Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-07-01
TOWN PRAYs FOR GIRL BAND.
Five Norfolk Society Damseis Leave
Home TO Go GU stage.

Homo 10 10 GU oAbEts
Three weeks ago Miss Tessie Dixon
was a demure young teacher in Nor
folks public schools, says a Norfolk
(Neb.) special to the st. Louis Post
Dispatch. To-day. dressed In n fam
Ing suit OF red. with bi brass buttons,
she parades the streets of a southern
city, playing a long slide trombone for
life (and so much peri, while with
her are four other Nor ok society girls.
For the girls have gone on the stage.
They dldn't-aspire to the histrionic po-
sitiOns held by Maud Adams nor Ellen
Terry. but they did want TO get out
in the world and see sights" which
were not afforded by n country town.
There were five OF them-all chums,
Gertrude Austin, Mora Dixon, Tessie
Dixon. Lydia Wheeler and Maude
Mayhem were their names and they
were as pretty and as well brought up
as any set OF girls In northern Nebras-
ka. Their parents were well-to-do and
the girls held high positions in the To-
cal society.
They were unsteady inclined and
OF a number of other girls I'm their own
class. formed a brass band-"Norfolk'
Ladies' Band" It was called. and It
was a good one, too.
The girls became proficient and In
time they were engaged by the man.
ager Of the opera house to furnish the
music at the theater 1t was great
fun-and they got to meet all the act
ors. too.
But a few weeks ago the Chase-Lis-
ter company played a weeks engage
ment in Norfolk The manager liked
the playing Of the girls-and, incident
ally. their good looks He offered the
whole bunch-Or band, rather-enCage-
ments for the entire ceason. The com
pany was going South, making tour
Of the smaller cities throughout Mis-
Southern States.
The girls went wild There wasn't
much money in the job. but the fun
and adventure promised was worth
struggling for. "Would they acceptY'
Yes they would"
But the mammas and papas decreed
otherwise. "Our daughters 20 on the
stage? No. they won't"
And the sweethears OF the girls.
they. too, objected. Several OF the girls
were engaged and the combined inhu-
ence Of the prospective groOms was
added to the weight of the kicks" of
the parents.
The girls began to waver. First one,
then another, deserted the ranks of the
band. until there remained just five.
who said they were determined to go
ION the stage" The prayers of the
parents and the upbraidings OF the
sweethearts were outweighed by the
glittering promises Of the theatrical
manager-especially when the girls
saw the nice. nobby new uniforms in
which they would be bcdecked.
Secretly every girl in town envled
the Jolly five" when their time came
to leave town. Dressed in their red
uniforms, the girls were escorted to
the depot by their parents and friends
In the end the parental consent was
obtained by the five who were stead
fast to the faith and at the depot the
mothers and fathers gave their bless
ing and the train pulled out.
But the older residents OF the town,
fearful of the temptations which beset
the theatrical profession. have asked
the prayers Of the church for the girls
SO strong became the religious feel
ing for the welfare Of the "Theater
Girls las they are now known a spe-
clal prayer meeting was held one night /
the entire time being given up to pc
tltions for the absentees. But the girls
don't believe they need any prayers
They write back to their friends here
that they are having the time of their
lives and say they intend to stay by
the theatrical business as long as they
live.