Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-16
A SUPERB EVENT.
Such was the Elks' Beneft-The Calef Enter
tafnment-The Banquet-The Speeches.
The Convivia lily.


The benefit which Miss Jennie Calef
rendered the Elks of this city last night
proved brilliant success. The opera
house was crowded with a select
audience, in which the ladies were
in the majority. Pronounced spring
costumes we're thiokly sown through the
house, and more pretty faces than usual
adorned them. Miss Calef's excellent
company gave the american
Princess, - play Of wild frontier life
lin the California gold mountains, in
which Miss Calef appeared as the
princess. The story, is one of noble birth
/ and nobility of heart disguised in IN
trained, frontier roughness, and Miss
Calf brings out the part in the usual
ways, but with touches of originality
mingled with them. She was encored
again and again in her songs and NEEDLES,
but perhaps the most artistic thing she
did last night was her whistling, which
had the merit of being unique and pleas
ing. Among the rest Of the company the
best mention belongs to Andrew Wal
dron, who as Dennis O'Shaunessy or the
typicar 1rishman, was one of the leading
features of the performance.
A part of the entertainment which was
not down on the programme was enacted
during the tableaux at the end of the
third act. AS Miss Calef was just about
to vanish in the left wing she was
dextrously headed off by Henry Furman,
who on behalf of the Elks of this city, in
an eloquent speech, presented the
star Of the evening with a testi-
monial Of their appreciation of her
Kindness in giving the benefit. 1t was a
cluster of violet leaves set with dia-
monds and made in the shape of lace
pin. Along with it was a gold badge
bearing the names of the star, the EIks
and the occasion of its presentation.
Miss Calef made graceful reply, stating
that her heart and tongue were running
q race and her heart had won. She also
said that in her travels through Texas
she had received a priceless necklace of
gems on which she would now string one
more, namely, b. p. o. e. 1914. And
the play went on.
After the benefit gwen by Miss Jennie
Calef and her com pany at the opera
house the Elks gave them a testimonial
banquet in the dining rooms of the Ellis,
and despite the rain that fell in torrents
outside everything within was light
and brilliancy and beauty. IMAM
innate things had taken on an appear ;
ance of good will. Even the tables had
shaped themselves into an immense
horseshoe, that encircled the spacious
dining-room, and silently babe the msr-
ry throngs good luck. Within the larger
horseshoe was a smaller one, and around
the outer side Of the larger one,
and the inner side OF the
smaller one, the guests and Elks
were seated. The dining room and cir
cling tables were decorated tastefully
with palms and evergreens, while
Towering plants were placed around in
artistic profusion. The brilliant lights
and revolving fans all tended to give the
banquet room an air of oriental luxury.
As soon as the curtain had fallen on
the closing scene in the Princess the Ellis
dining room began to fill up, and it took
but few moments to fill most of the
seats. Miss Calef's company only de-
layed to dress for the banquet, and then
the Joy began to be unconined. Mayor
Pendleton sat at the head of the table as
master of ceremonies, and at his right
sat the honored guest, Miss Jennie
Calef. The rest of the company
were being entertained and were enter |
tanning members of the Elks along The
tables. The'banquet itself was put on in |
elegant taste, but the guests seemed to |
be paying more attention to each other |
than to the menu. Miss, Maude Peters |
favored the company with a few |
vocal selections and quite won the |
admiration of those who were not |
with the beauty and finish |
of her voice. In her first selection she was |
by Messrs. Shorb, Day, |
and Washer, and in the sec
ond by Professor Hall on the piano. She |
to the hearty encore. T. j.
Powell responded to the toast ''The |
Ladies, - and n. NJ. Furman to 'Secret |
Societies. - Mr.. N. Nj. Washer sang |
Tennyson IS exquisite '.Break, Break on |
Thy Cold Gray Stones, o SeaI'' and |
Messrs. Shorb and Bayerhoffer sang I
Excelsior - The programme was closed !
with quartette of male voices in ''The !
Soldiers Farewell. -
At a late hour the >banquetters left the
hall, and the hackmen reaped harvest
In the pouring rain. But it vas pleas
ant entertainment, and Miss Calef ands
her benefit will be remembered.