Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-17

AAS vic ihpiics Que OF tue mos
unique ard refined entertainments tina,
has ever been given In Rock Island. |,
was an exceedingly large and very
naturally appreciative audience which en-
loyed the presentation of this fancifu
yet beautiful presentation under the
auspices If the ladies of St. Lukes Hos.
pital Guild at Harper's theatre last even.
ing. 1t was production toward the en-
tire success of which the ladies hao
worked faithfully and zealously for many
weeks, and we'll were their effort.
crowned, both in the admirable presenta-
ton and the manner in which the public
attended IL. To Mrs. Gen. VIM. Hoff-
man. who acted as stage manager and
who has ven the affair so much special
attention. too much praise cannot be
bestowed, and that the event was VIVA,
1t proved 10 be in every way should be a
source of personal pride to her, as 1t is one
OF qualification to every member of
the guild.
When the curtain rose at $50 o'clock
1t revealed one of the prettiest as we'll as
one OF the most gorgeous stage settings
imaginable. The most effective scene
represented the interior of the palace of
the Goddess of Fame, the walls being or.
namented with hangings of silk. while
above the throne of the goddess hung a
superb car opy. and in a most graceful
and strikirg manner were arrayed a col,
lection OF the richest robes, furs, cush-
ions and Oriental rugs.
At the opening. the Goddess of
Fame" in the person of Miss Rather inc
Deere. app esred surrounded by her pages,
and In mo st effective manner announced
her determination to call about her all the
women of he world who had gained dis
tinction in history, art, science, song or
story, that they might compete. and each
In her prese put forth her claims
to the crown as the Queen of Fame +"
Miss Deere wore costume of VIII lite
cashmere, with Grecian border of gold
and was attended on either side of her
throne by Oscar Schmidt and Fay Har-
per, her pages. Both were dressed in
white satin with flaxen wigs and the en-
trance Of tie various representations was
heralded by Master Harper as trumpeter,
while Master Schmidt announced the
title of the character.
"Qusen Elizabeth" of England, was
the first to appear in the person of Mrs.
Chas. A. Steel, her costume being a bro.
csded petticost with court train and ROYAL
robe of sapphire blue trimmed with ermine
Her maids CT honor were Misses Amelia
Huber and Eva Burgh, who were prettily
dressed in the costume of the period.
The fair queen laid claim to the crown to
the advance ment of art and literature
under her reign and to the promotion OF
which she had devoted life time.
Ruth" The cleaner, was next an,
nounced. and the impersonation Of Miss
Genevieve Thompson was one of touch-
ing beauty and simplicity. She sought
the crown as reward for her devotion to
Naoma ano to her peope and spoke
those tender words of scripture: "Entreat
me not to leave thee" Her costume was
white nuns yelling and she carried q
sheaf of oats.
Florence Nightingale" the famous
Crimean nurse. laid claim to the crown
on the ground of her services to humanity
in attending the sick and unfortunate,
the sufferers from war or pestilence, and
in this connection Mrs. Geo. Frysinger,
who 6ttlngy impersonsted the lovely
woman, clad in a grey dress and the
nurses cap. made q most opportune plea
for the hospital in the following Ian.
guage:
/ appear before you at this time, with
a plea for hospitals, as they are found
through the length and breadth of oul
handsome, richly endowed. by requests
of noble men and women, whose benif-
cence has made their names immortal
some, insigt ificant as to size, but with
the blessing of esrth's afflicted ones as
their dover of such Is our own St
Luke's, for the benefit of which we are
met here tonight.
| ask you to remem Der this institution
not only on occasions such as this. bu,
remember IL daily; remember its needs
remember 1t in your prayers; remember il
in your pock and the blessing of those
whose sufferings are relieved by your
bounty will be your reward. As one
whose life has been spent in the work OF
caring for tie sick, as Florence Nightin.
gale, / appeal to you TO uphold the hands
of those who bear the burden Of admin
ister1ng the affairs of this charity.
Citizens Of Rock Island and Moline
this hospital is yours; with you will res
the disgrace Of Its failure, or the honor O.
its success.
Now came Cleopatra" and the Egyp
tisn Queen vas q princess of beauty In
the person IF Miss Grace Champion
whose costume was brocaded gauze de.
colette with ewel ornaments and whose
delineation was very artistic. Sh'
sought the crown by reason of her rulinl
all men by her charms. She was at
tended by Master Fred Jones as her slave
and after advancing her claims she re
clined upon An oriental divsn beneath
canopy Of flowers.
"Topsy." the famous creation of Har
riet Beecher Stoves novel, was an ad
mirable character in the hands of Mis-
Emma Battles. whose make up as well a
her dialect would have done ample credi