Morning journal and courier., 1884-05-16
Memorial Entertainment.

Fine Programme Well Carried
Out At Peck's Opera HOuse-The Old /
War Songs and Other Attractive Fea-
tures-DelfghtfuI Entsrta1nment
The fund for Memorial day received very
substantial addition by the entertainment at
Peck's Grand Opera House last evening. The
house was well filed, and the audience was
evidently much pleased with the entertain
nent, If continued and prolonged outbursts of
applause count for anything. Indeed, the
programme was prolonged beyond its proper
length by the repeated demands made upon
the performers for repetitions.
When the curtain rose mass of youthful
masculine humanity was disclosed rising from
the stage on an incline to the region of the
border curtains. This living mass presently
gave forth exceedingly harmonious and famil-
lar strains of music. 1t proved on closer in
spection to be about one hundred boys from
the public schools, and Professor B. Jepson
gracefully waved the baton that guided the
young singers in unison. Their first piece
| was ''Keep the Camp Fires Burning Bright"
and the solo was acceptably rendered by DR..
G. NJ. Bush. Harry Earle accompanied on
the piano. The next exercise was singing by
| the ''B'' quartette. consisting of G. M.
Bush, P. W. Bush. E. G. Bennett and F. r.
| Langdale. They rendered the 'Bugle Song"
| by Hatton, and were loudly applauded. The
appearance of William Williams, or "BilIy
| Williams as he is more Familiarity known, was
the signal for great applause. Mr.. Williams,
as one of the regular members of
| the American Theater company,
has attained popularity here, and his
| clever songs and dances last evening
! were done in his best style. He was encored.
| The ''Old Army Blanket written by Com
| rade Hiram Peck was then sung by Comrade
S. S. Thompson and the chorus of boys, and
was received with unmistakable marks of
approval. A bandonian solo from stIl Trova-
| tore" by L M. Soltan was the next exercise
upon the programme. Mr.. Soltan has at
| tanned remarkable skill in the handling of
that instrument and his solos afforded the
audience great pleasure. An object in white
linen coat, dark trousers patched with yellow,
| low cut vest, black stock and Wild Bill sort
of wig, that waited itself upon the stage,
proved to be Press Eldridge, the popular
manager of the American Theater. Press was
| in his happiest vein of humor, and several of
the audience laughed so hard at his witticisms
that they had to be carried out. His rendering
of s'Doodle-de-doo" brought down the house.
He was repeatedly encored. After music by
the orchestra Little Tot, who down on
| the bills as the smallest singer in the world
| and who is playing an engagement at the
American this week, rendered several pretty
songs with great cleverness. The little lady
was graceful in her movements and possesses
musical voice. She was given two encores
and received a handsome bouquet of flowers.
Mr.. P W. Bush, assisted by the boys chorus,
sang when This Cruel War is Over and
the Sassacus Drum corps played Marching
Through Georgia" with vigor and precision.
One of the brightest features of the evening
YES the performance by Misses Dottie Jones
and Sadie Converse. These little ladies APP
peRred dressed in pretty Highland costumes
and danced Highland fling This ever pop
| ular dance was executed exceedingly well by
the little ladies and they well deserved the
flowers and the encore they received A fine
piccolo solo by Fred Guilford was followed by
the Zouave drill by members of the Light
Guard under Captain LOOMS. They az
peared in their pretty uniforms and went
through the drill with celebrity and grace
The succeeding numbers on the programme
| were Babylon is Fallen" by James II. Xiv
| Ian in character, and the boys chorus;
Comrades in Arms" by the ''B' quartette,
and s'The Star Spangled Banner" by Miss
Nora Russell in character, boys chorus and
the Second Regiment band. The last was
one of the finest features of the evening.
Altogether the entertainment reflects great
credit on the members of the Grand Army of
the Republic who planned it. Mention
should also be made of the very prominent
| and acceptable part taken by the chorus of
boys under Professor Jspson.
Death of Another OF the Old Packet Cap
tafnS.
Capt. George Lafield, of North Bridge
port, died yesterday, aged about 70. He was
formerly for years captain of packet for
freight and passengers running between
Bridgeport and New York before the days of
railroads and steamboats,. He was much re