Evening star., 1926-10-03
HOME
FACES LONELINESS
Notch Orchestra Tour to
Reduce Population of
19 by 6.
BIT j. RUSSELL YOUNG.

BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.
It's going to be powerful quiet and
lonely this Winter UP at Plymouth
Notch with the six members Of the
Notch Orchestra trouping about the
country as professional entertainers.
At its best President Coolidges
| birthplace is not a lively or a con.
gested place. The Notch boasts Of
only l9 inhabitants, including infants,
and to reduce this number by six is
going to have telling effect on this
historic hamlet during the long Win.
| ter ahead.
But the Notch people are now fairly
we'll accustomed to having the general
scheme OF things broken up and other
wise disordered since its favorite son
became President of the United States,
and although the six members Of the
| now famous orchestra are going to
eesert the Green Mountain neighbor-
hood this Winter TO. the vaudeville
stage, the remaining natives will
| somehow survive. Not only will the
Notch miss the individual members Of
the orchestra, each of whom is ma
tive Of this hillside settlement and has
spent his entire life within the Ply
mouth district, but they will miss also
the enjoyment afforded by the orches.
|
dances above Miss Florence Cilley's
store.
None Quite So Good.
There is an orchestra of some sort
down Ludlow way, IL miles from the
Notch, that could be pressed into
service if the boys and girls of the
hills decide to dance once in a while
during the absence of their own
GAwv -sAs~ fNr% uw.f<t IL
out saying that no other organlza'
ton could take the place Of the
Notch players, SO far as the natives
Of that place are concerned. With
them, their orchestra is about the
last word in melody and musical
artistry. The writer has had evt-
dence Of this hero worship and it is
doubtful If the Notch would trade
it's six musicians for the whole
Marine Band. ful!-dress uniforms and
everything thrown in.
| The Notch &players are an interest.
ing and picturesque group. Although
they have been furnishing the music
for the hill dances and other festive
occasions for a number Of years.
they did not attain outside prominence
until this past Summer. It was on
that night last August when Presi-
dent Coolidge, with Mrs. Coolidge
close to his side, sat on the front
piazza of the old homestead at the
Notch and listened to the tunerul
dance melodies waited from the dance
hall above Miss Cilley's store, direct
ly across the road.
The dance on this accession was ar
ranged primarily in honor OF the
President and his wife's return to the
hamlet, although it was understood
beforehand that they were still In
mourning for the Presidents father
and would be prevented from looking
in on the festivities. The distinguished
couple, however, fully enjoyed the
strains of the music and the laughter
and other sounds Of jollif1cation that
came from the direction OF the dance
hall.
Strange Clause in Contract.
announcement, formally made a
few days ago, that William Morris,
New York booking agent. known best
as the manager ct Sir Henry LADDERS
tours, and Paul Whitenlan's orches-
ira, had signed-up the Notch players.
was not surprising. 1t has since been
learned that the contract with these
Plymouth natives is a rather strange
and unique document. In coming to
an understanding with the six per
formers, the strangest clause that
ever appeared in a theatrical contract
was devised.
Heretofore It has been customary in
the show business to provide that a
tour shall start on a given date and
end either on a given date or when
the performer had to leave for Eu-
rope, Australia or other parts. The
contract Mr.. Morris has with the
| Notch players provides, however, that
the parties Of the second part shall
not be required to leave Plymouth
until the harvest is over, and the
said tour shall terminate in time to
permit them to return to their homes
in tins for Spring planting. Thus the
Notch players retain their status as
| home folks and their professional
standing as farmers.
There is more than ordinary inter
est attached to the personnel OF this
orchestra. Three Of the six players
are what the Green Mountain people
refer to as kinfolk of the President
This in itself is interest enough, but
the fact that the Coolidge farm at
Plymouth is likely to suffer as re-
suit Of this theater business is more
interesting. Linn Cady. who runs the
Presidents z00.acre farm, along with
his good wife, Cassie, are going to
abandon the old farm for this dip into
! a stage career. Linn is going to play
! the traps and his wife will preside at
the piano.
Presidents Views Unknown
Just what the President thinks
about the Notch Orchestra, including
three of his relatives leaving Ply1,.
outh for the stage is q, matter OF
conjecture, but it is easily surnalsed
that he does not relish the thought OF
his hired man and his wife leaving the
farm. The farm has been running
down until old Col. Coolidge succeeded
4 short time before his death last VIM
ter in inducing Linn to take over
the Coolidge acres.
The President had several confer
ences with Linn last Summer, and
after personally looking overathe place
and checking up with his farmer the
President was well pleased with every"
thing and went away hopeful for the
farms future. 1t is needless TO say
there is no cheer for the President in
the news that his promising farmer
and his wife are going trouping.
Probably the most picturesque mem
Der of this famous little orchestra 10
Uncle Joe Wilder. He married the
sister CT the Presidents mother. He
is So years old and his place adjoins
| "a