Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-05
COMPANY M FAIR.
Opening, Monday Evening, at
the Augusta Opera House.
Minstrel Entertainment Was Decided
Hit from the Beginning.
Competitive Drill and Grand Ball a.
City Hall, Tonight.

Company NJ. Of the End Infantry, y.
G. 5. NJ, appeared in a new role. last
evening. Augusta was proud of The
Toys, last summer. when, clad il the
uniform OF the country. they hurried
away to the defence of Portland ana
more proud when they came home
agaiI,. bearing the scars Of battle and
imbued with the knowledge Of actual
warfare that is only learned by ex-
perience.
Last night the city's pride in no.
soldier boys was stirred once again. Ii
was not the pride which Ihrobs within
he breasts Of those ut home when
| hey learn Of the deeds of valOr en-
acted by their boys in blue upon the
| firing line. but the pride which comes
with the knowledge that those same
| boys are equally as sure of conquest
behind the foOtli3hts as they were in
the trenches Mt Portland.
The occasion was the Military Min
strels. ana though the full strength OF
H. company was enrolled in the cast.
| they found Themselves face to face
With ar audience which Outnumbere,i
them more than ten to one. But ~:
d man finched. ana the boys had scor-
ell a victory before the opening over
ture was half completed.
That the entertainment was n good
one was the general opinion of all who
saw it. Tho boys have had the pro-
jet in hand a long while. ana had put
into it an amount of work which could
not but guarantee success, and success
was theirs.
-
it was before onahOf the largest au-
Gicnces of the season, and was comnos-
ed Of tn" representative people Of tn"
city. The boxes. also. held their quota.
the one on the left of the stage being
occupied by Governor and Mrs. John
F. Hill. and Adiutant General Farm
ham, while in the opposite IoX We're
Col. Dill Col. Keefe. and the govern
or's private secretry, Col. PurintOn.
the staff officers being in full Uniform.
Tic stage presented Il most inspiring
siaht Seated in n Sem-cirle. in two
tirrs, with Adjutant Davis in The con-
ter. as interlocutOr We're the members
OF tn" company. and back Of them q
woodland Scere, in the center of which
were two large trees. and between the
trees was drap"d an American flag. In
the back ground was another flag. and
to add to the naturalncss of the scene
this flag was apparently waving in the
hrncze. The whole setting was a pretty
piece of work, and was arranged by
Corporal O'Meiia. His arrangement
shows great taste on the part of that
gentleman. and it was much admired.
An important feature Cf the program
40 MI rTharn CIV nr
them AMI they were aryaye1 in ccs-
tunes of n diversity of color that would
have made the traditional coat of Jo-
senh look like a lowery day. But il
their costumes We're brilliant. they
were no more so than the work of those
who wore them. The gentlemen who
contributed 50 much to the evenings
pleasure by their jokes. and also by
their songs. We're as follows: Bones.
Harry Hopkins. Earle Either and Ralph
Smith: tambos. Thomas CuIdy. Jack
O'COnnell and Cakes Little. All are
local veterans in the business ends
of minstreisy. and all We're ut their
best. Their jokes were good. and their
local hits sharp ones. and freely be-
slowed. and the man was lucky who
was not remembered by them.
The solos. too. We're we'll chosen, and
rendered in way which won many
en-, ores. ana some of the best musical
talent in the city was heard. A nleas-
ing number was the song And That
Little Girl Is You" by DIR. Thomas.
G. +. Rilodeau sang We'll Hurry 10
the Church and Wen BE Married" in
his usual excellent manner. and one of
the prettiest things on the program
was thek song. Floating Mid the
Lilies" by quintet composed of the
Messrs. Eilodeau. Thomas FOX Fl. w.
Norcross ana DIR. Thomas. Harry Hon
kins sang a humorous song. He Nav
Get over 1t. Eut He'll Never Look the
Same" that was brim full of local hits.
and which contained but one fault-it
was not long enough to suit the crowd.
The first part was concluded with
the retreat call by Dennis Orchestra
and the singing of THE Star SDanp,al
Banner" by the company. pretty
feature of which was n shower of tinv
flags which fell upon the stage as the
curtain came down.