The record-union., 1899-07-22
1.-THE MINSTREL s LAMENT. .
WAvERLYS' RETURN-HARD
LUCK AND HOT WIRES.
But They Deny That They Were
Hoodlumish, Iu-Behaved or
Deserved Censure.

A fortnight ago there appeared here
for three nights, a large local company
of minstrels and specialists, known as
The Waverlys. They gave a good show
at the Clunie Opera-house to good audi
enceS and were we'll received and by
every one commended. The company
went into the interior and has now re-
turned.
The Record Union" approved the
company, gave it as it's opinion that it
was as good as many professional COM
panies and better than some. The
twenty-nine young men composing the
troupe are all we'll known residents, Jof
good families and have the respect of
all who know them here.
The young men feel deeply aggrieved
therefore that in Colusa it should have
been published that they were guilty of
hoodlum-like conduct, and that they
gave rotten" show, as the term runs.
The facts appear to be that they were
well received in Woodland, had a large
house, gave entire satisfaction and had
warm commendation from both of the
daily papers and received a cordial in
vitation to return.
The company went next to Colusa
and played there two nights, giving it's
full and usual performance. One night
they had a big house and the Sec
ond night a half house, it being the
first Sunday night performance ever
given in that interior city. On Mon
day they got the hottest kind of a
roast in a local daily paper, which also
charged the members with ungentle-
manly conduct, and that they deemed
themselves band of maShers, insulted
women and were nothing short of
bummers and low-down fellows.
The fact is, say the returned min
strels, that the charge is made out of
the whole cloth; that they conducted
themselves as gentlemen should; that
the parties in Colusa who misbehaved
were members of a baseball team who
got bowling drunk, but that these had
no relations whatever with the Wa
verlys.
The company went from Colusa to
Red Bluff, struck the town when it was
red hot, and people praying for the
privilege of walking around in their
bones AS a consequence there was
very small house, the heat being in
tense, and very few caring to sit out
performance of any kind with the
thermometer boiling over. The state
ment that a street fakir with a side
show ran counter to the Waverlys and
drew off the people is denied. The
fakir, in fact, closed up his show out
of compliment to the Waverlys. The
Red Bluff people received the company
well, and showed them many favors,
and the stay of the troupe there was of
the pleasantest, barring the empty
treasure box.
The company then went to Redding,
played to poor business and Cancelled
its second night there. 1t ran up
against a free street show that would
not give way. The heat was equal to
that of Red Bluff and people preferred
open air to sitting in hall. This all
reduced the funds of the troupe SO far
that it was resolved to keep the road
no longer. The Redding people assured
the young men that if they would re-
turn in the fall they would be guaren-
teed packed houses. The company was
finely entertained by leading citizens,
and it's losses deplored. The boys have
only good words and praise for Red
Bluff and Redding, despite the poor
business done.
Regarding the published charge. that
the solo banjoist, Johnny Mack, skipped
out and left the company in the lurch
at Redding, Is emphatically denied. The
young man left because he was tele-
graphed for from home. He went with
full and amicable understanding with
the company, and bade the members
good-by in the best of humor There
was neither surprise nor secrecy in his
departure, nor was the show dependent
wholly upon him. He filled number
and only one. But he is of course con-
sidered card.
The published charge that the COM
pany was pursued to the depot at Red
ding by its alarmed landlord, who
brought the Sheriff with him to stop
those who had not paid their bills, is
denounced as wholly untrue. Nothing
of the kind, say the managers, occurred.
Every bill was paid, no officer was
called upon, and the land lord expert
enced no fears.
When the company found Itself
stranded, it went to the landlord,
stated the case that money had been
sent for and that he would be paid
He told them to rest easy as he had no
fears and they could leave if they
wished and send him the sum of his
bill later on. They, however, received
their coin from home, paid their bills