The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-02-15
TIE THIRD ANNUAL BENEFIT
or tho Wheeling Elks' ut tho Opera House
Yesterday Afternoon, n Success.

or tho Wheeling Eiks' ut tho Opera House
n. Yesterday Afternoon, n Success.
Tho third annual benefit entertain.
ment OF Wheeling Lodge No. IS, D. T.
0. Elks, given at the Opera House yes
terday afternoon was q success and re-
suited in swelling tho charity fund OF
the lodge by some three or four hun.
dred dollars. Tho committee having
charge OF the affair consisted OF Brothers
A. +. Gasmirc, Nate Fell, Oscar Seeley,
Ed. ]. Stapleton, @. W. Seabright and Q.
Il. Tracy, aud they contributed their
best eiroits to make the entertainment a
successful ono In every respect. That
they succeeded was evidenced by the
hearty expressions OF praise uttered by
their brethren rs they viewed tho re.
suits 81 the committees labors, and in
tho appreciation manifested by tho au.
dionCc. ,tI
Much has been printed during tho past
week about the large sale OF tickets and
the size OF the audience yesterday after.
noon fully substantiated all that had
been published. Every sent in the lower
part Of the house was filled and there
were only fow vacant seats left in the
balcony. In addition 10 the tickets
taken at the door, many were sold to
persons who were unable to be present,
but purchased tickets IN order 10 help a
worthy cause. s.. n
The interior was decorated, not lavish.
ly but tastefully, with hanging baskets
and potted plants and flowers. The
hanging baskets swung from tho balcony
between the electric light clusters and
potted plants and flowers wero arranged
by Laupp, the florist, ut the bases OF tho
proscenium arch. At both sides OF the
arch were mlssivo elk heads, the huge
branching antlers reaching almost up to
the balcony and out over tho audience,
and adding much to the appearance oil
the interior. +" t,'Fsflh 5rsF,
Tho Opera House Orchestra, which do.
mated Its services on this occasioa, was
increased to sixteen pieces and opened
the entertainment with well.rendered
overture. The principal feature OF the
programme was tho presentation OF Sir
Charles Young's famous play, "Jim, the
Penman," which has been the success Of
two seasons ut the Madison Square
Theatre, New York, and which was
given by Mr.. A. NJ. Palmer's company.
II was preceded, however, by some con.
tributions by local talent. Following
the overture Il. NJ. Straight, q compare.
lively new candidate for honors in the
local musical field, sang "The Notices
on the WALL" Mr.. Straight was evident.
ly suffering from bad case OF stage
fright, and ut times there was q very
wide varience between his voice and the
orchestral accompaniment, in which the
orchestra had the best oft. His friends
kindly overlooking this, demanded an
encore, and Mr.. Straight having regain.
ed his confidence somewhat, did better
and was presented with flowers.
Miss Kate Michel was down on the
programme for solo, but was prevented
from appearing by illness, q fact that
was generally regretted when it was an.
nounced. In her place Master Bartb
OF Wellsburg, who possesses quite 0
pleasing voice, was introduced and sang
two selections, and go far as youthful
prodigy performances go, his was quite
clever.
Mrs. Oscar Seeley, who is always re.
ceived with marked favor, sang "The
Convict and the Bird" in her best man.
ner, and received u deserved encore, to
which she most gracious.y responded
The orchestra rendered another over.
ture and then the play Of "Jim, the Pen.
man." was put on. The stage settings
were the finest ever seen on the Opera
House stage, being made SO by House &
Hermann, the installment iurnishers,
kindly allowing the Elks, through Stage
Manager Richardson, to draw on their
extensive stock Of fine furniture for
whatever was needed to make the stage
handsome and attractive; furniture,
bronzes, draperies and many other
things were secured from them for this
purpose. By special arrangement all oil
these handsome accessories to the set
tings are allowed to remain in the theatre
for the balance OF the slim, the PEN
man." engagement. The were used in
last nights performance and will be used
this afternoon and evening.
Such powerful play as Jim the Pen.
man." requires strong cast, because in
the hands Of incompetent plapers, the
characterization and the dialogue would
suffer, and without the business and
by.play that an intelligent actor uses,
the imperiections OF the author would
stand out boldly, thus endangering his
work. NThe late Sir Charles Young ad.
mitted unconsciously, or with full
knowledge, that it depended largely on
the players to make "Jim the Pennan''
a successful play. He furnished an in.
teresting and ingcnius plot, sentiment,
humor, and strong dialogue, but his
characters were roughly sketched and it
remained with the actors and actresses
who appeared in the cast, to perfect the
work.
The title role, as acted by Mr.. James
Whiting, who is veteran in the part,
is very finished piece of acting. Miss
Ellie Wilton makes charming Nina,
the wife OF Jim, but hers is not the soul.
full Improvisation Miss Brooklyn gave
when the play was first presented here.
Miss Eveline Hardy does nicely as Agnes
and Mr.. Edwin Travers makes capital
Captain Redwood. The other parts as
played by this company, while not at all
bad, are not as satisfactory as when they
were first seen here. There was good
house last night and the prospects are
good for good audiences both this after.
noon and evening.
AInntell In "lIonbnrs.n
For many seasons past there have