The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-10

ciates, various members of the press.
meet at the banquet board and consti-
tute the members OF the "Gridiron
Club" There is much feeding and
some imbibing. and hilarity run ram
pant. Freedom of speech is the koy-
note OF the little congregation. Sem
ators at loggerheads in the Senate
yesterday, roast and toast each othc-
in a spirit OF goodfellowship. Little
decorations upon the walls and clev.
err table ornamentations are emblem.
attic Of public questions and situa-
tons. With all 1t is a burlesque OF tho
days events. A cartoon in words and
situations. The subject has offered
an excellent opportunity for the stage
and is now being burlesqued In the
first part of the AL. G. Field Greater
Ministries. which plays an engagement
at the Grand Friday night. The scene
shows the lobby Of the Arlington Ho.
tel. Washington. with preparations for
the banquet in order. Members of tie
club are introduced in black face, and
their pet hobbies are caricatured.
Members of the chorus represent
guests at dinner. The ~burlesque was
introduced in the first part of this
popular organization last season, and
1t made such n palpable hit that Mr..
Field has developed the idea, which
was a mere incident of this feature of
the entertainment heretofore.
Comedy, the dominating note of the
first part. is emphasized in the olio.
Scenes typical OF the South, a south.
ern plantation home. n watermelon
patch and incidents familiar to negro
life as 1t exists in the southern States
are portrayed. A chicken fight. a cake.
walk, a watermelon patch. and chicken
coop robbed by moonlight, and a mar.
riage ceremony are some of the live
scenes offered In the lilo. This fea.
ture of the show keeps one In the at.
mosphere of the south. "Roll on Sill
very Moon" n big son and dance act
affords an opportunity of presenting
several eccentric dances and meio-
dies by ensemble. AS the curtain
goes up a plantation with cabin and
watermelon patch are revealed. There
Is a southern sunset with an old dar.
ky and nanny sitting by the cabin
door with a chicken fight in progress
and ~pickaninnies In the background.
The negro parson enters and shows
apparent dissatisfaction. Gradually
the day fades away and a full noon
comes forth. AT this point the pick.
a%ninnies play havoc with the water.
melon patch. With the change CT
scene a spectacular moon effect has
been developed. entitled ~"Spooning In
the Moon" 1t presents n darby and
his sweetheart making love on the
horn OF the moon, to the accompani-
ment OF song and dance. Finally the
moon fades away and the change OF
scene shows the interior OF a church
with a marriage ceremony. This at
mospheric bit is followed by a cake
walk. and the final awarding OF the
big cahe to the best lancer.
Fol the monologue Press EldrIdge.
who comedy is known throughout the
world. has been engaged. He comes
as a pleasing aftermath to the prevt-
Gus act and is succeeded by the "BlacE.
BARRIERS Band"sin instrumental selcc.
tons. "Dreamland Phantoms" closes
the performance. To many This will
be the feature of the show. as II deals
with the superstitions of the negro
race. The act unfolds to the eve a
cabin with a darby coming with n
package He gets as far as tue
cabin door when he falls over in Il
drunken sleep. His dream Is then re.
yealed to the audience and the power
exerted by signs, omens and superstt.
tions owe the daily life OF the negro
Is %cleverly demonstrated. In his
dream he believes he has entered
Demons Dell" q weird nook populat.
ell with fantastic figures. These take
on varied shapes and give a drinking
song. Suddenly the Demon Of
Drink enters to eccentric dance mn.
sic and in pantomime invites the
dreamer to take n drink. An old mill
Is shown in this picture and all OF tho
demons Of drink assemble at this
point. which finally becomes q fiery
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