Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-28
JEWETT CITY
Mt. Vernon Lodge Gives "Under Southern Skies" with Professional
 Finish and Smoothness-Best Enter
 tainment, Ever, on 42nd Social Night.


 The forty-second annual social and ladies' night of Mt Vernon lodge, No. 75. F. and A. NJ, was given in Finn Opera house Friday evening. When the curtain arose at 8 o'clock for the presentation of Under Southern Skies a, large representative company of Ma sons, their wives, sweethearts and friends was present. The stage set ting was that of a typical southern leyee landing scene on the Mississippi river; general merchandise was scat tered about. four pickaninies. Francis Brown. Walter Gray, Harry Paul and William Marshal, were seen shooting craps, while seated on a keg, H. E.. Paul, impersonating Erastus, negro, was softly picking his banjo. The play made a strong bid for favor at once in the song by the boys, Don't Yer Cry My Honey, and the coon song. Clam Soup. sung by MT. Paul. who accom- panied himself on his banjo.
 During the wait for the arrival of the steamer from up the river, Miss Alice McBroome and Miss Josephine Miller in the parts of two planters daughters. arrived expecting the boat Miss McBroome sang There's Dixie Girl Who's Longing for a Yankee Doodle boy Miss Mo cBroome was in fine voice and sang to please as she always does
 At this point the Mississippi rivor steamboat Mount Vernon" arrived Captain A. NJ Brown shouted out his orders in true river style. ropes were thrown ashore, the bow and stern lines were made fast, and the boat was brought to the dock in a manner that even Mark Twain would not have crit cised.
 The boat was a masterpiece of art, a true to the old time pattern of river steamer and realistic In the extreme. l. was designed and painted by G. H. IT Sf from the right wings in the rear, stood Is feet from the water line and could be seen as far aft as the tunnels. The main deck loaded with cotton and the upper deck with it's row of cabins were as near the real thing as it is possible to imagine. Mir. Prior's genius in this line was never more conClusively prov en.
 At once three colored deck hands. ". T. Crumb, Thomas McBroome and S. F. Brown, began the work of un- loading. All the time a running fire of jokes and local hits was kept up. Miss Ila Brown, one of the boats passengers, in her violin solo. Serenade by Pierne. was much appreciated. Miss Dorothy PauPs solo, Rockin' in de Win by Neidlinger, was well fitted to show the musical talent of the sing CT. w. H. Payne gave Cavalleria Rus ticana as a flute solo and merited the hearty applause won.
 F. D. BallOu, tmperSonatng Oman, the ships cook. was a wonder beyond all doubt in his specially prepared cos tune in true suffragette cut and color. His sketch made a big hit. His song was Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat. by Schwartz. Colonel John F. German stood at the head of the list His sailors hornpipe was inmitable He was accompanied by Mir Paul on the banjo.
 Four cotton buyers who came down on the boat. Charles II. Mackay, Wal ter K Marshall G. IT, Prior and F. H. HIiscoX sang in q very pleasi ng manner. Swanee River, quartette.
 Second to no other part in the en- tertainment was the funny sketch by Miss Katherine Babcock and F. E. Gil- bert in which they appeared In an automobile and sang a duet. Bobby