The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-05-24
PACKED HOUSE AT
DISTRICT SCHOOL
About 500 Realized for July CeIe-
bration-Amateur Performance
Creates Merriment.

The Old District School, farce in.
two acts, presented last evening at 8
0 clock in Academy hail. West Brat
tleboro, drew a packed house. every
seat being taken and many buving
standing room tickets. The farce.
which was given by home talent and
which is familiar to some, caused a
continuous round of laughter as sfread-
in, 'ritin' and 'rithmetic, taught to
the tune of the hick 'ry stick was act
ed out. Each part was well taken, the
scholars in the "skule all demonstra-
ting their ability to marked degree.
Harold E. Mofitt, as Ezekiel Simp-
kins, the teacher, was equal to every
emergency, even to administering a
sound spanking to David T. Perry, who
took the part of Ben Butler and was
the Ounce of the school. Ben was com
tinually asking the teacher to be al
! lowed to speak piece, but each time
was told that he was not on the pro-
! gram. Finally, to keep him still he
was given permission to '.speak that
piece" which he promptly did, I'M
folding at the same time manuscript
which resembled an auction bill and
several local hits that brought down =
the house.
During the entire performance, the
usual pranks known especially to the
old time district school, were carried
out Paper wads were thrown, gum
was chewed, doughnuts were eaten on
the sly, q paper was pinned on the
teachers coat-tails, and lastly, a mouse
was brought into school in a boy IS
pocket, which was most disturbing to
the quietude (2) of the dinstrict
/" skule.o
The costumes worn by the members
of the cast were ridiculous in the ex-
treme and DR.. G. B. Hunter, dressed as
Buster Brown with Dutch haircut
knee trousers and wide white collar
was given an ovation when he appeared
on the stage. Petey Barnum, colored
boy, impersonated by Ernest NJ Good
enough, whose work on the local stage
already had given him a wide reputa-
ton, was funny each time he appeared
There were plenty of local "hits
throughout the show, which added no
little to the entertainment. Each reel
tation contained some chit and per.
haps the funniest of all was the recit-
ing of the alphabet by the primary
class. Hazen Stockwell, as John Jacob
Astor, created an uproar when he re
cited Little All Sid.
The scholars were not respecters OF
persons and when the committee called
and the pupils were expected and warn.
ed to be on their best behavior, one OF
the most unruly boys suddenly hurled
a large paper wad at the deacon s heaC
and his aim was true The show ended
with the graduation of four members OF
the skule who were presented witt
elaborate diplomas, tied with bright
colored ribbons and measuring at Least
four feet long In making the presen
tation, Ezekiel Simpkins, the teacher
said they all had future before then
and he thought it would "alwavs bt
before them.
Before the curtain went up at the be
ginning of the performance Mrs. Har
old White, violin, and Miss. Katherin,
Stockwell, piano, rendered two selec
tons followed by two solos by Lelant
GOvey, Miss Everil Davis Accompanying,
him on the piano. During the inter
mission Mrs. C. f. Farnum and Miss FL
eanor Richardson sang two duets wit
Miss Davis as accompanist.
1t is expected that over 800 will b
realized from the play as $123.45 wa
| taken in. The proceeds will be used a
| guarantee fund for the July 4 ccle
| bration.
Following IS the cast: Ezekiel SimI
kins, teacher, Harold E. Mofitt; Dee
con Tidd George Allen; John Jaco
Astor Hazen L. Stockwell; Patienc
| Puddifoot, Gertrude Stockwell; Be
Butler, David T. Perry; Tooty Froot,
Mrs w f. Bartlett; Cornelius Vande
| bilt, Harold p White; Peruna Jone
Mrs. w. f. Stellman; jim Blaine, job
| Mckay; Christopher Columbus, Willar
Richardson; Petey Barnum. f.
| LGoodennngh: Ruster Brown Dr. G.