The Washington times., 1910-11-11
BOYSSCORE SUCCESS
IN PARISH MINSTRELS
Youthful Comedians Give
Benefit Performance for
Christ Church Hall.
By SELENE ARMSTRONG.

by SELENE ARMSTRONG
Wen put some ginger into that mis-
sion yet, and make il a go, you bet;'
exclaimed Bones" end man in the min
strel show. as he enveloped half his
boyish face in a luxuriant olive green
beard, and adjusted his speckled red
necktie
You betr' echoed breathlessIy ex-
actly forty-nine boys.
Thing is remarked "Sambo," billed
as the Sweet Blackbird Of PipetOwn,'
VINO was engaged in spreading a third
coat or blacking on E.s face, takes a
Atue spirit and dash TO make a success
OF mission church, anyhow Sunday
morning talks don't appeal like a min
strel show does, and that is why we
boys got busy. Now, just you see IL we
cont deliver the goods"
Delivered the Goods.
20. Wen deliver the goods, all right,
all right" echoed the other forty-nine-
jubilant at being interviewed between
acts.
And they will, For when fifty boys,
as rollicking and boisterous and as good
baseball players. lighters, fencers. run
ncrs, and kickers as any BOYS could
be, decide to dedicate their muscle and
their luSty lungs for a time TO q StruE-
Cling little mission church which may
have been as a milestone about the neck
OF a congregation, YOU may be sure
things are going TO happen. Not only
ginger, but red pepper, will be injected
into the sluggish veins of that mission.
and II VIII begin TO be very much alive
Because the fifty choir bows OF Cnrisr
Church, at go q street southeast de
ctded that the money raising methods of
the church may be respectable enough,
tits true, but little slow. and because
minstrel show appeals to their young
blood
not, they have organized into the East
Washington Juvenile AiinStrelS,' and
rushed to the financial aid Of the tiny
mission established some time ago Dy
the members of Christ Church, in one
Of the poor sections Of the city.
The mission fills a distinct need IN the
community. IL has brought both spir-
1tual and material aid TO the men and
women who have entered its doors, and
10 many little children who have known
little happiness, save that which their
beloved mission teacner has brought
into their lives
Their First Appearance.
So It was. In order TO raise funds for
the work in which they are enthusiast
cany interested the fifty choir boys OF
Christ Church, or the East Washing
ton Juvenile Minstrel;," made their
first appearance in public last evening,
the public consisting OF a goodly num-
Der Of adOring mothers and fathers,
and some struggling men, women, and
children gathered, from the mission
neighbOrhOod, and brought into the
warmth and light of Christ Church
parish hall TO see a real minstrel show
for the first time in all their lives.
From the time the resplendent min
strels, in white and red striped shirts,
tall hats, and swallow tail coats. burst
upon the highly aDpreciative audience,
the evening was one continuous round OF
Hannn HHH "a f.
ter that some Of the jokes had pecu-
larry familiar ring, or that a Few dole
ful songs, such as "AI That 7 Ask Is
Love and other ditties that never
could be Or We're meant 10 be, funny,
were injected into the program Any
man or woman who would have CT1tt-
cised such inconsistencies, or better,
recognized them as Inconsistencies,
would have been thrown out of the win
dow I'm order that the show might pro-
ceed amidst unanimous applause.
"Baby Brown" Scores.
And q glorious climax, a sure enough
grand finale was reached, when Baby
Brown" aged eleven years. in her
spangled frock that shone and twinkled
as if each spansle were star, sang
and danced. Being the only girl on
the program, she was easily the star
OF the evening, and in the green room,
under her proud mothers chaperOnaEe,
received the homage of the fifty min
EtrelS.
Bands added to the glory Of the enter
tainment, as did also plates of ice
cream and cake enjoyed at intervals by
the audience and the showmen.
And today, A A. SOusa, leader OF
the minstTels and his fifty boys, are
happy in the knowledge that the treas
ury of a struggling mission church, is,
for once IN its life, not a treasury in
name, but in fact For when the au-
mission to a cracking good show is
only . cents. the company always plays
10 q full house.