Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-08-19

the quartette.s cleverly introduced
the other members to the audience
as Mr.. Goodbar, Mr.. Clemens and
Mr.. Turner.
The program was both humorous
and pathetic. While all the num-
bers were good, the solo, "The Song
of the Soul,'' sung by Mr.. .Goodbar,
accompanied by Mr.. Clemens and
his response to an encore with the
old favorite, SILVER Threads Among
the Cold" and also the musical
reading, my Boy" by Mr.. John
son, with piano accompaniment by
Mr.. Clemens, deserve special men
ton.
Mr.. Kelly's humorous introduce
ton of Adrian M. Newens was
greeted with laughter and applause
by the large audience assembled.
Mr.. Newens explained briefly and
clearly that his reading of this play
THE Message from Mars"-writ-
ten by an English playwright, was
not lecture and must perforce
come under the head of a Show.
The play deals with the life of
one household and since the author
was an English writer the scenes of
the play are laid in London and the
characters typically English. The
vital point is the transformation in
the leading character, a rich young
bachelor from a supremely selfish
egotist, to a generous-hearted phil
ianthropist, through the medium of
I, a dream.
Horace Parker, and the members
of his household maiden aunt, his
foster-sister and present sweetheart,
Minnie Templer; a servant girl, and
three others, namely tramp, a
young society man, and the mystical
messenger from Mars-are all por-
trayed by Mr.. Newens in very re-
alistic manner and those who have
seen the play realize that the lesson
the writer intended to teach can, be
learned equally as we'll from mr..
Newen's monologue. Horace Parker
falls asleep. His thoughts have
been centered upon the essay he is
to write on Life on the planet
Mars" The messenger from Mars
appears and succeeds in showing
Horace Parker to himself as Others
see him, and opening his eyes to the
fact that he is the most despicable
OF selfish men. With this realiza-
ton comes the Transformation de-
sired. Another great lesson is
{taught in the Characterization Of
the dependent man. The man who
Is down and out when he ap-
peals to the society that is respon-
sible for his downfall. she invaribly
turns her back upon him. The fact
is emphasized that "No man liveth
to himself alone" but that all are
dependent upon those about them.
Mr.. Newens feels that in this
monologue he has message for ev-
cry auditor and trusts that the mess
age will bring results by lessening
the aggregate of selfishness.
The still unsettled condition of
the weather did not prevent a large
audience from gathering in the tent
at the Chautauqua grounds last ev-
ening long before seven o'clock. The
front rows of chairs were occupied
by many children, who happily an
ticipated what to them was to be the
best entertainment of the week.
Reno, the Prince of Magicians,
had been busy following the after
noon session in arranging his para
hernalia upon the platform and the
drawn curtains gave promise of de-
lightful surprises. Little space was
left in front of the curtain for the
Ethiopian Serenaders to occupy, but
it was sufficient and Mr.. Kelly in
troduced them shortly after 1880
O'Clock, with the hope that they had
more selections as good as Buck
wheat cakes" to offer an admiring
audience.
Mr.. johnson announced that they
had decided to present a reproduc-
ton of an old time praise-service
such as was held away down south
before the war. This would include
an invocation and short sermon.
both of which we're from the pen Of
Paul Lawrence Dunbar, the
well known negro poet.
The quaint service with its old
time negro hymns, announcements.
sermon and frequent Interruptions
by the worshipers gave the audi
fence fine idea OF what the origin
al praise-services were like. and the
hearty applause at the close, showed