CHAPTER XIV
THE ENTERTAINMENT AND HOW IT ENDED
Entertainment for the Benefit of the Ferry Hill School HockeyAssociation in the Gymnasium, Wednesday Evening, December 22d.
Programme
PART I.
OVERTURE: "_Uncle Sammy_," ORCHESTRA
FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!
The World-Famous Aggregation of Senegambian Entertainers known as theDarktown Minstrels, just returned from their Triumphant Tour of Europe,Asia, Africa and New Jersey, where they delighted Royalty and barelyescaped with their Lives!
ONE NIGHT ONLY!! READ THE NAMES!!
_Interlocutor_ MR. ROGERS
_Bones_ MESSRS. POST AND HARRIS
_Tambourines_ MESSRS. EATON AND WHITCOMB
_Disturbers-of-the-Peace_ MESSRS. COBB, BUCKMAN, THURLOW, FORREST, GALLUP, KIRBY, WARREN, PRYOR, BACON, STONE, HARRIS, SHATTUCK, PATTEN AND WELCH.
_Solos_ (the audience permitting) by MESSRS. COBB, POST, THURLOW AND FORREST.
_Duets_ (at any cost) by MESSRS. BUCKMAN AND COBB, HARRIS AND KIRBY.
_Monologues by_ MR. COBB
_Imitations by_ MR. EATON
To be followed by the First Appearance in this part of the Country ofProfessor Carlos Cole, Prince of Prestidigitators, in Astounding CardTricks, Marvellous Feats of Sleight-of-Hand and Appalling Wonders ofWhite and Black Magic never before seen on any stage and not likely tobe again! (The Management earnestly requests Members of the Audience notto loan the Professor either money or hats. The Management will not beResponsible for the Return of such Articles.)
The Whole to Terminate in a Beautiful and Fantastic Revelry of Song andMirth entitled:
"_Christmas Eve on the Plantation!_"
INTERMISSION.
PART II.
OVERTURE: "_Medley of College Airs_" ORCHESTRA
COLLEGE TABLEAUX.
1. _Yale_ MR. BACON
2. _Harvard_ MR. PORTER
3. _Princeton_ MR. EATON
4. _Cornell_ MR. WARREN
5. _Columbia_ MR. GALLUP
6. _Dartmouth_ MR. FORREST
7. _Vassar_ MISS EMERY
ENSEMBLE.
SONG: "_The School on the Hill._"
The Audience will please join in the singing.
_Stage Manager_ MR. ROGERS
_Assistant Stage Manager_ MR. EATON
_Property Man_ MR. PORTER
_Electrician_ MR. PRYOR
_Prompter_ MR. THAYER
_Wardrobe Lady_ MISS EMERY
Automobiles and launches may be ordered for 10:45. There's no harm in ordering.
The audience is earnestly requested not to throw garden truck or hennery produce. Bricks may be obtained from the Gentlemanly Ushers.
Attendants will report promptly to the Management any inattention on the part of the Audience.
Persons unable to resist weeping at the jokes will please step outside. Rain checks may be had at the door.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The public acted very considerately that evening. Whether the report hadgot around that Ferry Hill needed sixty dollars for her hockey team Ican't say, but it's a fact that when the curtain went up--only twentyminutes late!--there were exactly one hundred and twenty-eight personsin the gymnasium who had paid for admission, and as the price was fiftycents apiece the one hundred and twenty-eight persons meant justsixty-four dollars in the cigar box on the table by the door! Hammondturned out in force, almost sixty of her boys attending; Miss Cutler'sSchool for Young Ladies was well represented by twenty-two of Harry'sschoolmates under the protection of Miss Letitia Cutler herself; thevillage contributed generously; while as for Ferry Hill, every youth notholding an official position of some sort--and there were few thatdidn't--was on hand, even Horace and Otto being unable to resist thepromises of the programme, while the culinary and dormitory force, aswell as John, the gardener and general factotum, were huddled about thedoor. Down in the second row sat Doctor and Mrs. Emery and some friendsfrom the village. Walker and Fernald made most presentable ushers, and,as their duties consisted principally of supplying programmes andanswering questions, they did finely.
