Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-28

sociation was time and again agltated;
constitution similar to that of the present
order was drawn up and submitted, but be-
fore definite steps could be taken toward
official organization death and business de-
mands broke up the party and prevented
further action. What must be considered
the first charity fund of the Elks was called
forth by the following pathetic circum-
stances:
One of the party, a master stage mechanic,
whose name 1 am unable to give in this con-
nection, failed to appear at the meetings Tor
several nights. He was one of the most
genial, merry, whole-souled fellows of the
lot, and his presence was sadly missed.
Finally, on the suggestion that some acci-
dent might have happened, committee OF
two was appointed to go to his home and in
vestigate Imagine their surprise and griet
to find him sitting beside the dead bodies of
his wife and child, both of whom had died
that afternoon of pneumonia. AS he beheld
his friends he rose to his feet, and, with the
exclamation, "My God. boys, this is too
bad, he, strong man as he was, fell sobbing
upon their shoulders.
This was too much for the others, and for
u few moments the three men stood in the
center of the room and cried like children.
Slowly the bereaved husband and father
quieted down, and while one of the friends
went TO the undertaker's the other hastened
back to the saloon with mis- sad news.
AS he described the scene there was not a
dry eye in the party, and when, without a
word, Charlie Thorne arose, and taking
his hat. passed from one to the other, pocket
books lCere enlptied. No one took account
of what they gave; it was all they had.
THE FIRST ELK FUNERAL.
Never shall forget the funeral, of which
the Elks took full charge-it was the best
that money could provide. The caskets
were buried amid a profusion of flowers,
tributes of lore and respect. With the
child was buried a wax doll. to which she
was greatly attached, and which had been
dressed in mourning by Jack Studley.
Many of the participants are now dead, and
the above incident, by the others, partially
forgotten, but there is a sad-iaced man in a
New York theater to whose eyes the tears
will come unbidden if you mention the first
funeral of the original Elks.
Everybody in the East knew Edwin
Byron, or "Teddy," as he was generally
called.
No Young man ever had a more promis-
ing start in the profession than he. OF an
excellent family, possessing rare talents,
marvellous memory and exceptional MINI
etic power the future seemed to hold forth
the brightest prospects, yet he became a
drunkard, deliberately cast aside his future,
and in spite of the effort of his friends, he
descended lower and lower, until, finally
cast off by his family, he gave full scope to
the accursed appetite, and eventually died
of delirium in city hospital
MAN OF NERVE.
His confidence, or nerve, was simply as
tonishing. There was absolutely nothing
that he would not do. The man did not
live that he dared not approach. He was
the beau ldeal of the ladies' man-courte-
Gus, witty and possessed of a certain nom
chalant coolness that our women so much
admire.
Near the close OF his career he organized
a company to tour the New England cir
cult presenting the Celebrated Case and
the 1.-Two Orphans"-plays requiring not
only special scenery, but the most elaborate
costuming, neither of which the company
possessed. Business was bad enough at first,
but it seemed to get worse continually. Bit
by bit the baggage disappeared to satisfy
hotel claims, until after about fve-weeks'
trip, the company found themselves in a
small town in New Hampshire, without a
dollar or a particle of baggage. In this di-
lemma the Byron nerve came to the rescue.
Seeking the Chairman of the Selectmen of
the town, whom he found working in his
garden, be, in the most pathetic manner
possible, presented him with an application
to put bis entire company, consisting of 13
people, in the county poorhouse.
AN AsToNIsHED OFFICIAL.
This request, to quote its author, "para-
lived" the official; he dropped his hoe, and
after calling for an hours delay, kurriedly
departed to consult the remzining members
of the board.
With q smile Byron returned to the hotel.
told the landlord funny story, stood him
of" for drink, and in his perfect faith in
the success of his scheme. wrote letter to a
Boston friend, stating his early return to