The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-05-27

On last Friday evening Miss Mae Blanchard
entertained the young people of the city to the
number of 80 or more, including Miss Carrie
Clark and Mr.. Gilbert, of Aurora who received
the guests with her. There was dancing and
elegant refreshments. Society events of this
kind have been so few this season that when they
do happen they are greatly enjoyed; but this re-
ceptlon was more than usually pleasant, and all
present were delighted with the evening.
On Friday evening the High School pupils
gave very pretty entertainment at Turn Hall,
consisting of songs, recitations, pantomime,
and an operetta, THE Musical Enthusiast" The
entertainment was decided success in all par
ticulars.
The Broom Drill, given ut the Armory, under
the auspices of the Young Ladies' Reading Room
Society, on last Monday evening, was great
success. The attendance was very large, entire
ly filling the large hall, and still leaving room for
the drilling. The Brigade consisted Of Julia
Bushnell, Annie hathaway, Eva Makeel, Hattie
Jekyll, Susie BUSHNELL Sarah Fiske, Maggie
Stout, Mae StormOnt, Louise Rathbun, Birdie
Hapeman, Nellie Smith, Jessie Porter; and were
dressed in dark dresses, with pretty caps and
aprons of white. Co. D drilled WELL as they al
ways do; but the proficiency of the young ladies
surprised everybody, drilling with the utmost
precision both in the tactics and in the manual,
and marching superby. No orders were spoken,
all changes in the evolutions being indicated by
Captain Blanchard by whistle. The judges
promptly awarded the prize to the ladies-a
banner, blue silk ground, with musket and
broom crossed, and cap above and dust-pan be-
MEATH and on the reverse the initials ~. N. g."
above the company monogram, drawn by Mr.
Furness and embroidered by Miss Bushnell.
Miss Hattie Jekyll received the prize on behalf
of the Brigade, and in a very clever manner pre-
sented it to Capt. Blanchard as memento OF the
occasion; which being finished, Miss Susie Bush
nell proceeded to surprise the Captain by pre-
sentng him with a handsome album containing
the photos Of the Brigade, compromising him in
a very happy yfor the many weeks OF labor on
his part to bring the Brigade to so high state
of perfection in drill Capt. Blanchard followed
IN appropriate terms, when the floor was cleared
for roller skating. Later on Mr.. l.. Perkins
called a halt In the proceedings, and thereupon
proceeded to auction off the brooms, all of which
brought prices varying from s1.25 to $500 each.
Fitzgerald's Band then resumed the music and
the skaters their rolling, which continued until
a late hour. The Young Ladies netted some
thing in the neighborhood of s75, besides furn-
ishing most pleasant evening.
Jane Coombs and company gave Romeo and
Juliet" on last Saturday evening, with Miss
Coombs as Juliet. The audience was very small.
Fact is Miss Coombs can not expect to draw in
Ottawa in such n character She doesn't look
the part (who ever heard of Juliet weighing
2OO-fair fat and fly, and she can't act it. She
would have done much better in "Pique" or "En-
gagged" Her company, too, was 80 small as to
require great deal of doubling, making alto
gether very unsatisfactory performance.
On Tuesday night Robt. McWade appeared as
Rip Van Winkle, to small audience. McWade
is ENJOYABLE enough himself, though he can
hardly be said to have improved since his last
visit here; but his company IS as poor as ever.
With a support of some pretenslons to talent
McWade's rip" could be made a very fine
entertainment
To-day we have the Sells Bros. Circus. Having
been extensively advertised already, nothing
more need be said