Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1914 — LAFAYETTE MINSTRELS PLEASED BIG AUDIENCE [ARTICLE]

LAFAYETTE MINSTRELS PLEASED BIG AUDIENCE

Parochial School Hall Was Crowded to Witness Minstrel Given by ’ Lafayette Knights. The minstrel show by the Lafayette Council Knights of Columbus given at the parochial school hall Frida/ evening delighted the packed house that greeted the clever amateur performers and splendid music, live jokes and the special features kept the audience convulsed in laughter throughout the evening. When the curtain rose for Part I the minstrels in semi-circle opened with the chorus, “I Love the Whole United States,” and the music filled all with the spirit of the evening. Following this came a number of solos interspersing the jokes that were sprung between the.lnterlpeutor and the end men. The jn the main were local take-offs and their pithy humor proved that some local assistance had been secured in' their preparation. The following songs were sung: “Why is the Ocean So Near the Shore,” W. Deet. “If They’d Only Move Old Ireland Over Here,” J. P. Corcoran. "Get Out and Get Uhder,” O. Con nell: I f> . “CarmOline,” T. J. Connelly. “When It’s Buzz Time in Beetown, * V. McDowell.. “Salvation Nell,” J. H. MePartland. The singers all made splendid hits and individual praise is deserved by all J. T. Hamill, an entertainer, proved the . feature of the evening; and he is said to have also made a great hit in the Elks show at Lafayette. His monologue and songs were equally pleasing. Miss Flora Schilling played the piano accompaniment and furnished excellent music-between, the parts of the performance. George H. Balfe, whose tricks in magic are executed with the deftness of the professional, in an amusing introductory gave reason for the use of the title, “professor,” and compared himself to Herman, The Great Lafayette and other prestidigitators. He mystified the audience by his tricks of legerdamain. The visiting minstrels were met at the train by T. M. Callahan and Lon Healy and were taken to the Makeever hotel for supper, where a special table had been reserved for them. The reeel pts amounted to about S6O, which was sufficient to pay all expenses and that was all that the promoters hoped to do, aside from creating an interest in the -order, the Knights of Columbus, which has the nucleus for an organization here