The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-10


had also advised her not 70 go 10 Old
Orchard, but to practice Cor another year
before she accepted an engagement OF
this Kind.
A deposition was read from Mr.. Dem
mis- II. clifford, who was the master Of
ceremonies at the Old Orchard house.
he said that the music provided by Mrs.
Thompson's orchestra was not first class
The time Of the dance music was bad and
the orchestra frequently broke down.
The guests Of the house were amused at
the attempts -ot~ths orchestra to play
pieces which were beyond them and then
became indignant and complained about
10 TO him and TO MIR. Staples. Frequent
~ when the orchestra began playing the
guests of the house got as far away from
10 az they could. On the whole the work
OF the orchestra. was not suitable for the
Old Orchard house. Mrs. Thompson's
orchestra did not please the guests, but
the orchestra which followed them did
please, and when 1t began playing the
first night the guests broke up game OF
whist, though they were fond OF whist,
and gathered around to hear the music
and to applaud. The applause which
was given Mrs. Tompson's orchestra was
more in ridioule OF the music than In
oommendatlon OF It. Mr.. Clifford stated
in his deposition that he was dancing
master and had studied music and knew
good music when he heard 1t. That CIV
en- by Mrs. Thompson's orchestra was
not good music.
Henry W. staples, proprietor OF the Old
Orchard house, was the first witness
called by the defense He has been man
ager OF this house for 25 years. He said
the Old Orchard house Is the largest at
the place, the prices for board ranging
from SIG to $50 week for each person
The average price Is W day at this
house. Mr.. Staples went ON to tell how
he came to engage Mrs. Ihompson's
orchestra. Mrs. Thompson presented Mr..
Staples with a card containing ths names
Of members of the organization and he
was led to believs that ths orchestra
which would be sent to him would he
composed of those persons named on the
card Later only two OF these persons
appeared at the hotel with Mrs. Ihomp-
son orchestra, but nothing WAS said to
him about change having been made.
MIR. Staples said that he told Mrs. Thomp-
son shs must have first-clsss orchestra
or thsy couldn't hold their positions. lie
said he preferred 10 get an orchestra from
near home because this travelling mu-
sicians who came to ths house were apt
to make the acquaintance OF ths gentle
men of the house and create talk. Mr..
Staples said that he had been having
orohestras In his house for rs years and
the ..,st time he heard this one he
thought this music was terrible he
said that the guests thought the music
so bad that when Mrs. Thompson
orchestra played they moved away as far
as they could get. The guests complained
ana MIR. Staples told Mrs. Thompson that
he could not stand 1t and that they must
20. Mrs. Thompson said 3hat they had
cen applauded and asked MIR. Staples
to explain why the guests applauded II
the music was so bad. Mr.. Staples said
be asked one OF the women whom he
saw applauding why she applauded,
having made so many complaints about
the music. The woman told Mr.. Staples
that this was the only piece the orchestra
could play TO dance by and the guests
wanted to dance and wanted the orchss-
ira to play 1t again.
MIR. staples said that Mrs. Hanson came
to him after the interview with Mrs.
Thompson and acknowledged that two
of the players were inexperienced and
wanted to substitute two other persons
for them. This MIR. Staples said he would
not allow. He said he discharged the
orchestra because II ne had not done so
he would have lost all of his guests rs it
would have been an imposition to have
Kept the orchestra in his house.
On cross-exsmination by Mr.. White
house, Mr.. Staples said he had not made
any complaint to Mrs. Thompson that
the orchestra was not satisfactory until
he notified her that he did not want 1t
any longer. He said he did not complain
to Mrs. Thompson about the music be-
cause he knew 1t would do no good to
do SO. Mr.. Whitehouse aske him why
he did not fes II by making some sug-
gestions his could not improve the char
aoter OF this dance music. Mr.. Staples
said he knew 1t would do no good.
Mr.. Whitehouse asked Mr.. Staples II he
knew anything about the playing of the
of this orchestra OF Mrs.
Thompson's Dir. staples said he did not
know anything about the individuals
OF the orchestra.
''rhen why did you retain Miss Under
hill after Mrs. Thompson's orchestra had
been discharged" asked Mr.. Whitehouss. |
Mr.. Staples said that Miss Underhill
had asked to remain until she could get
q position. He had allowed her to play
to pay for her board.
MIR. Whitehouss then asked AIR. Staples
how 1t happened that he had received
letter from Mrs. Demming who fur
nishsd the music after Mrs Thompson
left before he had discharged Mrs. Thomp-
son in which shs said she would come to
Old Orchard. He said he had received IA