The Thespians' Farmhouse Feast
When a special train breaks down, a famous traveling theater troupe abandons the stage to cook an impromptu dinner at a nearby farmhouse.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Business Manager Augustus McCune of the Louis James and Frederick Warde company arrived in town last night. McCune mentioned a little incident that bears all the traits of hardship. After contracting for a special train from Wallace to Spokane, they were sidetracked four times and then struck a trestle that was being repaired. After waiting one hour and forty minutes, the company made a mad rush on a nearby farm house. Miss Bourne, the leading lady, proceeded to mix flour for biscuits; Mrs. James arranged the table; Mr. Warde chopped wood; Mr. James peeled potatoes; and Mr. Hackett washed dishes. Every member of the company helped to wear away the time until they finally reached Spokane at 3:05, tired and disgusted.
“Miss Bourne, the leading lady at once proceeded to mix flour preparatory to making biscuits; Mrs. James arranged the table; Mr. Warde chopped wood.”
The Louis James and Frederick Warde company was a massive cultural draw for towns like Walla Walla in the early 1900s. This story highlights the precariousness of regional travel in the Inland Northwest before the prevalence of automobiles.
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