The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-03-14

lhC NohtliSht'
Pinafore," the comic opera, will soon be
presented by Streator talent at that city. The
proceeds will be given TO the Ladies' Aid So
ciety.
Donavan won the six-day roller skating con
test in New York city, last Saturday night.
He scored 1902 miles, resting but 20 hours
out of the IA. He was given $500 and dia-
mond pin valued at $3.50.
The night after his company left here, Rol-
land Reed opened in the Grand Opera House,
Chicago, producing for the first time his new
play, "Humbug." 1t is said to be a highly
amusing sketch and big drawing card.
The directors of the Mendoza skating acad-
envy elected the following officers: Max John,
pres; Oscar Lothrop, scc'y, and c. d. Ire
man, treas. Lots for the erection Of the rink
have been purchased and building will
soon begin.
Westbrook and Hacker will be at the rink
in about ten days. Hacker will be remem-
bored by the rink goers MS one of the fancy
and trick skaters who was here with Beattey
shortly after that place of amusement opened.
He gave the best of satisfaction and will draw
good house on his own merits.
Arthur l.. Ball gave an exhibition of trick
and fancy skating at the rink last Thursday
night, to small audience. His movements
are very rapid and his performance altogether
new and exceptionally fine. He claims to be
the champion roller skater of the United
States, and he had some elegant medals, two
of them being won in contests for this honor,
at Boston and Gloucester Mass. He says he
will skate any ore, in support of his assertion,
for 81 $50.
Streator Free Press: "Several of our prom
inent men are talking of opening driving
park, to be run ON first class principles. Five
thousand dollars will be required to start it
$500 to fix up the grounds in good shape
and the other half to be used as purse money.
If the money can be procured it will be
rushed through at once, and the men who
have undertaken It will push it for all it is
worth They have not decided on the loca-
ton, but it . expected that the old base ball
SlouuuS VII DC W use.
There are great many little folks who will
soon become expert skaters. 1t is a pleasure
to visit the rink Saturday forenoon and see
them whirling, circling, eddying along, with
their faces flushed by this strengthening,
muscle building exercise The following are
some of the little lads and lassies photo
graphed on the fly: Sidney Stiefel and Grace
Strawn; Freddie Scott and Tillie Degen A.:
Ralph Nickerscn and Beckie Yentzer; Johnnie
Porter and Prilla Hathaway; Roy Gedney and
George Holmes; Wallie Sanders and Fannie
Strawn; Charlie Schiller and Maud Hess /:
Earl Gregory and Louise Porter; Ralph Mayo
and Lucy Sanders; Josie Egan and Nina
Ford: Willie Chandler and Mamie Stiefel:
Judson Rowland and Jennie Gilman; Willie
Esterbrook and Carrie Formhalls; Bert Gil.
man and Carrie Teissedre.
1t is to be regretted that such very small
audience witnessed Roland Reed in his new
comedy Check" at the opera house Satur.
day night last. Certain it is that this night is
the very worst show night Of the week, but
even making generous allowance for this fact,
the gathering was unusually small. Roland
Reed, in his personation of "Dlck Smyth,"
the . cheeky" individual, made that charac
ter stand out in bold, ludcrous relief and his
Interpretation of the part was simply immense.
He is a born comedian and che doesn't care
who knows it," Miss Blanch Vaughn as
"Nell," who plays the girl of IL, does 1t well
and with hoydenish, risky simplicity.
Miss Alice Hastings, as "Mrs. Abel Racket"
a widow Of extended experience, creditably
performed the part OF the deceived, and de-
signing woman, with a cold, determined pur.
pose. Her support was one of the strong
parts of the play, with, possibly, Miss Annie
Mortimer, as "Jane Atwell, the woman who
rules her husband with rod of iron. The
rest of the company deserve no particular
mention.