Evening journal., 1890-12-11
SWEET CHARlTY'S SAKE
"KlRMEss" HAS COMPLETED JUST
HALF ITS WEEK.

OF the Voting Contest - Butterflies
Ahead.
The Kirmess completed Just bali Of its
week last night. Interest has been so
excited in this beautiful festive enter
tainment that the attendance continues
large, and the prospects are that the
performers will face full houses for
the second and last half Of the week
| Many persons saw the matinee yesterday
afternoon, and the Merrie Duchess,
Breton, Follies and Sweet Brier dances
received warmly expressed appreciation,
1t was little earlier last night than
on the other evenings when the rising
curtain opened the door to the enjoy
ment of the tab.eRu Charles VI Curtis.
the wonderfully successful impersonator
of the court jester sw6yed with the
| impulses Of the theme as he led the
grand march. His many colored SOS.
tune was ever distinct as the line
advanced, whether the background to
his figure was the Venetian or the But
, terhles. He was always in place. In
stead Of forming a double line facing the
| audience, the dancers formed line
reaching from the front Of the stage to
the rear. This was the only change
The Venetian dance opened that por-
tion of the program. Miss Kate Taggart
was in good voice and the strong support
the chorus gave her was approved by the
| audience. This dance has the best
singers and easily carries off the honors
for vocal power.
The cute Butterflies were as charming
as before, aud tempt one to use an old,
but forcible illustration which applies
precisely. The young women in this
dance deserve all the applause they re-
ceive, for they are not only good dancers.
but they are as bright and as beautiful as
the most gorgeous butterfly.
Much clapping of hands greeted the
Folly dancers, whose reputation had gone
before them. Their pretty faces and the
| tast efulness Of their costumes won them
admiration and esimuch applause as their
easy dancing Of the difficult step. That
step, by the way, is similar to that of the
French Maids which made such a hit
last year.
For color, nothing excals the Russian
dance. The costumes worn in It are the
most beautiful used in any Of the dances.
Martial music and tread do not please
the airy spectator, but it gives much
| pleasure to the average person. Mr.,
Walterss solo was sung with effective
ness. The chorus singing was fair.
These dances make An animated scene
on the large stage. A peep behind the
scenes for a few moments might be
interesting The Butterflies have fin
ished their dance and the Russians in the
audience have to come upon the stage to
prepare for their entrance, which follows
the Follies, who are now dslis hting the
audience. Talking in low tones the par
Elephants in this dance from the country
of Cars explain to each other that such
step follows such pause, aud that the
whole line moves back at the next motion,
and so on During this conversation
the leader Of the party on this
side OF the stage is counting his
couples One or two are missing Three
| times he counts and is relieved when one
Of the young men says: Were all
here" The same gallant Russian turns
his fur hat around. either for luck or be
cause he had it on the wrong way Mr.
Ryan also takes the opportunity to draw
his head piece little more to one side.
and gives it that angle which throws q
| jaunty air and is relief to the squarely-
set hats Of his compatriots.
All this time the Folly dance is taking
the attention of the spectators One by
one the fair dancers, among whom Miss
| Richardson and Miss Wainwright are
worthy of special mention, one by one
they retire from the stage, the two above
mentioned being the last to bow sweetly
and glide away. OF course they are en-
cored. and they bow again and retire to
take g good long breath. 'Tis nearly
time for the Russians. The leader on
this side mods to the leader on the other
side that all are in their
places. Professor A. S. Webster stands
with watch in his hand. 1t is five
minutes after o'clock He peeps around
the corner Of the scene, motions to Pro
fessor Candee, who has charge Of the
orchestra, and tie march starts. "KeeT
step, says the young man as they al
start off with their left. The spplaus,
shows that the audience likes the appear
auce Of the handsome Russian soldiers
and their beautiful sweethearts AS tn,
curtain falls on the tableau the hand
clapping dies away into a sigh Of regre
that the dances are over The floor il
not left vacant long, and for another hou
those who are not too tired to remain
dance and enjoy it to the utmost.
Before the week is over the contest fol
leading places will have waxed very
) warm. Opinion is widely divergent
Too often in the voting certain dance
3 are favored more for the sake of tho par
Elephants than by the Judgment os th
voter Rivalry is friendly however, AM
all the dancers are helping the work o
charity by persuading their friends t
+ vote. Last night it was hard to find Il
7 the audience anyone whe knew whicl
. dance he or she preferred. Some person
9 liked the Venetian dance most for i'll
! good singing; the Butterflies most 70
2 the beauty Of the tableau; the Follie
:, most for the dancing; and taey liked til
g Russian dance most for the gorgeou
l. costumes. Points were in each whic
, were much preferred, but taken as
whole. each was as favored as the Other
Voting hardly began Monday night
Tuesday night was no great improve
- ment It went with a rush last night
!, | II sprang from nothing, comparatively
y to 456 for the highest on the list
70 the figures would grow the supporters Z
7, the dances would Gro Rd around tb
y bulletin board and applaud or groan 9
y the votes Of liberal reporters increase
y their number or that of others. Repeal
Y ing was not only allowed; it was 81
q couraged. One charming miss, WI
assisted in the Venetian dance, gave
shout of delight when she saw thu
|. Venetian stock had jumped TO SO. TIN
I. was expressed the JOY of many as the
"a favorites received more votes aud cons
AZ quently a better chance Of getting
III much coveted position on Saturdl
j. night. The five highest received q