Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-24
South China Night
Grand Good Time

Gay evening, the 18th, South China
gave a show that shook the old town
from end to end and will long stand
for record breaker, not only in the
! excellence of the performance but in
: the size of the audience, that filled
the hall to standing capacity.
| On the stroke Of eight, with the
punctuality of professionals, the long
line of black faced performers. in cos
tunes drawn from life of picturesque
New Orleans, filed through the hall
and upon the stage to the silent music
of Ham Warehouses; Kitchen
Cello"
! The entrance was greeted with
laughter and applause, which contin-
ued, with hardly break to the end
, of the program.
In an aii-star performance it would
be futile to try to pick out the one for
the highest bouquet; each in his turn
was accorded the place, and rightly
SO.
To Virginia Jones, who conceived
the idea as a benefit to her beloved
grange, should be given great credit
! though taking no part in the perform
N'A~N A'SSii, tIt lIltttIOn OF ncr en-
thuSlasm inspired every spirit and her
steadying hand was ever at the helm.
| TO the intCrlocutor, Francis Jacob,
too much praise can not be given.
Young, enthusiastic. brilliant schoI-
ar, with the wit of generations behind
him. he threw himself into his part
with such utter abandon, he had his
audience with him from the start.
Ier1old Crosman. as end man on the
| right made a great hit by his unex-
pected entrance through a second
story window; quick of thought and
] ready of response, he was a hacker
that never failed; as companion piece
'on the left was Rem Maxwell. whose
very solemnity brought a laugh. even
, before he uttered word.
| Then came Lena, Lena who? Lena
STANLEY, of course, whose tvinkling
feet were happy rhythm of her ex-
quisite voice, and her appeal to the
baldheadS on the front row,-yes. we
jhave them even here in the country.
was enthusiastically applauded by the
entire audience.
! Opposite her was little Alice
F.; Saunders. "a, mere doll of a woman,
whose fetching rig and lisping voice
were in perfect imitation of a child. |
Ihen came our grave and reverend
selgnior, George j. Walenta, whose
! negro dialect was so realistic. it was
F, hard to conceive of him in his win
ter capacity as rector of a. large !
f, church.
i Next came Cony Weber, who was
true to his introduction of being the /
/ handsomest man on the road; he |
| easily held his audience both by his
beauty of person and the pathos of |
his voice, as he rendered in song the |
| mishaps of being too friendly with |
"a, mule.
Then we had Chubby Saunders |
whose makeup showed the true ar
fist; even had he refrained from I
every utterance, he would still have
stood out as a star of the first mag !
nitude.
AT the left of the interlocutor was
Fannie Maxwell, charmingly gowned. !
whose blackened face could not CON.
ceal the lady in her every tone and |
gesture; at the right was Marior;. |
Maxwell daintily dressed as pos~rv
AVN anu ilcI rendering OF the |
song was so natural and unaffected !
poth youth and old uge surrendered |
their hearts to her.
FINALLY there was the NANNY
represented by Mary II. Jones and
her bunch of pickaninies, who were
charming in song and dance.
Inc circle finished. there were two
performers called from the ouai-
ehce Little Ina Sargent, not vet old
enough to become a member of the
grange. rendered two selections On
'hc piano III way truly remarkable
ior one so young. while Rufus NJ !
Jones. well known in the pnlpit cov-
cred himself with glory in n Fourth
OF July grafton, that nearly slammed
ed the house,
While great credit Is due avar,,
member OF the east. there rested
upon the shoulders of ono inconanicu
Gus member the failure or success Of
the entire evening and to Ze,lo
bridge, the faithful accomn,nis, |
must be given all honor and nj,
praise.