The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-06

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these soulful plaintive airs which have
UNITED the two once opposing sections and
healed the abysmal breach of strife and
bitterness. Some of the numbers last
/ eve were brought back four and five
times an dali Of them at least once. After
the opening chorus, Song of the
Vikings" by the company, Madam Svl-
vester rendered a beautiful melody en-
/ titled Ding, Dong, Bells" viii conpanv
| chorus, the expression in this and the
vigorous action were thrilling and in
spring. In the encore Madam Sylvester
sang number whose theme was
Juliet" to the air of John Browns
Body" The third, a campmeetfng shout.
/ Go Down Moses" was full of the lively
force fthis class Of southern colored
religious airs and was met with repeated
applause and responded to twice The
fourth was jubilee shout followed by a
most plaintive song, 'She Rests By the
Suwanee River by Mr. Lester Helms
and mixed quartet. Swing Low. Sweet
Charlot' was given by Miss Murphy and
her rich soprano voice, finely cultured
and ringing with real feeling and express
slon' won for her the prompt admiration
OF her audience and her encore was that
always welcome piece which will not
grow old as long as American life is
quick to reverence human sorrows and
tenderest Of racial emotions. namely.
SuWanee River" Not every one knows
the real story so pathetically related to
the song. 1t was not originally a negro air
but was assimilated later into their dia-
lect and became considered as such
The history is that early in the last cen
fury a rich French family removed from
Paris for political reasons and settled on
the banks of the Suwanee river in Flori-
ia. During one of the fearful yellow
FEVER scourges all the family were wiped
out save one beautiful daughter. a child
OF luxury, who had been finely educated
and reared to taste for the ideal and
the idylic- She was sent back to south
ern France by friends but she brooded
and mourned her lost loved ones and the
American home she had learned to love
and before she wasted away and died of
a broken heart she gave expression TO her
grief in those soul-stirring lines whose
theme and whose burden were "Old Folks
at Home"
Joshua Fought Battle of Jericho ..
Oars Jubilee" and Man in the
Moon, by Mrs. Tut, all were returned
two an dthree times.
Following this was a cake walk act bv
Mr.. and Mrs. Tut. and such cake walk
ing has never been seen in Wichita. and
IN spite Of repeated bows the audience
would not accept that, but brought them
oack many times which they old with
the utmost good humor.
Old Black joe" in character sketch
was given most splendialy by Mr.. Tut
and GLORIOUS and one was reminded how
Mrs. James Brown Potter years ago cleo
trified London and America in her lannon's
recltations of this ever appealing poem.
One Of the most striking numbers Of the
program was the whistling and nninicrv
of Mr.. n. T. Washington. which was
marvel of accurate limitations of birds
animals and children. His first number
was "W histling Rufus" given vithou+
reed whistle or any mechanical contriv-
ance whatever to aid him in his iD7fta-
IONS Following this and until he was
worn out and breathless he was time and
again brought back, which he always did
until his reserve fund of breath was ex-
hausted- The house canary. the wild
canary red bird, with its two distinct
calls the spring can and the mate call.
meadow lark. robin, mournful cry Of the
turtle dove, English sparrow. shrilI hiss
of woodpecher. the wren. whiporwiu. Kill
deer, were a few of the songsters he 81
inimitably reproduced Then a puppv I'm
distress and its doleful howl when being
soothed were exquisitelv taking; the lit
Tie chick two weeks old which has lost
ITS mother and chirps so piteously. fol-
lowed by the mother hens anxious eluck
and chandeliers imperious csckle and
triumphant crow. were so perfectly ei,-ar,
as 10 take one righ. to the back door
yard brood. 1t was said Of Thoreau that
ne lived so close TO nature that the birds
Of the forests would fly upon his shout
oers when ne would cali. and Mr.. Wash
lnSton would seem to have a like com
mand over the feathered tribes. The
cpet. Come Where rae Roses Bloom. To-
day. tenor ana soprano, by Mrs. Helms
and Mr. Helms, was among the best. The
male quartet, M Helms. Washington.
-utt and Turner was among those num-
oers recalled fve times The contralto
solo ~ Mrs sylvester and the basso solo
10y ar Turner. were also finely done. as
was the piano playing Of Professor A. b.
Johnson, musical director Of the com
pany- The finale was sousa's stars and
stripes Forever by company.
This splenaid organization viii always
be welcome IN this city and their good
and ready response to repeated
calls Tor more won Tor them the best
wishes Of su present