less romantic, though of varied designs and colors, were attached to heavy cardboard confined within a light frame that permitted easy and quick adjustment to allow members of a cast free access to enter or leave the stage on either side. The drop curtain, proclaimed by many at that time to be a masterpiece of art, was a scene that touched the deeper sense of appreciation of the culture, customs, and traditions of people of the old world centuries ago. The scene must have been inspired by the master's conception of a vast rolling desert, presumably the Arabian. In the foreground stood a large castle or inn of ancient Gothic architecture, a view of which was scarcely interrupted by a few scattered palm trees. From the back as far as the vision carried, was a vast rolling desert. At the south, seated high on his lumbering camel, a dusty Arab, leader of a caravan members of which, weary after several days' travel over the burning sands, slowly emerged one after another from their long journey to seek food and lodgings at the inn. The stage show, a long-time part of city entertainment, was comparatively new to rural communities, even as late as beginning of the century. Slaterville by 1890, was in a better position than most settlements to engage in that sort of entertainment, purely because conditions worked to the advantage of our people, who needed the proper incentive and urge to enter the field of this form of amusement. Much credit for the happy situation that resulted was due to the leadership and encouragement of Mr. Wright, the school teacher; enthusiasm and activity of the people; and encouragement and support of ward authorities. Early in the fall of 1890, the commencement of a series of plays took place that continued over a number of years. The large hall with a great seating capacity, a sapcious stage adorned with scenery that formed a setting that attracted attention of eminent professionals who performed on stages of the modern showhouses of our cities, put Slaterville high in rank with communities favorably equipped to carry on stage entertainment. Troops from Plain City, West Weber, Hooper, Willard, and Harrisville, which at that time included Farr West. All visited Slaterville. While an outside troop had an evening here, our local troop was at one or the other place included in the circuit. By spring, each settlement had enjoyed a weekend entertainment through fall and winter by its local or outside entertainment troops. Preceding a performance by a troop from either of the communities, it, of course, was necessary that people should be informed of the show and evening it would be held. This usually was done by announcement at Church on Sunday preceding date of the show which was gennerally on a Friday evening. At the close of school that day, hand bills dexcribing in fantastic terms features of the play, were handed to pupils by the teacher as they left the room. One very effective method of advertising was used by the two larger communities, Plain City and Hooper. Each of these places had a band and during afternoon of the evening their respective troop was scheduled to perform here, their band toured the settlement in much the same way, but considerably slower than advertising is carried on with a loud speaker today. This type of advertising, it is true, had good effect in bringing people out to the play, but at the same time had a bad effect in disrupting classwork in school. During the tour, the band invariably stopped in front of the school to render a selection or so which caused a scurry of curious pupils from seats to windows to get a glimpse of the band and maneuvers of its members while playing. -138- MR. AND MRS. HANS JENSEN'S ANNIVERSARY PARTY Celebration given by the Jensen Children and the Slaterville Residents invited. 1st Row: Ora Brown, Emily Olivia Jensen Brown, Mable Sophia Jensen, Rita Randal, Arthur Henry Jensen, Henry Jensen 2nd Row: James Alma Slater, Henry C. Holley, Stephen Perry, Mr & Mrs Hans Jensen, Sarah Knight, Ben Chadwick, Sarah Chadwick, __, Mrs. Casey 3rd Row: Aldoph Layman, Jim Hutchins, Jr., George Randall, Merlin Bartholomew, Karen Marie Jensen Randall, ___, Amanda Holley, , Bessie Allred Slater, , Annie Layman, Laura Perry, Mary Ann Bartholomew, Mattie Hutchins -139-