Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1898 — Old Maids’ Convention. [ARTICLE]

Old Maids’ Convention.

A Unique and Highly Successfal Entertainment. v JI • * The 47th annual national session of the Old Maids’ Union, was held at the opera house last evening. It was given by the Women’s Relief Corps of Rensselaer for the benefit of the relief fund of the Corps, and was a fair success, financially and a decided hit as an entertainment. The Old Maids’ Union is supposed to be an organization of old maids for the purpose of mutual assistance in procuring husbands. About 25 prominent members of the corp, gotten up in the characters of typical old maids, were the principal actors in the performance.

The performance is an exaggerated and intensely amusing burlesque of a convention and a lodge meeting. A procession of the old maids on their way to the convention hall, and dressed in their gorgeous and marvellous costumes, was the opening scene. They seemed well pleased with Rensselaer, but especially with the number and attractiveness of our bachelors. The proceedings'at the different sessions consisted of reading of minutes of previous meeting, uddress by president, relating of the experiences of the'members in their frantie endeavors to obtain husbands, initiation of new members, songs, original poems etc. All very funny and all excellently well done.

The final scene of the periormance was the operation of Mrs. Miffkins’ rejuvenating machine, in which the painted and frizzled old maids were worked over into blooming and frisky young girls, and the president came out as a babe in arms. These last, 16 in number ended the performance by a beautiful and faultlessly executed flag drill. The principal parts in the performance were, Angelina Clark, the president- Mrs. Anna Perkins; Elvira Skiddlemefuddle, the vice president, Mrs. C. C. Sigler; Jane Axhandle, the treasurer, Miss Maude Healey; Julie Polly Flip, thesecrotary, Mrs. R. W. Marshall; Tilda Toots, inner guard, Mrs. Oscar Tharp; Frances Touchmenot, Ist candidate, Mrs. Libbie Alter; Hanner Biggerstaff, 2nd candidate Mrs. J. T. Penn; baby in arms, Mabel Huff, Mrs. Miffkins, tho rejuvenator, Miss Bertha Parcells. * The only male animal having a part in the performance was J. E. Hopkins, as reporter for the Evening Republican; and he had many and grievious tribulations. Music was furnished by tho Citizens’ Band, the Mandolin Club, Miss Pearl Hollister, little Lonzo Hoaly, Mrs. J. T. Penn, Miss Hattie Dowlor, and others. Among our resident bachelors whose eligibility for matrimony was advertised during tho performance, were Elvin Overton, Joo Harris, Fred Phillips, S. C. Irwin and Jesse E. Wilson,