Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-12-09
MAGNOLIA MINSTRELS.
TWO HOURS OF MELODY AND MIRTH.-
GOOD SHOW, THOROUGHLY RE
HEARsED AND WELL CosTUMED.


1t certainly takes a minstrel show t,
draw the crowd.
One would think so, to see the audi
ence which filled the hall when tn,
curtain went up on the Magnolia Min
strels Friday evening. 4 few vacan
seats there were, but with the bowling
snow storm which had been doing bust
ness all day, and the northwest winC
which was later taking its innings, TIT
only wonder is that the vacant seats
were so few. Some came from Pari:
Hill and elsewhere outside the village
in spite of the weather conditions.
The reputation of the minstrels, which
they established last year, was fully
maintained in this performance, in fact
while it was unsteady fully up to the
standard, there was an advance in the
smoothness with which details were
carried out which added much to the
effect. Waits between numbers were
very short or nothing at all, and the
whole programme ran as if by clock
work.
The rising curtain disclosed triple
circle, Albert d. Park in the center as
nterlocutOr. in a costume of white
satin. Beside his feet were Raymond
Penfold and Ralph Andrews, while the
other pickaninuieS were in the back
or upper circle. The ladies were in
striking costumes of black and yellow,
with large yellow bows on their hair.
The end men, who entered after the first
part of the opening chorus, were IN
white coats and vests, with red ties and
big sunflowerS. Fred Hall and Ralph
Penfold PLAYED bones, and George Soper
and Howard Shaw tambos. All except
the interlocutor were in black face.
In the first part the following pro
gramme of songs was carried out:
Opening chorus.
Ny Weller Gsl. Gorge Soper and Chorus.
was There. but had NJ Business to be
There Fred Hall and Chorus.
Down where the Cotton Blossoms Grow,
Mr.. III. + Wilson, with quartette choru'
Mrs Wilson, Mrs. Andrews, Aessrs.
Dunn aud Hal.
I Go, Mine, BOYS, George 4. Briggs and Chorus
I've Bought Horseless Carriage for my
Baby........-B Howard Shaw and Chorus.
0' Ral,h Penfold and Chorus.
when the Minstrels Como TO Town.
Yrs. Pingree and Chorus.
The Lone Crave, James punn and Chorus
I'm Lookin' for Nah Man. OATS All.
Mrs. Emeey and Chorus
Miss Hannah from Savannah,
Mrs. ]. Z. Andrews and Chorus
The Jokes interspersed among the
songs. while not all of the vintage of 1902.
were mostly given local application,
and some OF them were purely local and
original. and kept the audience in high
good humor. The milkman and the
butcher, Fletcher's barber shop and
Porters store, came in for full share
of hits: several harmless shafts were
aimed at WILDER Farrar and Leander
and a well known citizen was
described as unlike hen, because hen
sits occasionally, but the aforesaid W. n.
c. sits all the time. The hit that brought
down the house was made By George A.
Briggs, when, being recalled after ms
song, Il Got Mine, Boys" he came for,
ward with a lighted lantern in his hand
and this is the song that he sung:
When used TO 20 to see my girl.
When all our streets were bright
fused TO think looked so swell,
Under tn. electric light.
But when IL came the first OF september
didn't look half so fine;
So formed a company all my own,
And I've got mine.
Chorus.
I've got mine, boys, I've got mine.
When the lights went out hustled around,
And formed my own combine
I'm brled.down corporation,
Now don't you think that's fine;
The Norway folks think they've got the
whole show,
But I've got mine.
Following the circle, the next number
was march and song, stay in Your
Own Back Yard" by dozen pickanin-
MES in plantation costumes. The pick
lninnies were Misses Rose Murphy,
Geneva Young, Louise Sumner, Mary
Berry. Ethel Barrows and Grace Dean,
and Masters Louis Clark, Robert Ham,
Willie rockingham, Henry Howe, Ray
Newton and Norris Newell.
The next number was song in cos
tune. THE Bathing Lesson" by Mrs.
Emeley, Mrs. Pingree, Mrs. George
Robinson, and Mrs. l. E. Andrews. In
response to an encore, they came back
in red automobile coats and derby hats,
and sang EVERY Darkey had Raglan
On" and "She's My Rainbow Coon"
This was very taking act.
The favorite pickaninnieS, Masters
RAYMOND Penfold and Ralph Andrews,
did their song and dance, II love little
sweetheart in this town" to the great
delight of the audience.
Mrs. r. L. Cummings gave a reading
which was so well received that she was
recalled, and gave 4 stump speech con-
tanning many pointed local illusions.
A drill by eight ladies followed. The
participants were Mrs. III. G. Fletcher,
Mrs. Littlefield, Mrs. Writ Stanley, Mrs.
Hilton, Mrs. Ira d. Shaw, Mrs. George
Soper, Mrs. J. 5. Burbank, and Mrs. Geo.
w. rockingham. All were in white,
with tri-colored saSheS. Mrs. III. +.
Wilson costumed as America stood in
the background. A variety of evolutions
were performed with accuracy, and a
number of tableaux followed, Mrs.
Wilson as America singing and the
others posing around her. The whole
thing was very pretty and very effective.
Master Louis Clark and Miss Mary
Berry did a cake walk, and it was one
of the cutest things on the programme.
Mr.. Park and Mrs. Emeiey came on
next, deliberately costumed, and went
through a variety of graceful cake walk
figures.
The programme closed with special
~ act. which included a banjo solo by
Earl Bessey, a song by Howard Shaw,
and Virginia reel by the heavy weights
and others.
Mrs. Cora S. Briggs as musical director
was at the piano, and her work aided
materially in the success of the per-
Torrance.
The show was repeated Saturday
evening, with another good house, and
those who have done the vast amount OF
work necessary in connection with the
affair have the satisfaction of knowing
that a good net sum will 60 into the
treasury of the Good Cheer Society as
the result.