The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-12-15

w
"25-cent niggers," then 5 cent, and
rearmost of all, 1O-cent standing room
with some seats"
For time the ticket taker was busy
but at intervals he went to the bow OF
the boat and blew the horn. Then he
addressed the crowd on the bank, and
said they wouldn't be able to see any
thing, or hear much there. The horn and
the speech brought few more to the
ticket office, coin in hand
The stunning of banjo and the
squeak of violin were heard behind the
scenes. Then the curtains were pulled to
right and left with the rattle of brass
rings. With hiss and splutter cal
cium light in the rear of the hall gathered
Roadway, illuminating bare stage, with
large lowered wall paper on all three
sides
The man dressed in red, blue and white
appeared first, carrying a guitar behind
him was a rather large woman dressed
in pink and white, carrying banjo; the
ticket taker, with violin, was in even
ing dress above and corduroys below.
"Bil!!' exclaimed the woman in a whs-
per, "where's the chairs ?"
Bill looked behind him, and then dived
off the stage to the rear, and returned
with rattle of wooden chairs. Then
the performers bowed and sat down
amid applause.
The entertainment will open with
music and sentimental songs" the pro-
gramme said.
Sure enough. there was burst of music
from all three instruments. Itwas tune
which the violinist had learned when he
was second fiddle for an Indian Territory
opera troupe, and gave him an opportu-
nifty to display his dexterity. After a
time, he turned the violin upside down,
and then played left handed; he sawed
wood, with the instrument on his knees,
held by his left hand, the bow moving
like hand-saw. The woman watched
his man9uvres anxiously, sometimes los
ing time as she played chords. The gui-
tar was strummed five strings at time,
the gorgeously dressed player unembar-
raised.
Suddenly the music ceased. The violin
list had missed the handle of the fiddle
when he tossed it in the air, and to save
it from fall to the floor, had dropped
the bow and grasped the fiddle with both
hands. executing an easy bow at the
same time, while the accompaniment
slowed down, and at last stopped.
Great applause showed the apprecia-
ton of the audience. Huh Huh Huh !"
shouted many of those in the rear Of the
hall. The programme was referred to by
THE Art of Legerdemain' would next be
exploited by Professor Marion. Profes-
sor Marion proved to be the man in cor
duroys. He stepp, d forward, while the
other two carried the musical instru.
ments away.
Ladies and gentlemen" said the pro-
.
fed by yo' presence yeah this evenin'. 1t
reminds me of when l Twas to Injun Terri
tory, at Muskogee. l became acquainted
with an ole Cherokee chief, a medicine
man, an he showed me how to"
He wriggled slightly. and shrub be-
gan to grow up from the back of his neck,
on the spreading branches of which were
white, yellow and red flowers.
THAT ole Injun was powerful ole
man Peahed like the want nothin he
couldn't lift-but it was all magic. He
showed me how to be strong. in his
way"
The "tree" drew down out of sight.
while pack of cards which the man
seized in midair was toyed and turned.
With quick motions the cards were dealt
perpendicularly into the air. They
whirled around there, presenting to the
spectators curious leaf-like appearance:
first RI leaf. then black one, then a
red t.ud black one. Then with both
hands he tossed the cards on his hands,
and a heap of silver threaded muslin
came into view "as big as a wagon of
cotton" Suddenly it was tossed into
thin air"
Say, you black mani the magician
said, What fob you steal my watch?"
"Fore de Lawd, neveh stoled moth
in" wide-eyed darkey in the audience
gasped.
"Oh, yes, you did" cried the performer.
81 seen you stuff yo' pockets full of truck
what don b'long to yo'! Come heah,
nowr
The negro, a lank, shutting man.
whose forehead receded and whose lower
face protruded, rose from his seat and
came forward. muttering "Lawd
Lawdw He was unwilling to come, but
he had always obeyed superior wills, and
now he did so again.
Come up heah!" the performer said,
and the negro came up to the stage, and
there stood, with his arms by his side,
and his eyes rolling.
The magician walked around him and
said:
"Yasseh! He's plumb loaded down."
The audience was amused, and yell
low man shouted:
"Ho! JUDAS got a chicken now"
Likes mott" exclaimed the magician,
and suiting his actions to the occasion,
he reached into the Negroes bosom and
drew forth a rooster. The magician bit
his lip. and shout of laughter went up
fled feathers of bird whose neck had
been wrung.
Half dozen songs followed, the best
being river lay, sung by roustabouts,
cabin boaters and towboat men, begin
ming:
oh, Aim gwin' down the rivch foh long,
| oh, Ah'm gwin' down the rivch fob long.
| Ah'm gwin' to take the Ole Kate when she
Ah'm tired oflivin in a dirty levee town.
Music, and plenty of it, was the theory
of the cabin boat troupe of three. Part
4 of the programme consisted of "Ole
Time Fiddling," the printer having made
a typographical error. 1--WE now give
some of the old familiar tunes, known
and liked everywhere in the United States,
such as Dixie Arkansas Traveller,
'Forked Ear Leather Pants and any
other the audience may wish to hear"
Last of all came Punch and Judy"
| DerfOrmed nv lone of the best yentrilo.