The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-29
.K|RMESS BETTER
THAN ANY BEFORE
~ onderiul Performance Given
by amateurs at the Mead
envy OF Music.
WHlRLING MASS OF COLOR
Dancing Features and Spccialtics
Put Show in Class
by Itself.

"kermis--a festival or fair" pos
SIoiE that definition is broad enough
10 describe tho poor little affairs that
were held In Flanders. or wherever
1t was but it doesn't begin to convey
any idea OF this kirmess OF ours.
] II is festival; it is "A fair: 1t is an
entertainment; 1t IS whirlimy mass
| or ordered colors. 2littcrinr array
Oh pretty girls aud good looking
! youngsters, costumcd i'm a hundred diff
! i'!.ht characters and dancing in VOL
u'iIed merrimont and lightncss OF
! heart' series OF constantly chanriu,,
! pictures posed against various back
| E'oui"s here "a throne-room. there a
l"reS'; mere a courtyard Strewn with
/ oriental rugs, thor" =: Colonial rc-
! ception nall-and always colors ana
/ Eet more colors 1t ie a concert. a
/ musical" an exhibition Of musical mo-
! ton OF almost every conceiyabl.
/ character. from the marching and
/ counter-marching Of little bows and
/ girls and the hating tramp of aged
! confederate soldiers, 10 Tho spinning.
! stamping, clicking qtucksteps OF Mar
/ sovia-that dclcctable country from
which came The Merry Widow"-and
/ the stately. curtscy!ns dignity Of a
/ Colonial Gavottc.
just Il Lot OF Evcrythinr.
IL Is display or onestepping, tam
soinS and Raging at It's best; an ex-
! position of how lovely girls may be-
/ come yet lovelicr in old-fashioned
! were never Of any fashon-in this
/ country.
1t is-oh. it is everything. And not
! a little OF everything. but lot Of
! everything in the way ~ music.
/ dancing, costuming. and sheer pretti-
ness that several hundred young, girls
young men. and Younger girls and lit
! tie boys can possibly present before n
/ big. happy audience. when they have
I been carefully and patiently taught and
! drilled by II wonderful director.
| outside in the lobby there are stands
/ candy. tobacco, ice cream flowers
whatloi Around them. amons; them.
/ in and out Of tho house. fit girls. girls.
! girls. little aprons. little caps. a dash
OF makeup 10 add sugar and spice
/! just nice little girls. who don't
I bother YOU. hut will sell YOU anything
/ from Z black cigar to yellow chry-
/ santh.mun
Inside there is a huge. buaainr house.
/ very much dressed. most Of it, and
all of it ready. glad, aching to be
amused. ready 10 overlook what tiny
faults may occur and to welcome with
! radiant thing.
And there is just two hours and a
half-to tho minutc--of swinging, lilt-
ing, tripping light joyousncss waiting
to be welcomed.
Lose Jewels, Then Dance.
Up goes the curtain on the Court
OF spain some time prior to the on.
date that everybody in America re-
members. Enter pages. sounds Il fam
fare. and. stately and royal. King
Il l.. t. -
selves make their way to their throne.
| Comes Columbus himself and explains.
in pautomimc. his belief King Fcrdi-
nand iIotchliss doubts. but tho Queen
has faith and in;rusts the wciGhty
jewels that arc adorned by her to the
Columbus Smith backs off. carrying
the jools with him, and beats ii for
I America What more natural then.
than a dance: Nothing, therefore a
dance We have. ''Estudiantina' ii is,
by twelve girls and twelve young mon.
Then tile "Dansc du Madrid" by Miss
/ Masslc and Alr Clay, who make Of it
the Dance Of the Mad Madrid" in very.
graceful truth. followed by Miss No
lands swaying LA Danza.
Down comes drop. y forest and n
band OF Indians instantly appear. ana
the Redskins execute their tribal
steps-'"The Dance of tho Moon" ana
he afraid Of such youthful ana graceful
[ indians as these.
After the Indians. the Quakers-a
! mock, dcmurc and altogether fasci-
/ mating conceit. wonderfully we'll exc
cuted. featuring Come To the Ball by
Miss Garnctt and AR. Icfew: The
| Reuben Clog" by Miss IIorner and Mr.
kershaw. and Here's TO Love" sung
with fine effect ny the lovely Mrs.
t'rischkorn in the very prettiest hello
trope dress.
Hold High Court.
Colonial Days follow. George Wash
ington and his good lady hold high
b court. and 10 Them come powdered cav
alters and pannicred bellies. ~ footman
in powdered wig announces the bearers
/ OF historic names. ana in :: moment the
/ gaVottc. Il minuot all too short is step
ped with daintily lifted skirts and
hands resting lightly on court swords.
( Quickly comes Il later day; tile girls
wear crinolinc and the nen tho huge
bclled beavers that lend themselves so
readily 10 tilt OR the side OF the head
and the Country Dance rollicks To its
applauded conclusion. punctuated by
one OF the most spirited apccialtics of
/ the entire kirmcss, Il Rustic Fling BY.
Miss Crenshaw and Mr. Sydnor. ana by
Annie Laurie" with which Mrs kauf-
man brings do~n the house
y company OF the Bcncdictine cadets.
/ straight ana soldierly, marches across
ana off the stagc--it is the pcparturc
! Tor War Tho curtain falls for AN i'm
Staht when II goes up again. n squad
OF bearded old warriors from the
! soldiers Home troops hultingly ON.
bearing the Confederate flag
There is 4 long, long pause, while
TIL" house wears out its ecstasv. ana
then tho performance is allowed Ia
continue.
Fourteen littlo girls and an equal
number OF nero Riddles dane. "rh,
Sunny Erooll Farm" TO the Joy of In.
house. while little Miss Williams. lit
tier Miss Taylor and littlcst Miss Beck.
CARRIED as tho rest in pinl: and white
checked Bingham MARY James" ana
Isunbonnets. intensity the delight
Some Train. People. Some TrnIn
! Now there comes a-choo- chooing that
Honey BOY IIotchkiss, bringing with
| him The Ragtimc Express" Gentle
men. hush! He sings When That Mid
night Choo-Choo Leaves for Alabam.' ."
and his train is composed OF sixteen
girls, sixteen boys, and some porter,
by name. Travis Pate--as real Il min
strcl as the Honey BOV himself 'rbpr