The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-18
At St Paul Theaters
HavsrIy's Mastodon MinstreIs.

fIdNCIIy WdSIOuOn MtnSIfGISx
When we were little boys at min
strel show the climax of fun was at
tanned when somebody covered the
funny mans face with soapsuds. We
longed to see the "black come off. -
Minstrel shows haven't changed much
since then. They have simply cut out
some of the time-worn stunts" and
let the others alone.
Haverly Mastodon Ministries. which
opened three nights engagement at
the Metropolitan last night, mindful of
the fact that a white face is a sacri-
lege In minstrel show, permit none
10 intrude. Every act is a study in
black. For this relief much thanks.
In the first part" which is the vital
part or minstrel show, the usual COL
loquies take place between the inter-
locutor and the end men. That some
clever jokes, thought out years ago in
editorial sanctums. are occasionally re-
vlyed, is not to be wondered at. Still,
as old friends, they are more or less
welcome if they are we'll delivered.
The end men in the present aggre-
cation are just as capable of deliver
ing the happy response as the comedi-
ans Of past generation. But there is
woeful decadence in the middle
man."
Let us have a middleman who can
speak the kings English to the man
ner born. His precise, scholarly en-
nunciation, indicating that he can spell
all the words that he uses, affords an
effective contrast to the end man, who
IS supposed to be the embodiment of
illiteracy.
This deterioration in fnterlocutors is
by no means peculiar to the present
organization.
Billy Van Is starred with this aggre-
cation. and justly. Some of his con-
versation in the first part is more
lengthy than amusing by very reason
of its length-for brevity is the soul
of wit. But his monologue starts a
wave of laughter, which is reinforced
by several swells that creep way be-
yond the first break. His description
of boy overhearing hot poker game
In which his father was the banker,
was highly entertaining to the in
itiated. Those to whom the great
American game is stranger are
handicapped at a minstrel show
Vans sliding trombone voice is his
fortune. That descending chromatic
scale of his would make the Lords
Prayer sound ludicrous.
No false voices are allowed to sing
any solos. George M. Wallis basso is
resonant, Frank Coombs possesses a
genuine lyric tenor, as announced on
the programme; Charles Richards
sings his baritone solo with good
taste, and William Moore, counter
tenor, was deservedly encored for his
expressive singing of the ballad, No
body Ever Brings Presents to Me-
which was rather the most melodious
of all.
The distinctive and by all odds the
cleverest comic song of all was con-
tributed by Dan Waldron 1t bears the
laconic title 1T Was the Dutch" There
was not enough of Mr.. Waldron in the
show.
The olio was neither better nor worse
than the average associated with a
minstrel show. The roller skating bur-
lesque specially by Marcus and Bar
telle provoked parOXysms of laughter,
up stairs and down. Not SO many
smiled at Mazier and Conley, whose
dialogue was a trifie thin. The aero
battle silence nd-fun" act of the Young
brothers was good. The musical
stunt" contributed by Gardner and
Summers concluded with the spirited
playing of the Poet and Peasant"
overture on two xylophones in a fash
ion that merited the prolonged APP
plause it aroused.
The moonlight song-and- dance di-
version by Edward Leonard and the
company, which ended the programme
sent the people out in a musical mood.
It's virtue as an entertainment is de-
cidedly mild. F G. H.
Kelley and Shannon, in Sherlock
Holmes" will play an engagement at
the Metropolitan opera house COM
mencing next Sunday, for four nights
and Wednesday matinee.
Next Thursday evening, for three
nights and matinee, st. Paul theater-
goers will have an opportunity to wit
ness the Walter Jones Opera company
in the Sleepy King" The cast in
cludes George K. Henery. George Rusk
Fiske and Ed Roadway. The sale of
seats for this engagement opens at the
box office next Monday morning.
Crowds still continue the rule at the
Grand, where the 1.-TWO Little Waits"
are holding forth. The many features
of the play are loudly applauded and
the entire company given an ovation at
the end of each act. The play runs the
entire week, including a matinee Sat-
urday. AT each performance souvenirs
are presented to the women.
Sky Farm" the latest rural drama
will be seen at the Grand opera house
Sunday night 1t is the work of Ed
ward e. kidder, whose pen has al
ready given the amusement world sue
cesses in "A Poor Relation" and
Peaceful Valley for the late Sol
Smith Russell. The dialogue of "Sky
Farm" is said to recite the domestic