New-York tribune., 1902-05-11
RURAL DRAMA LOOKING UP
AGE OF LITTLE EVA DISCOVERED AT
HAMLET TOFFICE-NOTHING
LIKE SHAKESPEARE

The drama is picking up in the rural districts
There is no doubt about it, Uncle Hiram Budsoe
of Hamlet PostoffCe Chautauqua County says
that never in his recollection has there teen such
a revival in theatricas as has marked the winter
just passed. Uncle Hiram is strong on memory
and when any of his neighbOrs get into an argu-
ment on the depth of the snowdrfts across the
Lear Road, between Richards Hill and Nacbeth's
Cut. or the height OF Ophella Creek IN March. they
go right to Uncle Hiram. and he sets them
straight So his testimony in this matter IS worthy
of more than mere transient comment
Tell you, said Uncle Hiram. them city folks
What go 70 the theatre most every week amt got
no idea how frequent us rooraI dweHers-rucoIic
shepherds as the professor the high school sez-
has opportunities TO see drammy acted right here
I'm Hamlet POstofice. I kin remember a time
when Frisbee's Oppry House want opened from
one year end TO the other No. sir. There was
once spell when didn't see show bill on
BIZ Sykes's barn for MORN two years and a half
Tell We what l allus thought was the trubbIe
Long about five years ago Uncle Toms Cabin
comp'ny come through and was billed TO give three
performances. The bills more'n four foot
high. and the picters OF the four blOodhounds give
Sairy Thomson Joe ThOmson's hve-year-ole girl
who was jest gttin' a bite she got from
plagCin Jim SaCkett's dog Jess, a couniption fit
right on the street But what interested Hamlet
the most the 'nouncement .hat Little Eva was
a simple and lovely child. barely eight years ole
The hand dodgers had II she was "A dream OF
beauty and vision of childish innercence.' Now
about two months before this Mrs. Silas Livermore
Deacon Livermore 5 vile. who had been TO Chau-
tauqua Sembly the August before. got up the
Hamlet sassiety for the Protection of Children
She said it the only proper and erect thing
for a town the size OF Hamlet in these advanced
days Member she and Jennie DOOlittIe didn't
speak for moren six months cause Jennie said
that if Mrs. Livermore would spend time pro-
tectin' Sine Livermore her ten-year-oId and less
trapesin round 10 CHl'tauqUa sembues, there'd be
more fruit in some of the peach orchards.
Anyhow, the sassiety was got up and Of course
Sister Livermore was made first president. The
new organization hadn't had no chance TO show
what 1t was good for until this Uncle Tom com
pany come through Soon as the bills was dis
trlouted round town. Sister LvermOre was took
with excitement Two days before the troupe was
due special meetin' Of the sassiety was called
and II was unanimously decided Molly Sea-
bihit1,,; So, 90 tA' steps toward pro-
as putin an tnnercent and lovely child. only eight
year ole, in a stage play.
A warrant was swore. out by Sister Livermore.
,S vs. pT.G.'' pJ4 anu Jerry Hackett the constable,
to show his badge since he arrested Sim Rustler
Tar stage entrance FOR bi11SaIf i ~ S res
waited until the play had begun. The Oppry house
gone up. Jerry walked up and served the warrant ant
& Eva IN court before Hon silas Hornbee. J. p. My.
no good Jerry was firm sot. and the whole show
Court of Special Sessions for the occasion Sister
sieve f & an The rest OF The Officers Of the sas
town and the hull troupe was packed in
superior as if She was leading procession OF the
Daughters OF Temperance 10 bust saloon It
a lot Of jawin'. aud then Little Eva put on
high. and hadn't had time to Change her VaIier
wig wis or her short skirts She didn't look mOrea
sassiety Jedse Hornbee Begun to question Iitte
Eva, Eva. | member she said her stage name was
New my dear little girl. don't be alarmed. said
dne me Jedge S9othin like Jest answer our questions
&" Go ahead, then said Little Eva spitefuI like.
go ahead and ask EN-
ton said the jedse Iookin important Is that
YOU stage name or your real name?'
" That's my stage name. said Little Eva Ny
real name is Mrs. John Stavvers, of Harlem. New
:, What? hoIlered the jedge. Mrs.
gup and Kit rin % redder in the ace ae ali 6s m Mlsn
." How old am To- snorted Little Eva. I'm thirty
seven seven years o'd. WhIch, although twenty years
than & some can see right here in this
to mind my own business
e Course the suit dropped right there. Sis
to Buffalo two days after. and there hain't been a
meeting Of the Sassiety fer the Protection of Chill
ing business, and Josh Vincent tole me he kinder
'peared But, l sayin'. after that somehow
the drammy fell of round here and We haint seen
soul, in the last few months We amt had no call
for en- Ammatoor theatercals has took their
Long bout nrst Of Jan,ry the ssuyur class at
Sine Johnson the colored jan-niter was asked to
be Oteller He's an uncommon eddCated coon. and
kin sing like bass fiddle. He wanted to do a buck
and wing dance speciality before the Dodge and
when they wouldn't let him. he quit.
Then that wasn't done hardly before the Sandy
Creek Dramatic Club drove over one night an give
The Farmers Daughter a big house. Twas a
pretty good shov, but gimme Shakespeare every
time Them light mellerdrammies is pretty thin
sass 70 tragedies like 'IeeT' and 'RChsIOO and
'FabiO RomanniO' and other pieces of the Bard OF
Avven, to my mind. The Sandy Greek club reused
us up here. and We formed club called the Ham
let Strollers- The only show we give The
a
Ireland. II pretty dunn good. played
the part of the grandfather of the heroine. and
say. The Hamlet Herald said I evinCed a latent
power fer pathos toterly unexpected by those who
knowed me That pretty good fer ole cUss
like me- hey2 Yessir. the drammy is pickin Up
But gosh bless mel you can't more git Sister
IivermOre the deacon come inside the oppry
house door than YOU kin make my ole brfndle COW
do double shuttle. Sister LivermOre she anus
thought Sech things sinful. and the deacon,
course he thinks jest a she does"
SHE HAD To DIET.