The Paducah sun., 1906-01-31
Was the Amateur Minstrel at
th9 Kentucky Last Night.
Everybody Was Delighted, and Fun
Was Fast and Furious
Throughout.
A NICE SUM WILL BE NETTED

The minstrels given at the Ken
lucky theater last night under the di-
rection of Prof. Harry Gilbert for the
benefit of the local chapter of the
Daughters of the Confederacy, fur
nished the large, representative audi
snce that greeted the amateur per-
formers with more good music and
more fun and genuine entertainment
than any performance that has been
at this popular play house this sea-
son.
The minstrels were given by anna
teur talent, and probably every one.
upon setting out for the theater, ex-
pected to be compelled to draw upon
hat stock of allowance for things
amateurish that all persons need
must have in plenty on such occa-
slons: but there was no time during
the two and a half hours of fun and
frolic that a draft had 10 be made
On that stock. for the performers
carried off their parts with the ease
md grace, and wit flowed that would
have turned Lew Dockstader or Billy
Van white with envy.
The opening scene was novel ar
rangement and very different from
the usual minstrel. 1t was a garden
scene with myriads of electric lights
tastefully arranged, the typical sum-
ner houses of the southern homes.
with the Confederate Stars and Bars
IN the background, and a chorus of
young ladies and gentlemen in even
ing costumes scattered through the
garden. This was designed by Mr..
Harry Gilbert and carried out under
his direction. and the originality and
brilllancy of the setting and effect
has received much praise.
A medley of old-time songs. way
Down on the Suwanee River"
"Massa Is In the Cold. Cold Ground. ="
"osd Black Joe" and other of those
slave time songs, including. OF
course, Dixie" was sung in opening
and greatly delighted the audience.
A pretty feature was the introduc-
ton of a number of young girls with
The Confederate flag and followed by
company of boys dressed in the
Confederate Uniform The youth
fuf veterans" were; Luoien and
Henry Burnett, Terrence Gardner,
Petit Powell Franklin Sutherland
and David Lewis.
Mr.. Roy Cuiley was the interlocu-
tor and he essayed the role with the
ease and grace of a professional.
The end men,-and women. for this
was novelty of the entertainment.
were Bob" Caldwell. John Bleecker
and Phil Sweetser. and Miss Nela
Hatfield, and they were a quartette Jf
fun-makers with an appreciation Of
that art
Big. digniiied. sedate John Bleeck-
er made an end man that Al Fields
would give much TO have in his COM
pany, and Bob" Caldwell surprised
even those who knew of his gifts as
fun-maker with the goods he de-
livered" last night.
Miss Hatfield, always fayori;e
with a Paducah audience in any role
joked the interlocutor, and sang
''Wdther Away" In a delightfully."-
clever manner. Mr. Sweetser made
good end man, too, and his banjo
specially. in the second part, was a
splendid performance.
The fun furnished by the end men
was keen, and the local hits went
home 70 their victips and brought
rounds of laughter from the audi
ence. The music showed splendid
taste in its selection. and was ar
ranged by Prof. Harry Gilbert. He
had some of Paducah's best singers
for his soloists, Miss Anne Bradshaw,
Miss Carrie Ham, Robert Scott. Ed
Scott Robert MacMillen, Richard
Scott, viii Green and in the choruses
Misses Mamie O'Brien, Hortense
Thurman. Nellie Henneberger, Vera
Johnson, Lucyette Soule and Claire
st. John, and Messrs. Fred Wade.
Cade Davis and Frank Davis, and the
following are their numbers:
The Sentinel Asleep. Robert Scott
There's a Dark Man Coming With
Bundle ~ -. Robert Caldwell
Mr.. Moon ban Miss Caroline Ham
Toreador Song ......W- V. Green
Wither Away Miss Nelia Hatfield