The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1904-03-19
A Dramatic Recital BY Miss Yates.

Au IeSpOuS6 W iuNlbdblOuh lIOu MISS
Susan Porter Yates, her many friends
and acquaintances were present at
the New Grand opera house on the
evening Of March l4th The occasion
was a dramatic recital given under
the auspices Of Central College and 10
fulfillment OF one Of the requirements
Of graduation from the School of
Expression.
Miss Yates needed no introduction
to a Lexington audience, for she has
frequently appeared here as reader,
and invariably has her reading been
stamped with the seal of approval
The initial number on the program
for the evening proved happy selec-
tiOn, for there is nothing so univer-
sally loved as a good storY-teller. In
"a Sisterly Scheme" by Henry G.
Bunner, Miss Yates showed herself to
be fted in this particular art. She
had good story to tell and she told
it we'll She readily established the
true relation between reader and
audience, and her simple, direct style
OF narration at once pleased and
interested all.
This charming narration was fol-
lowed by Eugene Fields "Little Boy
Blue. So dearly do we all love this
exquisite little lyric that we never tire
Of looking at the "llttle toy friends" +"
that stand so "true," awaiting the
magic "touch" Of the Little Boy
Blue" The reader did much to
bring out the exquisite tenderness
' and true pathos of the poet, who did
r his most enduring work as a delineator
of child life. The second number OF
this first group was "Kipling' IS
A "Recessional " This poem was well
' interpreted and we'll given. The
: reader clearly brought out the poets
spirit of protest against pride, that
e pride by which the angels fell The
n spiritual destiny, the moral obligation
J. Of England, as sung by the poet, wa,
o presented in strong, thoughtfu
manner.
/, The next group consisted Of the
e three dialect numbers, "a Coquettt
+ Conquered" by Paul Lawrence Dunbar
S "Mary Ellen Attends School o.
a Elocution" by Mary S. Hopkins, anC
e "Unverstaendlich?" In the difflcul
/ negro dialect Miss Yates was good
y but it was in the handling OF th,
l. Irish dialect that she scored tn,
greatest triumph. These little selec
}, tions, worthy contributions to thO
innocent "gaiety Of nations, v appeal
r ed to everyhody'S sense Of humor ant
Il added greatly TO the enjoyment of th
evening.
y The most ambitious number on tn
II program consisted of "Scenes from
}" the Last Days Of Pompeii" by Edwar
or Bulwer Lytton. The cutting, whic
was most sklllfully made, commence
lY with Olinthus' farewell to Glaucu,
= then followed the Harena scene
10 next, the death Of "Arbaces; and las
re Mydlas death. Unmindful of ht
own personality, the reader thre
ne herself into the real spirit of til
oy scenes that she would present ant
III as in panoramic vision, one seer
oY after another was made to pass belol
Mt the minds eye The arena scene
ly was particularly well given ar
Mydia, the beautiful blind slave, w
ri presented with great pathos. 10 Il
'e, rendition of the whole there W
g, artistic merit
'rs The first number Of the group viii,
followed was the beautiful little lyri
by "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allen Pc
nd In this studied and highly artist
Ice variation on the theme, sorrow (
ng the death of young and beautii
}. woman, Miss Yates not only preseT
,he ed in highly effective manner t
en- mood Of a passionate and hopelC
dly grief, but she also brought out 90
eir metrlcal effects by the skillful har
re- ling Of refrain and repeteud. T
ng- second number, "Confouud the {
Ind Luck, Anyhowm by Anthony
sle- Euwer, was most admirably used
the reader to assist the audience
throwing off the mood Of pass
-, grief So skillful was she that, befC
,mo we knew it, she had transferred {
svmpathies 20 that hapless YOU