Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-28

widely. Satires upon country life were
| not infrequently given and were great
| favorites Burlesque schoolboard exami-
| nations, and impromptus of nondescript
order. usually ending in some vigorous
| muscular action, never failed to please.
The names of some of them, as "A Noble
man in Disguise, 'Jonathan's Visit u
the City or old Benson, are clearly
indicative of their character. Conspicuous
in all of these was the idea set forth that
! all virtue. honesty and intelligence were
found only In the country. indigenous 10
the soil as II We're, while all the opposite
attributes existed only in the city, whittier
no one should ever go If he valued his
safety.
But perhaps the most mastery effort
we ever Witnessed. was in the production
of Jack. the Giant Killer OF course
there was no way of learning what kind
of costume was worn in the giants realm.
consequently anything unusual was con-
sidered appropriate. The stage setting
was seldom varied. There was no reason
why Italian counts and giants should nct
have the same rag carpet and striped wall
paper. and the imagination of the au-
dience had proven itself equal to any
deemed too small to be of consequence.
So all the ingenuity of the actors was en-
ployed in making their costumes. That of
the giant consisted of a large straw hat,
the brm caught up on one side and two
long turkey feathers stuck through the
band: linen buster, striped trousers and
leather boots. About his waist he wound
several yards of gray scarf, with fringed
"A.
his stature as befitted the occasion by two
wooden soap boxes which had been pre-
pared with straps nailed across the top,
through which he might thrust his feet
and make an impressive clatter as he
came unon the stage.
''Of course, a rapid pace was scarcely
possible with such footgear, but cum
bersome gait made him all the more
formidable. and when he stepped upon
the stage and said fierceiy: Wife.
smell fresh meat the silence was more
complimentary than any applause could
have been. But there is no denying that
he looked very meek when he became
aware of the gaze of so many fastened
upon him, although they in their SYM
pathy regarded him as extremely fero-
cious in appearance. unassuming giant
that he was. While the aforesaid fresh
meat giggleu audibly under the table.
Interest increased as the play went on
md the plot thickened. and when at last
Jack arose and killed the giant en-
husiasm was at white heat. But to
,verybody's regret the murder took place
n the bedroom adjoining, peaceful lit.!e
Dom unaccust toned 10 such scenes Of
'arnage. But the ag0niZed sounds in thar
direction. told of the horrid deed being
)erpetrated. When at last the curtains
were pulled hurredly together amid great
applause. the victorious Jack emerged
rom the bedroom and triumphan;ly he'd
Up the giants head--a CORY trophy indeed.
This certainly was the crownng event Of
he evening.
THE giant must have changed greatly
n death though there could be no doubt
/ hat this was he. His white face looked
,uspiciously like cloth aud there was Il
singular monotony of form about it. But
here were charcoal eyes, red mouth
With a great display of teeth and the
nangled neck that told of the g.eat
;truggie. This effective closing of tho
| hastily scene was regarded by all as
! something far above the ordinary We
I we're all sure that the dramatic ar; was
naking rapid strides toward perfection in
! ,ur locality