Telegram-herald., 1888-03-25
MUSIC AND M|RIH
rHs FIRST BENEFIT or TIE slks
a brtliz~nt and csswasd Heoss-fns
E11sTszinHsnt-Ihe Decoration
Charity. Jastiess BKothsriy
Love sad fiasltg1.

u Il n
~ IDS Lodge No. As. Of the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Eiks for its eharitA-
bic fund As this Is the hrst Elks' oenent
ever given in this city. II is eminenily proper
that some explanation be given Of the why
and wherefore OF such benefits. IS unthink-
ing persons might urge that the Order has
no more reason for appearing before the
public as . beneficiary than any other secret
society. The Order Of Elks. as is now well
known, originated with the amusement
prefsssion-a profession which. for more
than a hundred years. has been called upon
more largely than any other class TO con-
tribute 70 the charities of the world. Actors
have played for sufferers from fire and
Hood fIOm famine and lever. for the poor
and unfortunate, for hospitals. and even
for churches. and countless charitable IN
stitution- but u Is only within the last
twenty years that there WAS within tne pro-
fessiOn an institution for the reiiet oil the
unfortunate ones within their own ranks.
The first OF the kind was the Il. Z. U. Elks.
which has of late years grown with sucn
surprising rspidity that il is today one OF
the most powerful secret orders in America.
There is something so broadly liberal, 50
tonderly human IN the ritual of this Order
OF Justice, Charity. Brotherly Love and I'll
deity that il strikes very near the heart Of
every manly man. and no matter how
many orders q person may owe alleg-
lance TO. he has always the warm
est affection for the spot where
the antlsrs spread, where Fidelity embraces
all that is true and good and beautiful IN
fbis life. Thus IL comes about that no
member of the amusement profession from
the highest 10 the lowest, whether a MEM
Der OF the order or not. was ever asked TO
play for the charitable fund of the order
that he or she refused. The benefits given
by the Elks in ali the large cities of the
country are the most elaborate entertain
ments Of the sesson-those who assist and
those who attend knowing full well that
the funds will be devoted 10 noble pur-
pose.
Grand Rapids and the members of the
order in this city have reason TO be proud
OF the entertainment given at Powers
Grand Opera House last Wednesday even
iBs- Never before was Michigan theatre
so magniticently decorated and never did
this city see larger or mare brilliant as
sembisge than that which gathered on
Wednesday evening. Manager Berger. who
donated his theatre for the entertainment
said emphatically that in his twenty years
experience AS a manager he had never seen
theatre more beautifully and appropri-
| ately dscked and decorated. Suspended
| below the center of the proscsnium arch
hung the great Ek's head of the lodge
antlers aud all, covered with immortelles
with two incaudescent lights Deaming from
the eyes, which looked down upon the vast
sssemblage. Festoons of evergreen twined
with bright flowers hang from the arches
everywhere, and IN the stage boxes. behind
banks OF roses, stood two large elk deer
amid olo9ming plants ana flowers. The
words indicating the carufuaf psssss flss of
| the order, Charity, Justice, Brotherly Love
and Fioslity," were most appropriately ar
ranged in red flowers facing the banks OF
| flowers, and ali through the auditorium
were hsugiay- baskets and trailing vines,
and at the rear OF the parquette flowed a
| fountain of perfume, Ilinging its arome
| wi thit OF the :fowers.
rne programme was a most elaborate one
| and the entertainment was perhaps far
| more successful from an artistic standpoint
| than any eyer given in the city. The cur
| tain rose on q brilliantly lighted stage set in
| most elaborate drawing room style, with
| costly furniture. exquisite rugs and lovely
| pictures. The nineteen amateur burnt cork
| fun-mAkers filed down through the centre
| door and the music and mirth of the even.
| ing soon had full sway. Brother John ID.
| Kromer's song, The Gum Tree Canoe, y
| was the first solo of the evening and, OF
course. being sweetly sung in his we'll
| known tenor voice received an encore.
Brother Wiilisra Morrison of the bone end
next created roars OF laughter with his
Duck Foot Sue" and after lot of funny
/ gags Mr.. Harms sang well the ballad 81 love
| the Sea-" Brother w. III. Boyns of the
tambo end stirred up the audience with an
/ original local song set to the old familiar air
TN de Morning by de Bright Light" and
| o. b. Nilmarth's song Anchored" was
greatly enjoyed. Brother G. T.. Schoisld,
frat on the bone end created i'm
mense enthusiasm with his Don't For
get Ny Golden Crown" and after
Brother Frank N. Deans pretty ballad
Brother Geo. +. Gouge first on the tanDo
end sang who's dat Calling" vith great
success Ii was half hour past 9o'clock
| when Brother h. w. Jones from the inter
locutsr chair announced the grand finale
| arranged by Brother Scoteld aud the cur
tain fell on the first part with tumultuous
| applause annoucings perfect success. The
| chorus was composed OF the following:
Brothers John A. Seymour. G. w. Black,
I. W Miller. James Campbell and Messrs.
| w. +. Hoyt. &. V. Gardner. julius Platte.
| Frank Platte and Henry J. Bennett.
| Brother Black received tremendous
4
risons back in getting il over the foosl ghts.
Brother r. A. Wellsnstein next had "a op-
portunity 10 SHOW OF what his largely aug
| mented 0rchestrs was capable aud be did
| IL 20 the satisfaction OF the audience IN a
veil chosen overture. The second part ol
the entertainment opened with q suryris
| ingly funny act by Brother Charles ID.
Almy. who appeared in bisck face With
white dacx suit aud talked OF 'volxpsk'
"dlberts" and various other funny thi8zs
! a. though be we're TO the manor born
| Erotber Amy quite covered hissslf with
glory and whenever he fees that ne IL tired
Of selling books and wiring tor Newspaper,
ne can drop them with the ss.ursnc.
tast toe sage .is yswni3z fol
bin. Brother Almv wss foskaw e
| by Psul g. Blsrssch, toe whistler, who's
| solo vss sncsred. Bro Gouxss orizins
5uriesa0s on Or Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde
vita ifs funny tricks and dissppssrsnoe'
made The ssdienc- lsuEh aprosriously
| Dr. lands vas inpersoustsd By Bro. y
! ". Toues sok Dr. Jekyil and Mr. Snids b,
Bro. Gougs. was disappeared into the ii
feFnsi regions smid cloud q fame an
| srnoks1 Ar. snd Mrs.. Schsfeids bsnit
! d1etFs ~hieh followed we're repes sdly en-
! sore1 and then the efca-strs rendered pleas
| isz seectsons v4iIe toe sssge ~s sein1
clesrsd for ne foaTts sct % Rose3sle.
-Rosegisle or he RE Bsii- il the pro
/ ducfion of Lester Wsllsck. BY ~hoaa it 90
! BisFes a. Intervals IN kis zhes.re ~ msn'
! years. No osheF sctoF. save sra sxcerC1 Al
/ Iswrencs B.rrett. ever nads q ssccess q i
| although msag, securinR toe r1ght sraEa 30
veteran conlss 80 - pieyit u bsve sftsg8pses
IL A sect sogss.e recsnf fsiiars vas "a
a. to krIiisat s11 ssn6sSnss yenaz scsor
| fsserh Hawogt1. no started orf esrir as
/ .azsssr ufeh Eeeetz sns uno r-fzriI
fsi - 20 sssss an tnaDFeseeao. The Dts'
i fo@eif . cne of TIE eateSf and pFstties