Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 39, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 18, 1980 Page: 11 of 22
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THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE WJNDAY MAY U^Mft^ACT U
Grace Holman
The greenbean trail
ENTERPRISE
V. H
Family
r
Section
m
mHE season is essen-
I tially over—the
• season of the green bean circuit
In some places it’s known as the.
English peas (or sweet peas) circuit.
It’s more commonly known as the ban-
quet.
b'
However, the word, banquet, is now
more a euphemism for the barbarism
Americans have foisted onto the
original idea of a banquet. A touch of
etymology is in order. Banquet is a
word borrowed from the French, a
diminutive meaning “table.”
Now, before we get underway with
this discussion, let me make one thing
perfectly clean (that’s the phrase, you
remember, Nixon always used when he
meant “enucleate.”). I am not speak-
ing of the scrumptious, homecooked
dinners to which I am invited, but of the
so-called banquets at...well, let’s not
get too personal.
A banquet is supposed to be an
elaborate meal or feast. Or so the dic-
tionary says. The word is also a verb,
meaning “to eat sumptuously.”
Somehow, I find nothing elaborate or
sumptuous about cold, unseasoned
green beans. (Inflation hasn’t heart this
apportionment-there are always
enough green beans on one plate to sink
the Bismarck.-“They may not be good,
but there are plenty....”)
There’s nothing sumptuous about an
undercooked “baked” potato, either.
Nowadays they are baked sans the
customary Reynolds Wrap.
(Sometimes, baked potatos are fully
overcooked.) The potato is thoughtfully
sliced in half by the kitchen help so that
it becomes as dry as that proverbial
bone.
It was a serving of banquet tea that
prompted Matthew Arnold to com-
ment: “The insipid and depressing
beverage...tea.” There’s nothing in-
sipid and depressing about a well-
brewed, clear glass of tea. Don
Meredith and Sir Thomas J. Lipton are
right. Nothing is more refreshing, in-
vigorating than tea.
(I would tell you that prior to 1890 tea
sold in America was sold from large
chests. Each merchant blended his own
teas, with quality therefore inconsis-
tent. In 1890, Sir Lipton decided
Americans would like a reasonably
priced tea which they knew would have
consistent flavor each time. Sir Lipton
blended his teas and then packed them
in pounds, half-pounds and quarter-
pounds.
Now, I’ve probably just written
myself out of an invitation to anything
called a banquet in any place in Polk
County...
But that’s a digression. It would also
be a digression to tell you one legend of
the origin of tea: The first man to drink
tea was the Emperor Shen-Nung who
ruled China about 2737 B.C. A great
believer in sanitary measures, he boil-
ed all of his drinking water and tried to
teach his subjects to do likewise. One
day a few leaves from a nearby tree fell
into the boiling water.
A wonderful and invigorating aroma
so intrigued the Emperor that he tasted
the bfew. Delighted with his discovery,
the brew soon became the favorite
beverage of the court. The leaves, as
you’ve guessed, were tea leaves, from
the wild tea plant.)
But back to the banquet hall. Banquet
teas are, well, insipid and depressing,
to say the least.
In addition to the baked potato,
there’s usually a tossed salad. The chef
should have tossed farther, and tossed
it out. Most apparently were tossed the
night before. It takes time for lettuce to
wilt to resemble papyrus.
Incidentally, in case you’ve forgot-
ten, the green beans-baked potato duo
was once the English (or sweet) peas-
mashed potato duo. That combo, one
wag at the time it was popular, was us-
ed because “you can mix the peas with
the potatoes and not have to worry
about them rolling off your fork.” It
also meant you didn’t have to use a
spoon for the elusive peas, he added.
The entree...what can be said, except
that not all of this country’s soybean,
protein products, made to mimic
anything, make their way to the Third
World nations. A large portion (oops, an
unintended pun) makes it way to the
American banquet table.
To be fair, though, it must be
reported that occasionally the “real
McCoy” appears on the banquet plate.
Recently, it was a couple of slices of,
the menu said, roast beef. It’s a quick
way to discover what cowboys liked-or
didn’t iike-about beef jerky. (One wag,
however, commented to a complainant,
“It’s not the meat...it’s because you’re
approaching 40...”)
