Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-07-28

almost TO its seating capacity, including
the gallery. The audience was COM
posed of the best part of Plymouth,
gathered to hear the home ladies in a
minstrel entertainment. They had
been preparing just one week for this
event and many, before the entertain
ment were skepticsl as to the abi-
ity of the ladies to produce cred
liable entertainment in so short q
time. But in this surmise, they soon
discerned that they were wholly wrong
in their conjectures. The ladies in most
instances handled their parts like pro-
fessionals. They could rattle the bones
with such marvellous skill that visible
signs of amaZement played upon the
countenances of every spectator. They
sung their plantation and nigga"
songs, quite typical of the Georgia wata
melyon" coons. They could mimic the
"nigger twist" in their struts across the
stage to marvellous perfection. Their
ruby lips and brilliant diamonds i'm
pressed the observer with the feeling
that he was actually in the presence of
the genuine coon article. Their eyes
sparkled through the black layer of
burnt cork such that a stray "nigga"
would have given vent to the express
sion-"Yo coon, yo got chalk in 20 eye"
Their loud apparel indicated that the
| la, nf hn
"nigga's" taste on matters of dress.
The end men were right at home with
their "nigg.r Jokes" and did their parts
to the extreme satisfaction of the audi
ence and the utmost discontinue of
many of our your men, who have here
tofOre boasted of their q. t. proclivities.
There were about fifty ladies in the
entertainment and .;fteen or twenty
children, but those taking the leading
parts were: Mrs. Herb Buck, middle
man; Mrs. Louis Mcdonald, Mrs. Maud
HOughtOn, Emma Gallagher, Louise
Ayers, Kate Shepherd, Mary Brown,
Helen Disher, Maud Kingsbury, Mrs.
Jilson, Jennie Stevens, Flora KoOntZ
Emma \ Ockey, Mrs. Fred Botset and
Mrs. Chas. Ruhman alternating as end
men.
The ladies all acquitted themselves
well but we believe that all will be
satisfied to award Mrs. Maud HOughton
the honor of being the queen bee of the
hive. Mrs. HoughtOn is right at home
on the stage The rest of the company
came in neck and neck, the audience
being divided as to which was entitled
to the palm. Every one seemed to be
tavOrites and every one came in for a
big bundle of compliments.
Those taking part in the cake walk
were Miss Flora KoOntZ, Mrs. Herb Buck,
Mrs. Ruhmsn, Jennie Lauer, Emma
Gallagher. Helen Disher, Louise Ayers,
Kate Shepherd, Hattie Lauer, and Mrs.
HoughtOn. This completed the program,
The entertainment was a success in
every way. The receipts were upward
of Sll5. The ladies taking part IN the
entertainment speak in the highest
terms of Prof. Russell who bas worked
so diligently during the past week In
order to have them ready to give cred
liable entertainment. They are pleased
with their success as they certainly
should be. The church society, under
the auspices of which the event was
planned, will be benefited and the young
people have had an abundance of ex-
perience which cannot but be profitable
az we'll as source Of pleasure for
months to come. Our ladies should be
encouraged to cultivate their talent
with which they have shown themselves
80 sptiy possessed.
Jennie Stevens was the favorite Of q
great many. Certainly she did the
MADAM Patti" In true African style.
Mrs. Louis Mcdonald takes the per-
simmOn for her 'make up" From q
comical standpoint, the audience were
practically unanimous in her favor.
Miss Louise Ayers and Mise Mary
Brown excelled as imitatOrs of the
masculine nigger's swag walk. They
were also adept at spinning jokes.
Mrs. Chas. Ruhman and Miss Helen
Disher were all round clever performers.
Miss Dsher is an excellent vocalist
and was q splended imitatOr of the
swell "nigger" dude. Mrs. Ruhman
won the audience by her marvellous self
possession. She was trump.
Miss Emma Gallagher was one of the
leading endmen. She was clever in
every way, adept in grinding out jokes
and and as "nigger" dudine she takes
a back seat for no one.
Mrs. Fred Botset and Emma Yockey
are deserving OF special mention. Their
voices entitle them to front rank in
such entertainments and their parts In
the performance show them to be "up'
IN swell "Gig2er" customs.
!. Flora KOontz Maud Kingsbury and
Kate Shepherd took the parts of the