their future efforts along this
line.
The stage Wednesday evening was
,tastefuliy arranged and artisticall,
decorated in Cosmos flowers. roses and
efergreens. aud Miss Dromgoole was