Madison Public School

The School Entertainment

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"The teachers and scholars of the Madison public school did themselves proud in their closing entertainment at the Opera House Tuesday night. There were between four and five hundred (patrons) of the school present, and (unknown) of the whole number we have yet to learn of anyone of them speak otherwise than in the highest praise of the 
entertainment and work of the school year just closed. The entertainment consisted of songs, recitations, charades, marchers and drills and wound up with the "Courtship of Miles Standish," which had been specially arranged for the occasion.  
 
The first on the programme was music by the Madison Orchestra. This is a young organization, but under the skilled leadership of Prof. Calhoun, of Paris, has made rapid progress, and furnished most excellent music - music worthy of their teacher and leader, and showing strong capabilities in the membership of the Orchestra. Then came Miss Jessie Farrell with a splendid recitation called, “The Whistling Regiment,” which was well rendered and received, and brought forth many muffled exclamations such as “splendid”,”excellent”, etc. 
 
The tableaux, “The Little Gleaners”, composed of about twenty sweet little girls and handsome boys, from Miss Lizzie Gwyn's and Miss Vada Lenhart's rooms, showed careful preparation and reflected credit upon both pupils and teachers. The recitation of Miss Brenda Leftwich,”The Bridal Feast”, was a good selection, and if we may judge from what others say, Brenda did the selection justice (unknown) credit. (…Missing next line…) Jim Baker, Fred Baker, Sam Wade, Edwin Buckner, C. Atterbury, Maurice Leftwich, Shelby Farrell, Roy Michaels, Obe Farrell, Paul Woolome. 
 
Prof. Calhoun then favored (the) audience with a beautiful (unknown) solo, “Sweet Marie”, that was simply grand and deeply appreciated. The song – “Baby, Baby”, was beautifully sung by Mattie (Eubanks), Jessie Firch, Norma Atterbury, Minnie Hulen, Jessie (Mitchell), Lessie Davis, Sallie Leftwich, and Eunice Boyd, all dressed in white and each carrying a doll and candle. They had been carefully drilled and did remarkably 
well. 
 
Miss Bertie Sumpter recited “Sister and I”, in her usual delightful manner, and received the hearty approval of the audience. The tableaux, “Rock of Ages”, was the most sublime and impressive scene of the evening. Eight little ladies, Mary Craver, Nell Eubanks, Bessie Thomas, Ruby Quisenberry, Bertie Dixon, Myrta Mason and Lulu Owings, represented angels, seven around and one clinging to the foot of the cross while Norma Atterbury and Sallie Leftwich sang “Rock of Ages”, behind the curtain. 
 
The characters in Miles Standish courtship were as follow: Miles Standish , J.W. Atterbury; John Alden, Claude Smith; Priscilla, Maud Roberson; Elder, Antonio Snidow;  
1st Messenger, Ralph Leftwich; 2nd Messenger, John Carter; Indians, Lute Donaldson,  Harry Snidow, Geo. Forsyth, Claud Davis; Council, Harry Atterbury, Olga Meals, Com Combs, Bertha (Noel), Lonah Todd, Lillian Giddings; Wedding Guests, Daisy Brown,  Jessie (Unknown), Ellie (Unknown) 

Source: Untitled, undated article from unnamed newspaper. Extracted from the collection started in 1879 by Mrs. Nannie Brown of Madison, Missouri; provided by Kathleen Wilham.