The typical banquet table has no con-
diments, aside from the usual sdlt and
pepper. From the vapid taste of
everything, there were no condiments
in the kitchen either.
As for breads, they are always
available. But, to borow an analagy
from another, it’s "like eating wasps
nests.” I can’t really attest to that taste
comparison, since I’Ve not eaten a
wasps’ nest, but you get the idea of the
quality of a banquet biscuit.
Don’t forget today is Texas Museum
Day. But you didn’t forget; you
remembered from my recent col-
umn...and you’ve never missed a word
in the Texas Heritage Council Newslet-
ter, in which the recognition day has
been promoted. It’s both an interna-
tional and national observance, and
Polk County Memorial Museum is one
of Texas’ 400 entities participating. So,
visit vour museum this week.
Review
% 1 I f B
Band sets spaghetti supper
LIVINGSTON-The bands
of Livingston schools will
present a concert and
spaghetti supper May 22,
with the serving hours from
5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by
the concert at 8 p.m.
“This involves all bands in
Livingston and will be an an-
nual event,” said David
Frasier, band director.
The prices are $2.50 for
adults; $1.75 for students 6th
through 12th grades; and $1
for 5th graders and under.
The menu includes
spaghetti with homemade
spaghetti sauce, tossed salad
and homemade pies.
The supper is a major
fund-raising project for
various activities of all
bands, Frasier said.
It's Coming May 30th...
Watch for it in the Enterprise!
T 8=311
FHMIILY
ART & FRAMES
INC. .
By GRACE HOLMAN
LIVINGSTON-The Liv-
ingston High School Choral
Music Department is presen-
ting a lively version of Kern
and Hammerstein II’s
“Showboat” through Tues-
day night in the Florence
Crosby Auditorium of Liv-
ingston High School, with
showtime at 7:30 each night.
Opening night was Friday,
with a show also given Satur-
day.
The play is about the lives-
-and loves-of the troupe of
the Cotton Blossom, a
showboat which plied the
Mississippi in earlier days.
The opening steam whistle
sets the mood; the set is im-
pressive.
The chief romance is that
of Magnolia, (Michelle Bran-
non) Capt. Andy Hawks'
daughter, and Gaylord
Ravenal. She’s the coy co-
quette; he’s the handsome
river gambler. Her father
encourages the marriage;
her mother faints at the
thought her daughter is to
marry “a murderer.” They
have their ups and downs,
mostly downs, with an er-
ratic income. Their
daughter, Kim, is in a con-
vent. Ravenal’s visit to Kim,
when he leaves Magnolia, is
perhaps the most touching,
poignant scene, with Eddie
Brown carrying the scene
well.
The captain, I^tnce Craig,
begins the play without con-
veying full feeling for the
part; one envisions a river-
boat captain with more
fbrcefullncss. But
Warms to the part,
the time he's seen t______
hair gray, the gold braid of
his navy captain’s uniform
askew most of the time, he’s
fully the somewhat salty
river captain. An outstan-
ding performance is his tell-
ing the audience-on the
showboat-how the play ends
when the villian of the
subplay loses all semblance
of the villian when two real
ones brandish their guns
from the audience.
All the characters age-
Kim becomes a young
woman herself, a debonair
flapper, before the play
ends. All but Ravenal, that
is. Did he truly not age, or
was it an oversight on the
part of the makeup artist?
Showboat is a soap opera
of the highest caliber-with
affairs, desertions and
marital bickering. The last
is from both the captain and
his wife, Parthy; and from,
♦hey finally marry, the com-
~uy team of “Schultz and
Schultz,” acted splendidly
by John Jaeger and Gay
Lynn Cooley. (Ellie is double
cast, with Lona Ogletree.)
Parthy’s role is also dou-
ble cast, with Jami Lumpkin
playing the opening night.
Jamie Duncan is the second
Parthy.
Overall the production
deserves applause. On occa-
sion funnier lines, deserving
of applause and or laughter,
failed to engender either
because they are not heard-
they came through in the
rehearsal.
