Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-06-22
FOGY FIDDLERS FIDDLE
THE oLD-TIME MUsIC-MAKERs
TAKE A TILT In A CONTEST
FOR H0E0Rs.
FRIEND FIELDS FlDDLIN' FAMILY.
D. B. Jones, of Galloway, Wins First
Prize-H. o. Drown, of Cant, is
Pronounced Ugly-A Great
Entertainment : The
House Crowded.
FRIEND FIELDS FlDDLIN' FAMILY.

On Friday night the regular theater
goers noticed faces in the audience
at the Grand Opera House which they
had never seen in the place before.
They were there to attend the Old
Fiddlers' Contest. Long before the
curtain went up the seats were all
taken in the Opera House. When the
array Of fiddlers was disclosed to the
large audience long, q loud and
hearty applause went up from the
spectators, who were quieted only by
the dulcent strains OF the "ArkansRw
Traveller" which worked In between
the cheers, handclaps and people and
had quieting effect. Things became
very still and the greater part Of the
audience was spell When they
came from under the influence they
yelled like Indians. We suppose that
they were ashamed that they had al
lowed themselves to think of old times
when that widely known piece was 90
popular and when they danced until
S:45 o'clock In the morning, rode Ave
miles north with a girl, miles back
south to their home and hoed and
thinned corn until sunset that day.
They thought 1t tough then, but there
is no doubt that they would all be
willing to try 1t once more.
While the "Arkansaw Travelern
was being 'sperformedn there were no
two bows going in unison, unless by
mistake, and no two OF the many feet
in motion would hit the stage at the
same time, each fiddler having his
own tempo and "key" in which he
played the piece. After this the indi-
vidual playing for the prizes began.
The judges. Col. Green CLAY, J.. e.
Buckner, Of Auxvasse, and B. B.
Runkle, handed in the following de-
cisions:
Mr.. Lewis is beyond question the
most finished violinist, but out Of his
class with old-fashioned fiddlers and
to name him as the best looking i'd
dler, it is feared, would greatly em-
barrass him.
D. B. Jones, Of Stephens Store, fret
prize for best fiddler, choice Of any
suit Of clothes from the stock Of 8. &
N. Phillip.
Judge s. e. Kendall, of Vandslia,
second best fiddler, prize s15 gold
watch, five year guarantee, Pitcher,
the popular jeweler.
J. H. Hardesty, east of Mexico,
third best fiddler, prize nice hammock,
v. O. P. King.
Us. Jones, of Mexico, Oldest fiddler,
prize $40 pair glasses, DR.. w. P. Con-
we'll, expert optician.
Squire Joe Hit, of Cant, best look
ing fiddler, prize half dozen photos,
Alfred Larsen, photographer.
G.. W. Ely, of Mexico, fattest fiddler,
prize nice umbrella, Kemp & Pear
son.
81. o. Drown, Of Cant, ugIiest fid-
dler, box of Crystal Gross cigars, O.
D. Stickley.
d. o. Wright, of Mexico, leanest
fiddler, one years. subscription to the
Weekly LEDGER, R. M. White.
VIM. II, Fields and and 10 year old
sons, Wilfred and Wendell, OF near
Martinsburg, best family OF fiddlers,
box of groceries consisting of pounds
sugar, pounds good coffee, 2 pounds
soda, cans corn, cans tomatoes, 2
cans blackberries, cans beans, 2 cans
apricots, 2 cans peas, cans pumpkin,
F. A. Morris, grocer.
Wendell Fields, of Martinsburg,
youngest fiddler, nice book, W. L.
Craddock, and cash prize of $3.50 by
the management; also best trick i'd
dIer, one years. subscription to the
Mexico Weekly Intelligeacer, Cook &
Baskett.
Miss Bessie Wright, best lady tid-
dler, fine silk parasol, Victor Bros.
The players performed in the fol-
lowing order:
3. V. Yates, Mexico.
Us. Jones, Mexico,
G. w. Ely. Mexico.
Jno. Fl. Hardesty, east of Mexico.
D. B. Jones, Stephens Store.
Wilfred Fields, Martipshurg.
Wendell Fields, Martinsburg.
H. o. Drown, of Cant.
s e. Kendall, Vandalia.
Jesse Barnett, vandalia.
Squire Joe Hit, CANT.
d. H. Lewis, Mexico.
D. O. Wright, Mexico.
Miss Bessie Wright, Mexico.
James Kemp, Mexico.
Ben Drown, Cant.
w. Il. Northeutt, southeast of town.
Frank Jenkins. county.
AS O. R. Lupton, in the capacity Of
announcer, said that E. V. Yates
would entertain the audience for
three minutes, yowl of-some-
thing-went up from the audience; Mr..
Yates came forward bowing. "Rye
Straw" was his selection.
John 8. Jones, who was cheered
heartily, played "Possum up 3 Gum
/