Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1900 — Old Folks’ Entertainment [ARTICLE]

Old Folks’ Entertainment

• It Was An Astonishing Success. The Old . Folks’ Entertainment, for the benefit of the public library, Friday evening, was a great success in every particular. In fact it was far the most popular entertainment yet given, in the library series, and also one of the most popular of any kind ever given here by purely home talent. Both rooms were crowded with people to the extent of their seating capacity. The to'nl number of tickets sold was 445. These, with the free admissions, for various purposes, made the attendance in both rooms, somewhat over 500. The net proceeds, for the benefit of the library, above all expenses, was $75.25. | The elderly people not only ! gave the entertainment but were ■ also very liberal patrons, as pretty nearly all the old people in the town were present. }. In the east room, B. F. Ferguson president and Rev. H. M. Middleton vice president, the following ‘ persons, ' “spoke pieces” Mrs. Sarah A. Hemphill, J. C. Thrawls, Mis. Jennie Wishard, R. B. Porter. Mrs. N. Purcupile. | Songs were sung by James .j Matbeson, John Coen, Norman | Warner, Mrs. E. T. McCoy, J. H. j Perkins, L. W. Ben hew and W. S. Day. | Violin music, Joe Sharp, Billy Bussell, S. W.'W. Cheever, James I Blake. : Accordeon music, Lorenz HL.deband, August Makus, A. Leopold. The letter, written 155 years ago by a young lady then living with an aunt, on Nantucket Island, to her parents, in the wilds of New York-, was read in both rooms, by Mrs. W. T. Perkins. John E. Alter, ex-county surveyor, was down for a Dutob Speech. He presented, in the German brogue,, an original article, especially applicable to the occasion, and much 'of it oomposed during the progress of the entertainment. It was full of his witty and humerous hits and quips and was greatly appreciated. In the west room S. P. Thompson president, R. S. Dwiggins vice-president, “pieces” were spoken by Mrs. M, J. McCoy, W. C. Pierce, Mrs. M. E. Taumpson, Mrs. Fannie Hopkins, James Yeoman, J. A. Burnham and S. P. Thrompson. Songs were given by Mrs. Mary Morgan and Mrs. Purcupile solos, and by Mrs. Melle Medicus, Mrs. Matie Hopkins, Mrs. E. N. Hylaud and Miss Mary Hyland, quartette of female “coon,” in which all the parts were carried. Mrs. C. Martin, Mrs. Hyland Jar.d W. B. Austin and Dr. Brown sang Pet3r, Peter, Pumpkin Eater. All the singing on this side of tbe house was enthusiastically encored. Fiddlers were Elias Marion James Blake. S. W. W. Cheever, M. L. Hemphill ana Charles Pullins. Accordeon, A. Leopold. In awarding the prizes to the best boy speaker, the best girl speaker, the best siuger and tbe best fiddler, the judges in each room selected their respective candidates, and*4il|en the opposing candidates from each rotrm'Shad to repeat their performances, at the banquet, and then the final selection was made. The prizes were four handsome $2.25 books, presented one each by the heads of our four city banks. For best fiddler, 8. W. W. Cheever, the DeMotte blaoksmith, was the choice of both rooms; though W. W. Bussell got some votes in the east room. Mr. Cheever is nearly '6O years old; and the smith a mighty man is he

big black and bearded like an ancient Druid, And the deftest wielder of the bow, of any of bis age, we know. Mr. Cheever entered the race too late to get his name on the printed program. Joe Sharp and August Makus also both got some votes for this prize. For the best girl speaker Mrs. Jennie Wishard, the oast room candidate, got the ’' piize She gave “Mary hnd h Little Lamb”; in the character of n haf.hful little ghl, who bnAe (1 own and boobooed before she got half through. Mrs. M. E. Thompson, was Mrs. TVishard’s competitor from the west room. The boy speakers’ prize was carried off by Billy Pierce, of the west room.* He is 78 years old, and spoke David and Goliath, prefacing it with the very appropri-, ate lines, “you’d scarce expect one of my age, to speak in public on the stage.” His competitor from the east room was James .C. Thrawls, of about the same age, who spoke, “Spartacus the Gladeator.” “ “ 7 -I The prize fir the best song was given to Mrs. Mary Morgan, of the west room, and 77 years old. Her east room opponent was Mrs. E. T. McCoy. After the entertainment refreshments consisting of coffee, cake and sandwiches were served to all who chose to remain, several hu ndrecKn mu m her.