Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-20
EII1s Beneft.


It would be difficult. outside of a dis
eliminating criticism in detail, to do full
justice to the second annual benefit en-
tertainment of the Dallas lodge or the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,
given last night at the Da Has opera
house. Public interest in the event was
manifested by a crowded house, every
seat not only being taken but the stand
iug-room fully occupied by those unable
either to secure seats or camp-stOols.
The audience embraced the wealth, the
culture, the intelligence and the beauty
of the city, and was warmly appreciative
of the fine entertainment given, the pro-
gramme of which was arranged with q
view to affording two hours of chaste
and pleasurable amusement. Those who
took part were, with only a few excep-
items, members OF the order, and it
was quite a surprise to the audi
ence TO discover that so much
first-class minstrel talent is to be found
in the business off ces and behind the
counters Of Dallas, and that those who
achieved the chief successes of the even
ing, and made the hits that called forth
the greatest applause, are among the
most modest, quiet and unobtrusive Cit
liens and members of society.
The first part of the entertainment
consisted of minstrel performance by
the Elks MINISTRIES, with Joe Mills, Leon
Vendig, James HaZlett and Fred Deub-
Ter as "Tsmbos, - and Thos. Kelley,
Tom Matthews, A. L. Hodge and Sam
Stevenson as "Bones - Mills, Vendlg
Kelley and Matthews all caught the
crowd with their admirably rendered
So3
Listen to My Tale of VICE. into which
he injected several verses with local
application, was greeted with round after
round of applause
Joe Mills, who as manager, engineered
the performance through all Its prepar-
Rtory stages, and to whom its success
was largely due, wss inimitable in
everything he undertook. HIS songs,
his dances, his wit and his artistic work,
revealed the trained minstrel and made
him the favorite of the evening. He
was encored again and again, and il
was while returning TO the front of the
stage in response to a long continued
demonstration on the part of the audi
ence that he was confronted by Mr..
W. K. Wheelock, the exalted ruler OF
the Dallas lodge, who, IN the name of
his fellow Elks, presented Mr.. Mills
of a gold Elk IS head with diamond set
tings around the base of the horns. Mr..
Mills, taken by surprise, could scarcely
find works to reply to Mr.. Wheelock' IS
neat presentation address, but he
did return his thanks in a manner
that showed he felt every word he said.
He concluded his short speech by re-
marking: 81 will put your beautiful
gift IN my pocket and go on with the next
gong - which he did without a trace of
the embarrassment he felt in endeavoring
TO return thanks for the gift of his brother
Elks.
Thomas Kelly, next to Mr.. Mills, ac-
Quilted himself in a manner that showed
him TO be no amateur. His singing of
"Raise the Roof Tonight" was greeted
with applause that well nigh raised the
roof of the opera house. He was sig
nally happy in his old man specialties
and bis plantation dances.
The triple horizontal bar performance
Of the Patterson brothers was viewed by
the audience with wonder and astonish-
ment, and the verdict OF all was that
they are justly entitled to the distinction
Of champions in that line.
The baritone solo, Out on the Deem. -
by J. B. Stewart; the bass solo, ''Wnl
o the Wisp, - by J. G. Cole, and the
ouartette selections by Messrs. Cole.