The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899, February 15, 1894, Page 12, Image 16
12 THE HESPERIAN I ; painted and was surmounted by a blue pulpit-like desk. The floor was level and was equipped with a system of pews, instead of seats. ThoBe pews not only had straight backs, but also a moulding on the in side just at the top, which coming just below our shoulder blades, made chapel services prevailingly of a sad and painful character. There was a loft just above the space occu pied by the present platform. It was polite ly called a gallery, but no human being was ever known to have sat in it a single moment. The whole was heated by two huge sheet iron stoves. These John Green would warm up, during the winter, a minute or so before the services, and exercises were generally opened by a rush for the seats nearest the stoves and by the departure of the faculty from the arctic regions of the platform. There was an old organ which somebody played and there was a choir. This choir, consisting of four members, stood up in a row and sang. I do not wish to say who these four wore, as I am informed they de sire to return to the arms of society and to forget their past. The only relic we still possess of those days is the chandelier which looks just as it did, the same yesterday, today and forever also one member on that choir. It was in this chapel that an entertainment was hold for the benefit of The Hesperian. The preparations were elaborate, and much advertising was done. Prices were fixed at fifteen cents and two for twenty-five cents, .and the following program was printed and distributed. I give it that it may be seen in all its ingenuousness: CHOW-CHOW. SECOND UNCORKING OF TIIE IIESPERIAN BOTTLE Part First. 1. A miniature concert by vay of Overture, Orchestra. 2. Roundelay, "Many Are the Friends Who Are Waiting Tonight, " by a brand now Quintette. 3. "Uncle Tom's Log Domicile." All the essential features in one Act and one Seen. 4. A Foreign Phantasmagoria. Pari Second. SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF TIIE IIESPERIAN STUDENT. Wends, Board of Editors. Chorus and Dupes, "Ladies and Gentle men of the Company. ' ' His Satanic Majesty, Grover Cleveland. Phonograph Expositor, Paid Fennimore Clark. Omaha Glee Club, Four Mashed Villains. Scene I. Interior of office. "Matter deep and dangerous." The pledge. Scene II. Story of a spree. Ropes, Rascals, and Roca. Scene III. Base Desertion. Consterna tion. Tableau. Green Lights and Sulphur Smoke. A magnificent audience of Lincoln people and students assembled. Prof. C. G. Mc Millan, of the University of Minnesota, sold the tickets. Prof. A. G. Warner, of Leland Stanford, Jr. University, distributed little cards entitling the holder to a chance in the grand prize drawing at the close. Mr. W. O. Jones, of the State Journal, passed mys teriously back and forth between the doors and the curtained stage. A young Beatrice lawyer, Mr. S. D. Killon, added to the effect by a general buzzing about. The band opened the program by execut ing number one. It proved acceptable and an encore was demanded. Soon they execut ed a third piece of music which was an extra to relievo the restlessness of the audience. Then Prof. Warner appeared and requested them to play until they should hear a boll ring. Soon "part first" began to stretch out to unendurable lengths, and mutterings be gan to be heard. "Why don't they start?" "Say, this is wearisome!" "Oh, give them time." "Blanket!" But the audience was good-natured, and found pleasure in antici pation and the band, Yet all things must have an end, and this was ended by the cas ual suggestion that "Somebody- go and stir 'em up." Mr. Phonograph Expositor, P. F. Clark, complied, drawing the curtain aside first gently, then more boldly, and fin- PttlBUlfTM Ml WH M