The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1914-03-05
A JAPANESE TEA PARTY
LAST EVENING
"The Mikad0" Presented Last Evening
by SHOW hogan WOman'S Club, With
Assistance of Miss Oak aud Others.


In the midst of a beautiful Japanese
village welcomed by gracious Japan
ese ladies and entertained by these
same lovely women, the Skowhegan
Womans Club observed their guest
night last evening in Municipal Court
room. The guests were members OF
the Town Improvement Society and
Sorosis
The court room and the large office
at the rear were opened into one and
such a profusion of flowers and things
japanese as greeted the guests upon
their arrival Everywhere the decora-
tons were indicative OF The far away
country across the sea and the cherry
trees in full pink bloom abounded as
did the emblematical ehrysanthemum.
The queer pictures. the gaudy ban
ners, the crazy little parasols and the
gay lantedns added bright colorings
while many of the ladies were in Jap
anese costumes. The hostesses We're
/ Mrs. Ellen G. Sawyer Mrs. Fancher
I S. SWEET and Miss Lena Wyman.
The gathering was called to order
by the president. Miss Lizzie T. Hus-
sey and after the announcements the
program was opened with splendidly
executed selections on the piano from
the Mikado overture by Mrs. Lila
French. Mrs. Dora G. McNeelie then
began the story of the "Alikado," beau
tiful and humorous touches so typical
of the Japanese tales. being wonder
fully reproduced in the clever read
ing. Mrs. Maude L. Jewett, one of
Skowhegan's favorite elocutionists,
appeared in the comic song He Never
will be Missed" while another feature
introduced during the first act was
the charming song and dance, Three
Little Maids from School" by Mrs.
Fancher S SWEET, Mrs. Eldena S.
Halves and Miss Pauline Oak. 1t was
most fortunate for the Woman's Club
that at this time Miss Oak. who is a
student at the Leland Powers School.
should be in Skowhegan. for with her
clever acting and her splendid natural
abilities along these lines she added
very greatly to the pleasures of the
occasion. Perhaps her most difficult
rendering for the evening was the
song and dance in. the role of ko-ko,
Lord High EXecutioner, in the second
act when in the foreign costume and
stern masculine acting, it really
seemed that some lap of the male
sex had someway been struggled in,
to assist in the performance. THE
Flowers That Bloom in the Spring
was tremendously sung by Mrs. SWEET
and Mrs Hawes, while a closing song
and dance by Mrs. Jewett and Miss
Oak was received with rounds OF APP
plause, so much humor and gaiety did
they add to the event. During the
reading of the libretto, Prof X. W.
Leighton. also sang "Tit-Willow very
pleasingly with Miss Edith w. Lewis
at the piano. and between acts, Mikado
Waltzes were played by II. Tobey
Mooers, mandolin and r. d. Allen, pi-
ano. THE threatening clouds had
passed away" and the story was COM
pleted all too quickly, but still there
was much to entertain the ladies, for
from a wisteria trimmed booth Mrs.
Martha Griffin. Mrs. Annie Hackett,
and Mrs. Edith Philbrick. served tea
and various japanese dainties.
Mrs. Kathleen f. Oak was in charge
of this splendid entertainment and
upon every side was heard congratu-
IatOry remarks for the success of the
event. 1t was Mrs. Oak who presided
at the piano with an easy and grace
full rendering of the music of this
comic opera by Gilbert and sullivan.
The affair will long be remembered
and as the guests departed the gay
songs, the cordial greetings and withal
visions of the curious country so far
distant were carried with them to
d -eamiand