Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1919 — FIDDLER FANS’ FESTIVAL. [ARTICLE]

FIDDLER FANS’ FESTIVAL.

A very unique entertainment was staged at the Armory last night. Some who were present called it a Fiddler Fan’s Festival, others said it was a Musical Bee, but best of all it was christened the Constabulary Ball. As it happened the entire police force was there. In the front row was Sheriff Woodworth, Deputy Sheriff John Robinson, Marshal Ellis Thomas and Nightwatchman John Richards. Over on a box seat sat ex-Sheriff McColly, too. The headliner for the program was Fiddler Frank Erwin, of Lee, Ind. Frank knows a fiddle as good as old man Stradivari himself and can handle one with the skill of Paganinni. The way he played The Arkansas Traveler and Satan’s Phantom made All the local artists situp and register the “some class” smile. He started upon The Sailors Hornpipe. There being no old salts from sea-going vessels present the local aquarian dance, The Dredge-boat Shuffle, was substituted. The Dredgeibot Shuffle was fantastically done by the Bicknell brothers, and for it they received many rounds of applause from all the taxpayers at the balk All went well until one of the violinists announced that he would next execute William Tell. To this Deputy Sheriff Robinson protested, saying that he wanted no acts of violence to mar the good time of the evening. Tell was permitted to live. The next number moved the audience greatly. It fact it’s moving powers were so great that the checkers on the boards at the adjoining checker club started to move. This inspired Morris Maloney and Sam Stevens to „invent the Checker Sashay, which they later introduced to the Late in the evening the happy guests departed for their homes after having wished Shorty Collins, the courteous and jovial custodian of the Armory, many more happy birthdays.—Contributed.