Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-12-22
CHRIST MAS PRO-
GRAM At SCHOOL
Lincoln School Building
Scene of a Fine Program
and Play by the
Students.
PLAY WAS HUMOROUS
Program Well Rendered and
Much Applauded by the
Audience.
PLAY WAS HUMOROUS

The annual Christmas program at
Lincoln high school was greeted by an
lOverflowing and enthusiastic audience
Thursday night.
The first number, "Sleep, Holy Babe"
lby double mixed quartet, was par
ticularly harmonious. A Christmas
dance, given by eight girls of the
school, was charming bit of fair grace
land rhythmic action. The agile ler-
formers seemed fairly to flOar upon
their gauzy green wings, while their
perfect unison of motion made fault
less picture. The orchestra accOmpani
ment to this number was a pleasing
addition.
The boys glee club added another
lenjoyable number, Marching Song"
full Of martial fervor. and showing
results of careful training by Miss
Cook.
A Christmas Play.
Then followed u little two act Christ
mas play by William Dean HOwells.
The keynote of the situation was that
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Fountain have
been SO exhausted mentally and ply
|sically in buying return" Christmas
gifts that they are fairly desperate
and, in their condition of exhaustion,
they do digest the venom of their
spleen" in language most energetic and
uncomplimentary. In the midst of
these TRADES, certain of their misguid-
led friends call and load them up with
more gifts. The lightning changes from
dismal to cordial, required clever act
ing, indeed, especially upon the part
of Mrs. Fountain. which was beautiful
Ily taken by Miss Evelyn Channer. Ches-
ter Miller, as Mr.. Fountain, added an
other laurel to those already belonging
| to him, for he alternately wrapped
packages and stOTmefl over useless Civ
ing and was invariably Modified by the
tactics of the extremely feminine Mrs.
Fountain. The humorous touches were
numerous and well done, centering
around the fact that Mr.. f. receives
lbewildering number of bathrobes. ap-
parently the only available gift for
man. As each new one arrives, the
recipients are vOluble with thanks and
then more vOluble in wrath, until final
| ly seven bathrObes are received. The
children of the family, Susy and Jim,
played by Cleo Kayser and Harvey
|Winchell were just the type Of young
sters to fit in nicely. They were too
wise to believe in Santa Claus and
they always appeared at the inOppOr-
tune time, in order to see what gifts
were to be theirs.
After Mr.. Fountain has declared HIS
intention to return all the gifts and
break off the foolish custom, the wee
tot of the family, who has firm faith
in Santa Claus, appears and reclaims
his parents to the real spirit Of Christ
mas-in spite of seven bathrObes The
small boy. borrowed for the occasion
was Teddy Cutler, who made very
sweet ''irst appearance" on the stage.
| Miss Clara Hupp played the part Of
Maggie. who was both efficient and
dutiful as maid. Kenneth Marvel was
Frank Watkins, the dear friend who
mistakenly adds gifts and bathrObes,
making more out Of that which is al
ready too much. Kenneth Marvel did
this part well. Harold Clifton, the
bachelor friend who didn't know what
to get" also called and. brought bath
robe. doing it in typical hail fellow"
style.
Dorothy Fear and Margaret Lehn-
hard, the wealthy sisters of Mr.. FOun-
tain, appeared on the scene. magniti-
cent in feathers and furs, and cleverly
contributed gifts for the family and an
other bathrobe for Clarence" Their
acting and appearance made special
hit in the play.
Between Acts.
Between acts, Aurilla Peterson made
her first appearance as soloist in Con.
tique De Noel, supported by q group
of 9th grade girls in the chorus, be-
hind the scenes. Her voice was very
sweet and clear and the patr0is Of
the school will look forward to future
work by Miss Aurilla.
The girls glee club closed the pro-
gram with 'The Lights of Bethlehem
a number whose melody formed III ap-
propriate finale for the Christmas idea
of the evening.
| The stage was prettily set with a
new fireplace and honey decorations,
making an ideal background and lend
ing fitting touch of realism to the
play. Miss Florence Jayc)N, at the pi-
anO, did unusually fine work an.i the
school Is proud Of her musical ability.
Miss Ethel Swanson planned and di-
rected the program. assisted by the
Misses McEntrie and ShanOr. The sum
total of their work was "a delightful
evening for the public and a sOod time
for the school. thanks to the energy apd
ingenuity of these ladies. and the hear
ty cooperation of Miss Rosalind Cook,
who always gives the musical features.