The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-09-27
CHAPTER xvIlI-continued.

il
While they are talking, an old Jew
named key Cohenstein comes along,
md abe engages him for cashier. After
engaging Iiey they meet an old
Southern negro called Samb0, and
upon the suggestion of Ikey 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 $4,000 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
net was named Broadway Kate, and l
had an awful job to break in one of
the TOmmies to act and talk like a
woman.
Another character was Alkali Ike, an
Arizona cowboy, who just before the
close of the play comes into the Saloon
and wrecks it with his revolver.
We had eleven three-hour rehearsals
before l thought 1t 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 anticl-
patton: when bang! orders came
through that the brigade would move at
two that afternoon. Cursing and
binding was the order of things upon
the receipt Of this order, but we
moved.
That night we reached the little vii
luge a. $ and again went into rest
bilctS. We were to be there two
weeks. our company Immediately got
busy and secured the village for
suitable place in which to present our
production. Then we received another
shock.
\ rival company was already estab-
iished in the village. They called
themselves "The Bow Bells" and
put on Il sketch entitled, "Blighty-
What HopesT They were the dlvi-
sional concert party.
We hoped they all would be soon
In Blighty to give Us chance.
hn nIr,Niccinn
Of franc per head, and that night
our company went en- masse to see
their performance. 1t really was good.
had sinking sensation when
thought Of running my sketch in op-
position to 1t.
In one of their scenes they had n
Soubrette called Flossie. The soldier
that took this part was clever and
made Incorporating and chic girl.
We Immediately fell in love with her
until two days after, while we were
on q march, we passed Flossie with
her" sleeves rolled up and the sweat
pouring from "her" face unloading
shells from a motor lOrry.
AS our section passed her yelled
ont: "Hello, Flossie; Blighty-What
Hopes?" Her reply made our love die
out instantly.
"Ah, 20 to HI"
This brought quite laugh from the
marching column directed at me, and l
instantly made up my mind that our
sketch should Immediately run in op-
position to "Blighty-What HOpes?"
When we returned to our billet from
the march, Curley Wallace, my the
atrical partner came running over to
me and said he had found swanky
place in which to produce our show.
After taking off my equipment, and
followed by the rest of the section. l
went over to the building he had picked
out. 1t was a monstrous barn with a
platform at one end which would make
an ideal stage. The section got right
on the job. and before night had that
place rugged out In apple-pie order.
The next day was Sunday and after