I'm not going to attempt a description of the first part of thatentertainment. In the first place it was beyond description, fartoo stupendous and awe-inspiring for my pen to do justice to. Fromthe time the curtain rose--as correctly as though it had nevermisbehaved!--revealing the World Famous Aggregation of SenegambianEntertainers until--well, until it fell hurriedly two hours later,everything went beautifully. Of course there were little misadventures,but such are expected and only add to the hilarity of an amateur show.When Chub's tambourine flew whirling out of his hand and fell into Mrs.Emery's lap it seemed an excellent joke. When Warren fell over a chairand landed on all fours in front of the descending curtain, everybodyapplauded uproariously. When, in the plantation sketch, the roof ofthe log cabin fell in because Post had thoughtlessly leaned againstthe door-frame, and Sid, in the role of Aunt Dinah, flounderedterrifiedly out through the window with a spirited rending of femininegarments, the audience rocked in merriment.
"Chub's tambourine flew whirling out of his hands."]
The orchestra, a Silver Cove combination of piano, flute and violin, didwonderfully considering the fact that it had attended but one rehearsal.The solos, especially Mr. Cobb's and Tom Forrest's, were cordiallyreceived. Harris and Kirby buried the hatchet temporarily and gotthrough "Shine, Silv'ry Star" most brilliantly and had to give anencore. Mr. Cobb and Mr. Buckman did a ludicrous negro song whichbrought the house down, though not in the same way as Post had. Thechorus work was good and the jokes took just as well as though they hadbeen all fresh and new. Some few of them were. When Post asked Rogers ifhe knew what the principal article of diet was at the school across theriver, and when he was finally prevailed on to dispel the interlocutor'signorance and replied "Hammond eggs," the visitors from Hammond shriekedtheir appreciation. When Harris explained that Ferry Hill was thebrightest school in the country because the students had their witssharpened by Emery, the Doctor chuckled most appreciatively. Even thepunning joke to which Jack Rogers had taken exception and which relatedthe matrimonial adventures of Mr. Cobb and a fictitious Miss Webb wentwell.
Chub's imitations were distinctly clever, that of Mr. Buckman coachingthe crew throwing the Ferry Hill portion of the assemblage, at least,into convulsions. Sid "did his worst," according to promise, and made ahit more by his earnest desire to please than by any musical resultsobtained from his banjo. Mr. Cobb's monologues were screamingly funnyand he had hard work getting away from the audience. Professor CarlosCole, better known as Charlie Cole of the Middle Class, didn't quitemake good all the promises of the programme, but executed some clevertricks of palming and even managed, with some difficulty, to extract oneof Harry's pigeons out of an empty bottle--with the aid of a voluminoushandkerchief which fluttered suspiciously when produced. The sketchentitled "Christmas Eve on the Plantation" went better than anyone daredhope, principally, perhaps, for the reason that about everybody forgothis lines and did what and how he pleased. The first half came to atriumphant end with the entire company of entertainers filling thelittle stage and vigorously proclaiming that they were "going to live,anyhow, until they died."
During the intermission black-faced youths emerged from thedressing-room under the balcony and
visited friends in the audience andthe orchestra performed its "Medley of College Airs." The programme'sannouncement of College Tableaux had whetted the audience's curiosity,and when the hall darkened, the bell tinkled and the curtain--still onits good behaviour--rolled noiselessly up, there was a general craningforward of heads.
The painted back drop had given way to a curtain of white cloth. Infront of it stood a large oblong frame of wood covered with gilt paper.Behind the latter, like a picture in its frame, stood Bacon on a littlewhite-draped dais impersonating a Yale oarsman. His costume was a bluesleeveless jersey with a white Y stitched on it, white trunks,turned-down socks and rowing shoes. In his right hand he supported anoar with a blue blade. A gas pipe had been run around the inner side ofthe frame and the dozens of little jets threw a brilliant light on themotionless figure. The applause was instant and hearty. Bacon kept thepose for a minute while the orchestra played "Boola," and then thecurtain fell again. Presently it went up to reveal Roy in his crimsonsweater, moleskin trousers, crimson stockings and tan shoes. A white Hadorned the front of the sweater and under his arm was a football. Againthe applause, quite as hearty as before, while the strains of "Up theStreet" came from the orchestra.
