The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-05-28
SEULE KEEPS At
THE OPERA HOUSE
BEFORE BIG CROWD
MANY LOCAL ACTORS PRESENT
THAT TIME-HoNoREO SIDE
SPLITTER.
EDGERTON HANDLED BIRCH

Made an ideal "Master"-Frank ~
erett Forgot His "Pieee"-miss
Carpenter as "Honeysuekie"-some
of The others.
Before an audience that filled every
seat and overaowed into hastily placed
chairs the ~DeestFick Skule7 kept at
the Opera House last night The play
was a merry melange Of fuss and fun,
and fully justified the reputation
which il has made as an entertainer.
From the first curtain. when the 'skol-
lars. tripped across tire stage on their
way to the little red school house, or
rode by on stick horses, until the dis
appearance Of the reelected master"
amid a shower of farewells there was
not a moment when spontaneous
laughter did not ring out from some,
or all, parts and corners of the big
building. At the first, as well known
and honored citizens, of stateliness
and dignity, paraded forth in the guise
of rustic school children, the big crowd
suffered from successive paroxysms
of laughter. Once the novelty was
gone they settled down into constant
guffawing.
Col. ]. E. Edgerton, of Columbia
Military Academy, appeared in the
role of master" and was dressed in
the costume peculiar to the rural peda-
gogue of a few generations ago. His
feet were encased in "brogan" shoes
of doubtful number, and for dignity's
sake he permitted steel-framed spec
tacles to adorn his nose His coat
was of the "frock" variety, with just
two buttons at the back for trim
ming As a wielder of the birch Col.
Edgerton displayed an aptness that
suggested practice. He threshed the
rule of three" into the dull with
truly noble regard for the Biblical
Injunction Spare the rod and spoil
the child His impersonation OF the
master" was almost above criticism,
his work adding much to the success
of the show.
The "skollars" included many OF the
best known citizens of the town,
Frank Everett was found at the bot
tom of every class, and never mum
bered" until reminded by the teacher
to do so. Ernest Sheppard had
thirst that he could not quench unless
both hands were on the dipper. r. W.
Thomas couldn't get "nosegay" pro-
nounced often enough to remember 1t,
and John L. Jones had book that
never contained the word. He was also
Just a trife deaf D. Vaughan slut
tered and couldn't help it. Miss Alleen
Overton. as Sissy kept close tab on
Buddy" a Mellins food youngster
known in business life as Webster
Turner. Mrs. Biddle and Mrs. Yoest
were the twins, and were excellent
counteparts. Miss Julia Warfield de-
veloped a becoming lisp, and Miss
Mary pillow had the Quaker oat smile
down to perfection. Miss Mary d.
Warheld excited Mr.. Sheppard's thirst
by saying drink, pretty creature,
drink" Miss Louise Dortch read an
Illuminating essay on the cat" Mrs
Atkeisson recited that pathetic little
ballad "One | love, two ! love-" DR..
Roskin positively refused to have the
master returned and will go to Mt.
Pleasant next year. Frank Everett
recited the Boy Stood on the Burn
ing Deck" in a melancholy way that
won him an encore, to which he re-
sponded with all the graciousness of a
prima donna. Incidentally he forgot
his piece" but that only added to the
fun. for the audience didn't know.
Prof. Morton read a stirring essay on
the squirrel" that recalled mulberry
trees and spring time. Porter Erwin
gave a brilliant essay on the horse,
and also showed himself to be an
equestrian of much ability by plotting
a donkey across the stage at the first
curtain, regardless of the fact that the
beast displayed some of the stubborn
ness that is the badge Of all his
tribe" There were two donkeys in
the procession, and the efforts made
to put them across suggested the Nash
Vile Boosters working for trade. They
absolutely baked, and only the ut
most persuasion induced them to
change their minds The stick horses