Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-03-04
THE MAGNOLIA MlNsTReLs.
TWO NIGHTS OF SHOW THAT PLEAS
ED EVERYBODY AND PACKED THE
HOUSE.

i ED EVERYBODY AND PACKED TE
HOUSE.
And were the Magnolia Minstrels
success? Well, if you had prophesied Il
exact facts to the projectors when r
hearsals began, they would have laughe
you to scorn.
From the standpoint of a critical al
dience the show was immense, and wi
rank with the best that was ever put O
here. BY local talent or otherwise. Frol
the financial standpoint the results,
not beyond the dreams OF avarice, wei
at least beyond the widest anticipation
For two nights-Tuesday and Wednei
day-the hall was packed to its limit
and the cash balance will be consider
able
The curtain went up on brilliant Gil
Gle of ''coons." The end men were i
white coats and vests, and black trous
ers, with magnificent red ties. Til
ladies wore white waists and short re-
skirts, with brilliant red ties and gol
geous red bows in their hair.
Mr.. Park as interlocutor occupied tn
centre of the circle, and was the onl.
white face on the stage. The bone
were Fred Hall and Ralph PenfOld, ant
the tambourines George Soper ant
Howard Shaw. All are artists, and i
George Soper wasn't cut out to handle
tambourine, and Fred Hall to sit on TIT
end of the circle and keep the audience
good humored, then this show demon
strates nothing.
James Dunn, tenor, and George A.
Briggs, bass, sat next the end men. Tit
rest of the chorus were ladies, compris
ing in the front row Mrs. II. E. Wilson
Miss Leach, Mrs. Emeley, Mrs. Pingree
Mrs. I. E. Andrews and Miss Grace
Thayer, and in the back row Mrs. T
Thayer, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. Murphy,
Mrs. W. NJ. Shaw, Mrs. II. G. Fletcher
Mrs. E. p. Parlin. Mrs. George Soper,
Mrs. Writ Stanley, Miss Leighton, Miss
Gertrude Hall, Miss Belle Corbett, Miss
Albertha Andrews, and Miss Rose Muir.
ply.
On a stool in front of the iuterlocutor' S
feet sat Ralph Andrews and Raymond
Penfold, in white trousers and derby
hats, and they were the cutest pair OF
coonlets you ever did see.
After the opening chorus, the follow
ing programme of songs was very
smoothly carried out:
Dat Watermelon, Mr. Hall.
Nv Little Niger Girl Nr. Soper.
Mississippi Home, Mrs wilson
Amt Dat Shame. Howard Shaw.
Every Race has Flag but the Coon. Miss Leach
Me- \ ppp NIL In nj Cpnus
Dir. Penfold.
''oons, Coons, Coons.
Miss Sunfower Appleblossom Mrs. Pingree
'prin, Song. (Quartette).
Hunky Dory, Mrs Andrews.
All the soloists were recalled by an
audience, and most of them
had something good up their sleeve as
an encore in the form of an additional
verse of original wording and local flavor
which tickled the audience. The gags"
which were sprinkled between the songs
were likewise either entirely local and
original, or else were given local habi-
tation and a name. For a man who
was accessory to the fact by being pres
ent in the circle, George Briggs took a
large amount of jabbing, but the jokes
were harmless. Other well-known citi
zens got more or less pointed thrusts.
Mrs. Maud Newton and Mrs. Penfold
were accompanies. Especially worthy
Of mention is the work of the Magnolia
which was organized for this
occasion, and the members of which
gave their services for the first evening.
1t was composed of III. G. Davee and
Bert Dean, violiEs, Frank Z. kimball
and Mr. Slack comets, Carl Mason
clarionet, Phil Mason trombone, Rodney
Hall bass, and Mrs. Newton pianist.
The second part of the programme
several specialties, varied in
character so that the interest never
tagged.
1t opened with a cake walk in true
iarkey style, the two couples being
Ralph Penfold and Miss Albertha An
irews, and Mr.. Park and Mrs. Emeley.
They were light as thistledown, and the
Of grace.
Then Ralph Andrews and Raymond
Penfold sang 1.-TWO Little Coons from
Coontown." stepping out the interludes
n good shape. They were called back
20 repeat it by a storm of applause.
Mr.. Dunn in uniform sang "He Laid
Away a Suit of Gray" in his clear tenor,
he effect being heightened by the evo-
utions of four girls in white with wav-
ng banners. Why the large flag used
n this number should have been union
Town was not explained by the song or
~ any information which the Democrat
has obtained.
A chorus of pickaninnies fresh from
he cotton fields, in overalls and sun
Donnets, marched and drilled and sang
'Mammy's Little Pickaninnies. The
girls were Misses Mary Berry, Geneva
Young, Mildred Ham, Louise Sumner,
Rose Clark and Grace Dean, and the
BOYS were Louis Clark, Carlton Berry,
Willie rockingham, Henry Howe, Ray
Newton and Arthur Marston.
Mrs Emeley sang lullaby, "Hush-a-
BYE, Close Dat Eye" and as an encore,
'Maisy, Ma Dusky Daisy"
The "Hoodoo Man. was sung by Miss
Rose Murphy with excellent expression,
md the crowd of excited pickaninnies
like frightened sheep when the
Hoodoo Man actually appeared.
The final act was q cabin scene in
which the whole company appeared.
There was buck and wing dancing by
Shaw, Louis Clark and Raymond
Penfold, harmonica solo by Miss
Leighton, which started the darkies'
ieet, and a recitation by Clyde Hebbard.
One of the coons brought in chicken
stolen, of course), number of old plan
tation songs were sung, and the curtain
dropped.
Ice cream was sold after the show,
md social half-hour was enjoyed, all
Joining in without distinction of race,
color or previous condition of servitude.