The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-04-25
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL.
Lots of Fun and Amusement A fforded
MAE Our People by Local Talent.

Our People by Local Talent.
One of the most pleasing features of
Shakespeare's many sided truths is that
50 many of them enter into our own
commonplace lives. But doubtless even
this great author would have been ap-
palled at the wide application of his
various comments had he known that
one of the weightiest would be applied
to- the Billings district school. alias
Blueberry Corners. Yes, leach one
in his time acts many parts and no
drama. whether tragedy O comedy,
eve had more "parts" than the real
life of the school boy or school girl. It
is little wonder that so rich a theme
always receives an overwhelming ova-
tion when presented by those whose
years Of experience have merely intensi-
fed the happy recollections of those
artless days. And it is not so hard as
it would seem to lay aside the crowd
ing cares of later life and take up
briefly the drama Of school days. for
that was a play in which each one has
had a long and varied training.
The fun oompenced as soon as Mrs.
H~ungerford (Miss Dashaway) attempt
ed to parse John as a plural verb,
and it continued in little crescendos
and diminuendos through Miss Wilkin.
sons excellent PRESERVATION of "Miss
Sharp and Mrs. Evans comical ex-
position of miss Simple" A. G.
Logan as Trustee Smith, was perfect,
while Messrs. Williams and Goss as the
dignitied and intelligent DIRECTORS Of
B%lueberry Corners intellectual future
were just what the part demanded. H.
N. Brayton as "Pendergrass,' the
teacher, seemed to give such q direction
to the several features of the play as
best facilitated the development of in
dividual action and incidents.
AS might we'll be imagined the CO.'S
tunes were ''the thing" and the scene
introducing the scholars passing along
the country road on their way to school
brought every individual into startling
relief. The pantalets, the aprons, the
old fashioned hats and short dresses,
the overalls, the trousers pulled too
soon" and the altogether countryfed
or tough appearance of every one made
a picture that threw the, audience into
commissions Of laughter.
For looks that are bland" the
Chinaman has hitherto held the palm,
but after this when anyone in Billings
wishes to recall a picture of abstract
simplicity the smiling face of Chas.
Spear as little "Luther Brown" will
fill the bill. It is impossible in a short
article to do Justice to either the inoi-
dents. the business of the play or to
the players. Harry Aliens "Obadiah
Buzzard (coon) combined the artless
negro boy with the artful school boy,
always entertaining a select audience
Of his sohoolfellows without attracting
the wrath of the eagle-eyed (?) teacher.
His acting is everywhere mentioned in
terms Of the highest praise. s. G..
Reynolds as "Sim Dipsey' was no less
amusing, though nothing but a we'll
padded jacket saved his skin from the
marks Of the correcting "rod." His
beligerent antics of the First day.
were in sad contrast to his humble sub
mission and humiliating failure at the
exercises Of the term. w. H.
Donovan gave Bobby O'Lea," the
stutterer. Suffice to say he threw
every nervous person in the audience
q ct Of shivers. Mrs. >Rowley as
Susan Crowfoot'' had the "trembles''
every time Bobby spoke and together
produced a very creepy sensa.
Mrs. Hungerford's characterize.
tion Of "Mehitable JONES' y the sweet
girl, attracted much attention, and
Mrs. Chas. Spear gave the difficult gig.
Ring part Of Samantha Piper to the
amusement 81 all. 3. s. Holmes as