The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1900-08-03
cLARksBuReIDoLlzEs PROF. SMITH
The Popular Reception Given him
at the Grand Fitfor the leading {
Actor Of the Land.

l
that our predictionin last weeks issue
that Mr.. Gus Smiths polite vaudeville
would be a brilliant success financially
and in the matter Unpopular reception
materiallzed in truthfulness far mex
cess Of our faith, II not our hope. A
large and representative audience,
among whom were the elite of the city
us wellas the common day laborer who
soughtan evenings pleasant diversion,
gathered at the Grand Tuesday even
ing; to witness splendid entertain
ment, the product Of Clarksbutg's
theatrical genius, supported ably BY
the best local talent. The audience
was one OF the largest, best, most ap-
preciative and responsive of the many
Of which the Grand is noted, and no
professional troup ever appeared here,
who received greater applause and
heartler approval. Every number was
encored with a heartlness expressiveo Of
the strong endorsement the auditors
rightfully considered the efforts De.
served The programme as published
last week was observed. Mr.. Smith
appeared first, rendering prologue to
Pagllacci, In mastery voice and
manner and receiving much applause,
SO much SO that onlyby supremest eff
fort could the greatest vocalist known
to history resist the temptation to ap.
pear before the footllghts all timeto
such an appreciatiye audience. Mr.
John Shinn, another Clarksburg boy
who won prominent distinction in ST.
Louis as a cornetist, was equally good
and received as much applause. He
was encored repeatedly. Misses Cora
Smith and Gay Duncan rendereds
vocal duet in their usual tasteful style
and thrilled the bosoms OF their
Listeners with an Inspiration divine.
The opera house band, than which
there is none better, performed the
fourth number, Introducing the
graphophone, by playing q march,
overture, cornet duet and another
march, and then playing directly into
graphophone belonging to Mr.. 3.
Hildebrand, the Pike street grocer,
and placed in position by him on the
stage, after which the graphophone re-
produced the piece In distinct clear
ness Of tone and correctness Of modu-
lation to the great cditcation Of the
audience. This was anovel feature Of
the entertainment but pleasing, 10.
deed. The selections by the band
showed good taste and were played
with rare excellence, meeting that
popular favor accorded to the boys
every time they appear publicly ina
body. Mr.. Mark Mcdonald followed
as the king of bag punchers, exhibit.
ing the skill, science, muscle and
strength of professional of wide note
The applause was no less hearty In bis
favor. After short intermission the
audience was treated to a vocal solob BY
Miss Gay Duncan, the melodies Of
whose voice ever charm Clarksburg
audience, and was required to respond
to repeated encores.
"Stategem," Mr.. Smiths own pro.
duction, written especially for the cc-
casion, the cast of which was WIN
Lewis as Col. Cyrus Blackstone, Clar.
ence Parr as Ralph Blackstone, Gus
Smithas Mai. Gordon Taylor, and Miss
Virginia Alexanderas Majorie Taylor,
was then introduced.
1t was a twenty minute farcial
sketch, in one act, in which were all
the elements, wit, humor and pathos,
The enthusiastic reception and cur
tain call at its finish were proof So.
preme of its ability to please and en-
terrain the most critical OF audiences.
MissCora Smith rendered vocal solo
and was heartily applauded. Then
came the Georgia Minstrels, Messrs.
Writ Lewis and John Smith, whose
limitations of Southern darkies were
SO clever as to provoke extraordinary
applause and much favorable COM
ment. 1t was one Of the prominently
enlivening features Of the evening.
They we're the real thing. Ancil Paugh
acted the nimrod with them, handling
the gun with an experienced hand The
last number was rehearsal Of Uncle
Sans band, In which Ebert Dawson
was Uncle Sam. His appearance was
vividly striking and John Bull or
any other foreign potentate would
have mistaken him for that much
reyered parsonage. The members Of
| the band were dressed and equipped as
individual representatives from the
various countries over which old
Glory floats, and their demeanor, In
struments and playing were highly ex-
pressiye of such an aggregation. This
impenonsating heterogeneous con.
| glomeration of the various races was
composed of Messrs, Writ Lewis, John
Shinn, Gus Smith, Robert Brown,
John Stoll, Thomas Primm, John
Smith, CHARLES Kannaird, VIII Lewis
and Charley Johnston. 1t was, indeed
grand finale, gorgeous and eclat.
Thus ended an entertainment, pleas
ing to the auditors and gratifying 70