Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1918-09-20
CHAPTER xvIll-Continued.

While they are talking, an old Jew
named key COhenstein comes along.
and Abe engages him for cashier. After
engaging Ikey they meet an old
Southern negro called SambO, and
upon the suggestion of key he Is en-
gagged as porter. Then the three of
them, arm in arm, leave to take pos
session Of this wonderful palace which
Abe has just paid $1,000 for. (Cur-
tain.)
In the second act the curtain rises
on the interior of the Diamond Palace
saloon. and the audience gets its first
shock. The saloon looks like a pig
pen, two tramps lying drunk on the
floor, and the bartender In a dirty
shirt with his sleeves rolled up, asleep
with his head on the bar.
Enter Abe, SambO and key, and the
fun commences.
One of the characters In the second
act was named Broadway Kate, and
had an awful job to break In one of
the Tommies to act and talk like q
woman.
Another character was Alkali Ike. an
Arizona cowboy, who just before the
close Of the play comes into the saloon
and wrecks 1t with his revolver.
We had eleven three-hour rehearsals
before l thought it advisable to pre-
sent the sketch to the public.
The whole brigade was crazy to
witness the first performance. This
performance was scheduled for Friday
night and everyone was full Of antici
patton; when bang! orders came
through that the brigade would move a,
two that afternoon. Cursing and
binding was the order of things upon
the receipt of this order, but VIC
moved.
That night we reached the little vii
lage of $ and again went into res,
billets. We were to be there two
weeks. Our company Immediately got
busy and secured the village for q
suitable place in which to present oul
production. Then we received another
shock.
A rival company was already estab
lished in the village. They called
themselves 1.-THE Bow Bells" ant
put on a sketch entitled, "Blighty-
What HopesT They were the divi
siOnal concert party.
We hoped they all would be soor
In Blighty to give us a chance.
This company charged an admission
of a franc per head. and that nigh
our company went en- masse to SCI
their performance. 1t really was good
1 had a sinking sensation when
thought of running my sketch In Op
position to 1t.
In one Of their scenes they had ,
soubrette called Flossie. The soldie
that took this part was clever ant
made a Incorporating and chic girl
We Immediately fell In love with he
until two days after, while We wer'
on a march, we passed Flossie witt
"her" sleeves rolled up and the swea
pouring from "her" face unloading
shells from a motor lorry.
AS our section passed her yellet
out: Hello, Flossie; Blighty-Wha
Hopes?" Her reply made our love di'
out instantly.
"Ah. 60 to h-l!"
This brought quite a laugh from TIT
marching column directed at me. and
instantly made up my mind that on
sketch should Immediately run In op
position to "Blighty-What HopesT
When we returned to our billet from
The march, Curley Wallace, my the
htrical partner, came running over T.
me and said he had found a swank,
place in which to produce our show.
After taking of my equipment. ant
followed by the rest Of the section.
went over to the building he had plcke'
out. 1t was a monstrOus barn with |
platform at one end which would maxi
an ideal stage. The section got RICH
on the job. and before night had tina
place rugged out in apple-pie order.
The next day was Sunday and afte