Evening journal., 1904-03-30
MINSTREL SHOW
FOR PIANO FUND
Laurel Turns Out and Con-
tributes to Secure Evening
Journal Instrument
SAY TaEY ARE GOING 70 WIN
People in the Little Sussex County
Town Are Still Enthusiastic Over the
contest-Do Not Believe 5ridsevilIe
Can Win.

STAFF Correspondent Evening Journal
Laurel, March 30-Iaurel had its minstrel
show last night. and the fund being raised
for assistance In securing subscriptions
TO The Evening Journal, whereby votes
may be counted in the great Hoppe plane
contest, Is the larger thereby.
There was a good attendance, boys,
girls, men and women. Tho show was
good. The boys who took part had only
been practicing for four days but they.
did remarkably we'll The local hits were
excellent and the endmen's gags brought
down the house.
There were numerous references TO the
eftocts TO secure the piano for Laurel and
a prominent citizen here. G. W. Strad~
ley, came in for a fun share Of notoriety.
Mr.. stradley moved TO Laurel from
Brldgeville not so very long ago and all
during the contest he has helped his form
or towns people In every way possible
The boys. of course. knew this full well
and cracked many a pointed joke at the
expense Of the x-Bridgevillian. Mr.. Strad-
ley, however, has the courage Of his con-
victlons and maintains that Bridgevile
will win first honors very easily
Some tall hustling has been done here In
the week just past and this is what every
one in Laurel says:
1--WE are going to have that piano.
Everyone in Sussex county IS working
for Bridgeville and we are making the
fight alone but we are going TO win.
There is certainly a persistent effort
being made TO secure one Of the fine SSI5
Hoppe pianos offered by The Evening
Journal to the Delaware schools. Many
Laurel people In Wilmington during the
last few weeks have dropped in at the
f. L.. Peacock store. where the Hoppe
/ pianos are on exhibition, and have been
greatly pleased with the instruments
which The Evening Journal will give
away.
The one topic of conversation here is the
piano contest and every evening the
greatest interest is manifest in the stand
ing of the several contestants.
People here say that they simply mus
have a piora The honor Of the town ant
its ability to hustle are on public trial and
there must be no such thing as failure
Thes chool children got into the race frs
and then persuaded some of the oldei
people to assist them In their organization
work So widespread is the interest mani
tested that the most prominent men o.
the town are now directing the efforts OF
the boys and girls.
The one thing that people here want e
know is whether, or not any Of the VIII
mington schools propose to SO into tbs
race at the last minute, hurting thousand.
of votes in on the last day by means oi
paid-in- advance subscriptions. This is
Of course, a question that cannot be an
swered, but if any such thing shoul,
happen Laurel feels fairly confident o.
making any newcomer hustle very fast IN
deed to get into the first rank.
This contest has been a great thing
for Laurel" said one man here last even
ing. I'VE are all working together for on
thing now and usually We have beer
rather pulling against each other. be
lieve it will help us immensely, too, in
business way, as II is advertising tn
town all over Delaware and the travelling
men who are interested are spending
our name abroad all over their districts
! Yes, I think it's great thing"
n II Laurel does not win, by any accident
it will certainly have the satisfaction o
knowing that its opponents had to worl
for all they eot-but Laurel says it's goinI
to win. I. F.. p.