Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1912-03-05
The Good Cheer Fair.

Successful as usual was the annual
fair of the Universalist Good Cheer So
ciety, held at Good Cheer Hall last
week. The hall was well arranged
with tables for the sale of variety Of
articles. These included aprons, fancy
work, handkerchiefs, food, candy, q
grab" and a number of other depart
ments.
Naturally the food and the candy had
about the swiftest sale OF anything, and
the aprons came next in order, but that
is not saying that there was not brisk
sale at the other tables. There was q
good crowd in attendance Wednesday
afternoon and evening and Thursday
afternoon, while the sale was going on,
and most of them we're good customers.
Shaw's Orchestra played Wednesday
evening at Good Cheer Hall during the
sale, and also at the play the next two
evenings.
Thursday and Friday evenings the
comedy, "The Coloners Maid" was pre-
sented in New Hall. This play is some
what different from most of those put
on in years past. 1t is technically a
three act farce. The worst criticism TO
be made of ii is that it is too long, but
even the edge of that is taken of by the
continuous rapid action from start to
finish. The plot centers around the love
affair of young couple, respectively
the son and daughter OF two fire-esting
southern colonies who have long
standing eumity. In the course Of the
play or in connection with It each one Of
the four young people who appear mas
auerades under ut least one fictitious
name or identity, and things are much
mixed. OF course il all comes out right
in the end, the two colonies are recon-
ciled, and at least three couples reach
the blissful point where they have q
prospect Of living more or less bappi-
~ forever after.
Harold T. Briggs as Col. Robert Rudd
of North Carolina, and Ernest j. Record
as Col Richard Byrd of South Carolina,
pictured those two sterling but fiery
Southrous most effectively. Eugene
Lowell as Bob Rudd, the colonies sOn,
represented u worthy young man,
though one capable of schemes to &C
complish his purpOses-which worked
out to his satisfaction; while Miss
Florence NJ. Richardson as Marjorie
Byrd, the COloneps daughter and Bob's
sweetheart, was winsome lass.
Mrs. Agnes L. Morton as Mrs. j. John
Carroll, Col. Rudd's sister ,in-law, most
haughtily expressed her disgust at her
brother-ip-law's lack of management OF
his bachelor establishment, but melted
to the most gracious smiles when Col.
Byrd, her lover Of twenty-eight years
agone, ventured to voice his hopes. As
Julia Carroll, her daughter, Miss Helen
Rogers showed due though unwilling
submission to her mothers plans at hrst,
but later sturdily demonstrated that she
had will of her own by clipping with
her lover, Ned GraydOn.
Ned Grsydon, the lover OF faulty
memory, was played by Ralph Edwards,
and while he was on the stage only
relatively short time, he had time to
demonstrates some of the fine points Of
acting.
The most important person In the
cast, acc ,rdiug to the book and In fact
was Ching ah-L Ling, the Chinese cook,
PLAYED BY DR.. r. Wendell Rounds. II
this genial young dentist had not already
established his reputation here "a
versatile actor, he would have WOE
local fame as Ching. Through the
whole play he was generally present,
right in the spirit Of the character, and
never spoiled it by OVERRIDING.
As q whole the play adds one to the
long list of successful amateur produc
tons in South Paris. There were go0c
houses both nights, and the audience
testified their appreciation by almos
one continuous laugh.