Chub, who came next, represented a Princeton baseball player, stripedstockings on his sturdy legs, gray shirt over his black jersey, a graycap set rakishly over his smiling face and a mask and ball under hisarm. The applause seemed to be more a tribute to Chub, the captain ofthe Ferry Hill Nine, than to the picture he made or the college herepresented. After the music of "Old Nassau" had ceased the curtain fellonce more. Then followed Warren as a Cornell oarsman, Gallup as aColumbia tennis player and Tom Forrest, with a sixteen-pound hammerbehind him, poised for a throw. Forrest wore Dartmouth's colors and madean unmistakable hit.
But the audience was agog for the next picture. Harry had devised thetableaux and had insisted upon being allowed to appear as Vassar. Andalthough to Jack and Chub and Roy a girl's college had seemed out ofplace on the programme, yet they were too grateful to Harry for herassistance to think of refusing her. And when the curtain rolled up forthe last time they were all very glad they hadn't. For Harry was thesuccess of the evening.
She was standing two-thirds-face to the audience, a black mortar-boardcap on her head, a flowing black gown reaching to her feet and a bookunder her arm. The pose was grace itself. But the crowning glory of thepicture was Harry's hair. She had coiled it at the back of her littlehead, thereby adding several years to her apparent age, and the intenselight of the sizzling gas-jets made it glow and shimmer like red gold. Avery bright, happy and demure-looking Vassar student she made, and apretty one, too. Roy, watching from the wings, could hardly believe thatthe smiling, grown-up young lady in front of him was the red-hairedlittle minx who had "sassed" him so sharply in the stable yard thatfirst day of their acquaintance!
The applause grew and grew; at the back of the hall John, the gardener,had forgotten his awe of the surroundings and was "hurrahing" loudly,egged on by the admiring women servants. And then suddenly the applausegave place to cries of alarm. Persons in the front row sprang to theirfeet. Those behind them pushed back their chairs and, without knowingthe cause, became imbued with the panic of those in front. Someone cried"Fire!" and instantly the place was in an uproar.
"It was Roy who dashed across the stage."]
But those in the wings had seen as quickly as those in the audience, andit was Roy who dashed across the stage, picked Harry bodily from thedais, laid her down and crushed the flames out of her black gown withhis hands before scarcely any of the others had recovered from theirmomentary panic. Harry, white-faced but silent through it all, washelped unharmed to her feet and the curtain came down with a rush. Ithad been "a narrow squeak," as Chub excitedly termed it, but, save for afright, Harry was none the worse for the happening. But the same couldnot be said for her black gown. It had fluttered against one of thegas-jets, caught fire and had been burned away for a space of severalfeet up one side. Doctor and Mrs. Emery joined Roy, Mr. Cobb and Jack asthey conducted Harry to the dressing-room and they were bothembarrassingly profuse in their praise of Roy's presence of mind. TheDoctor insisted on shaking hands and it was then that the discovery wasmade that while the rescued had escaped injury the rescuer had not. Bothof Roy's hands were pretty badly scorched, although Roy tried toconvince them that they weren't. Mr. Cobb sent for oil and bandages andHarry, in order to reassure the audience, was led before the curtain,where she received applause more hearty than ever. The incident hadeffectually ended the evening's performance and the singing of theschool song was omitted. When Harry came back to the dressing-room,still pale and rather sober, she walked over to Roy who was seatedawaiting the "first aid to the injured," and, to his surprise, leanedimpulsively over and kissed his cheek.
"Please, Roy," she whispered, "thank you very, _very_ much! And--and I'msorry I was so low-down mean!"