The opening music is
somewhat lengthly...but
does allow time for the
latecomers to arrive before
the curtain goes up. Those
who draw plans for
auditoriums should also plan
for an orchestra pit-that
necessary light for reading
music is distractive.
Showboat has given
favorites-“01’ Man River,”
“Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat
Man,” “Only Make
Believe.” Of the three, “01’
Man River” lacks the verve
its rendition usually brings.
The show hurries along-
except for between scenes
changes, difficult and a bit
lenghtly because of the
heavyness of the sets.
Youngsters in the audience
readily expressed their
displeasure at the delays.
Showboat is worth your
time; take it in tomorrow or
Tuesday night. It’s less ex-
pensive than a night at the
movies.
But don’t count on a
Greenroom gathering
afterward-only Tom Myers’
recognition of helpers.
V
THE DIRECTORS
Dialogue-..........—Mrs. Jan Rickie
Music——Mr. Richard T. Myers
Costumes—........Mrs. Jan Ogletree
Stage Setting Design-Mr. Jerry Marsh
Stage Art Design—Mr. Jerry Marsh
Art—......•••••••Mrs. Shirley Anilin
Set Construction»»*»»Mr. Ben Royden
Ogletree
Cbareography*««Mrs. Deanna Gibson
.................Mrs. Terry Miller
Lighting.............Kay Nan Cooley
••••*•.............•••Mr. Hugh Craig
Wayne Overstreet
Dr. Woody Reese
Stage Manager........Clark Ogletree
Accompanist.......Mrs. Ruth Jordan
...................-Gregory Maze
Rehearsal AccoiupanistGregory Maze
..........•♦••••••Debbie Parrish
Props*—•—••••••••••Deena Adams
•••Ronnie Babcock
•••••James Benton
•—•—••••••••.•••Debbie Parrish
Programs*—.........Jodel Hopkins
Program Cover Design—Mrs. Shirley
Program Pbotography.Jami Lumpkin
Curtain*——•••••••••Kay Nan Cooley
——•*••••••........Sherry Holmes
Student Director—Jannette Holden
Make-up——••••••••Mrs. Ruth Bass
■•••Richard Farrar
■••••Karen Kimbro
SKIJ.THK CHAKTSTOVK
The (tarsi handcrafted unnd/cnal
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Iron doors, quality eoustriielion. III.
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models in four sizes, lieal mi1, op in
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'pstruttal The» HAFTSTt tVH is now
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lender moupany promotion ami
dtstrtbutue/dealrr partiripntion
lira) directly with Tyler. Texas
■iMaufaitnni. For full infnriiuitioti
contort.'
RICK BROWN
NATIONAL
STEELCRAFTKHS
OF TEXAS
)M W. Sixth Street.
Tyler, Tx. 75701
yp§
From The
Announcement
To The
Alter
We will take care of your
engagement announcement
for the newspaper, take can-
did photos of wedding
preparations, and make pro-
fessional photographs you
will treasure a lifetime.
RESERVE YOUR
DATE NOW!
Vision
Photography
327-5586
327 4357
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First United Methodist Church
i ,s
Of Livingston
302 Church Street
■ “ .» §■.
May 18, 1980
You ara cordially invited to worahip with ua
Church School for ail Age*................................. ...........9:46 A.M. ,
Two Morning Services of Worship.................................8:46 A.M. j
end 11:00 A.M.
„ " ........ 6:00 P.M.
Evening Worship...................
J-.r ■ V?
. J
This Sunday After Church Services
The Church Family & friends will meet at City Park from Noon until three
o’clock p.m. for fun, food and Christian Fellowship. IN CASE OF RAIN, members
are asked to meet in the Church Fellowship Hall.
Bring your picnic basket and children and join us! Mr. & Mrs. Vernon Norman
will provide fiddle & guitar music for lis again! Bring your lawn chairs or blankets
and wear your comfortable clothes to church.
Rev. Mark Lewis, Minister
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 39, Ed. 1 Sunday, May 18, 1980, newspaper, May 18, 1980; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth781744/m1/11/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.