The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-28
THE OLD MAIDS TOOK THE TOWN
Graded school Entertainment-The
County Bridge Barely S~aved-Color-
ed Norma School Exercfses-Per-
sonal Paragraphs.

Correspondence of The Messenger.)
Fayetteville, May %.
The city graded school entertainment
in the armory of the Fayetteville In
dependent Light Infantry last even
ing attracted a very large gathering OF
people. who, from their generous APP
plause Of the performance, felt them
selves e repaid for their attendance.
Captain Pemberton McNeips excellent
zouave drill of boys was first pulled
Off" and went off with due honors, as
did the closing number on the pro-
gramme. the drill of the red, white n
blue. But the "Old Maids Conven-
ton" took the cake 1t was witty,
handsomely stage mounted. and full OF
genuine hits from beginning to End.
The stars of the dramatis personae
were Mr.. viii Broadfoot. whose acting
was really fine; Miss Meanon Slocomb.
who tripped it on the boards, a very
fairy of graceful dance; Miss Shields,
a passing sweet singer; and Miss
Robertson. who gave the audience per-
lection in the burnt cork gestic art.
The county bridge over the Cape
Fear escaped the flood yesterday-and
it just did. At noon, when the waters
began to subside. there was very grave
danger. as the Sherman freshet of 1860
-56.7 feet, and the populist freshet or
1S94-5S.2 feet, had both been exceeded.
Guards were on the lookout, carefully
considering the situation; and, had 1t
been necessary, the bridge would nave
been burned. rather than let the m
mense mass of timbers and woodwork
be swept down on the costly iron rail-
road bridge.
The closing exercises of the State
Colored Normal School, of which Prot.I
E. E. Smith is superintendent, are now
going on but commencement day isl
Monday. the 9th instant. Rev. J. Al
Whitfield, a. NJ, addresses the liter
airy societies; Rev. w. J.. Sides, A. M
breaches the b~accalaureate sermon
and Prof. n. G.. Bruce, Dean of Shawl
university, delivers the annual oral
ton. Prof. E. E. Smith. who was theI
United States minister to Liberia UNI
der the administration of Grover
Cleveland. worthily wears the mantlel
of the late lamented Robert Harris;
and, b. his scholarly gifts and his ex-I
ceptional executive ability, has made
his school one of the most useful COL
ored educational institutions in theI
whole south.
A very pleasant german was given
last evening complimentary to Mrs.
Ernest Cook, who did not need this
debut to secure a hearty welcome with
Fayetteville people. The dance was led
by MI. John C. Thomson, and Rems-I
burg's fine orchestra furnished theI
music.
Mr.. Roy H. McDuffie, president of the
Hunk Hardware Company, and the new
chief of the fire department, is now re-
organizing the engine and hose conn.,
panieS.
A local chapter of the Daughters of
the C~onfederacy is to be organized I'M
Fayetteville. and the meeting for theI
formation of the chapter will takel
place next Thursday. at the residencel
of Mrs. j. K. Kyle, on Green street.
Sheriff G.. A. Burns will have his
street horse and carriage parade, cele-l
brating his 18th anniversary in the
livery and sale stable business, on Nom
day afternoon at $3.50 o'clock.
Messrs. Tyson n Colerider, enter-l
prising business men, who have been inI
Fayetteville for the past few days, arel
negotiating. this correspondent is in
formed, for the purchase of %valuableI
property here.
Misses Martha Williams and Lucillel
Murchison, of Wilmington, are visit
ing friends in this city n county.