The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

There were a lot Of things doing-a
musical welcome in the dark before the
flashing of the mammoth electric grid
iron, some rolIicking chorUses and a few
stunts-before, in the dim distance, the
minstrel parade was heard approaching.
When II moved maiestically into the
room the applause shook the chandeliers.
First and foremost came the Marine
Band, especially engaged for the Occa-
sion, playing a lively march, and then
followed the members Of the entertain
merit and music committees, all OF them
wearing regulation minstrel ulsters-also
especially engaged for the occasion-and
high white hats Of the vintage Of 1850
IL was an awe-inspiring demonstration
If II had appeared on the street the en-
tire police force would have been needed
10 prevent a riot. AS il was. the ghost
Of dear old Haverly hOvered over IL in
happy benediction. All around the ban
Quet room the minstrels marched. the
band footing away for dear life. and the
All-Star Performers hiding their native
modesty under their high hats. As the
procession moved, play bills We're distrib-
uted. These were clever limitations of
the regular theater programmes. with the
cast, the specialties, and the names of
the executive staff. ending with this
cheefll announcement:
NOTE BY THE MANAGEsfENT-Tbe o-pn.i-
zation VII present an unsurpassed .roeramms Of
aDropT1ste allusions and uu-to-date verses W.T. "A
miiar tunes. Thera IS not drll feature IN the
entire entertainment. which s. pcrneated by good
thinga from beEinuiDg 10 end.
P. $40 flowers
A Stirring Opening Overture.
In the dim distance-or. in other words
behind the big green curtains. the parade
disappeared Another course was served
during which the programme received
moro attention than he little brown bird
Then on came the minstrel troupe again.
this time 10 disport itself on a Temporary
stage. and each artist determined TO
sit for thirty minutes with his knuckles
resting on his knees, just like the real
mlnstrels do IN the theatre. The OPEN
ing overture was entitled "Eatlne
Through Georgia" and the verses are
good enough to print:
Sound ths good old dinner horn. ven sing another
Eug
AbOut the trip that Tnft once made. Whsn. with
digestion str0ng
BE ate his share Of everything that they would
As We went eating through Georgia
We tackled the opOsHm that they took such care
We ate canned watermelon and dish they ansd
We didn't even dr1w the lire at alligator steak.
As We went eating through Georgia
By Southern hospitality our hearts we're surely won.
And We resolved to do the very best that could Be
For Democrats; and so we saved some Die for
Dickinson.
as We went eating thruush Georgia.
The chorus made the we!kin ring-we
believe that Is real TepOrtorial language
with the following words:
Hurrah. hurTah. we sound the jubilee;
HuTTah, hurrhh. twas something fine to see
We put away three meals day.
And Sometimes three times three.
As we went eating through Georgia.
Thought Roosevelt Was Back,
After this there was merry repartee.
The conversation was between the Vice
President" and the Speaker OF the
House" who were the middle men. and
the Cabinet officers" represented by
members OF the club. When, for instance.
some one referred to dead literature. -
and wes asked whether he meant SAN
serit and Aztec literature. he replied.
quite iauntily. No. indeed. Presidents
messages" And then this occurred.
Say. Mr. Vice President, do you re-
member the morning when all those boil
ers blew up down there on B street and
scared lot OF people?"
Oh, yes. I remember perfectly: but I
90 not see why It should have scared any
body 1t was merely a big noise"
Yes, that was IT, Everybody thought
ny. Roosevelt had come back
Whereupon a song was sung In which
the trusts told Attorney General Wicker
sham that they were tired and sleery. too,
and appealed to him TO put them in their
little bees. After this, some remarks
aoout Secretary MacVeagh to the eject
that he was one Of the f1fty-seven varia-
ties Of Democrats and. being a rauntcinaI
reformer, had great difficulty In reuern-
herring when registration day arrived.