The Jersey City news., 1892-03-31
SHINING LITTLE STARS,
Twinkled Like Diamonds
in the Sky at the
Academy.
DANCING, PLAYING. SINGING.
Children of the Stage Pay Tribute
to Age and Sorrow in
Their Art.

| States was given yesterday afternoon at
the New Academy OF Music. The chill
dren of the stage, Twenty-Five OF them in
all, appeared at benefit performance for
the Actors Fund of America. When
one realizes that eFch one of these
| children is a star, whose twinkling is
considered sufficient to enliven play
otherwise deadly dull. tue fact becomes
plain that twenty-five stars must have
| made light most dazzling. The main
point was that the staginess which We
have learn ed to expect from an "infant
phenomenon" did not appear; they were
genuine, lovable children. differing from
the boys and girls before the foot
lights only in proficiency and ease of
manner.
After an overture by Prof. Waguer's
orchestra, Il brown-eyed bit of feminine
loveliness, known as La Petite Nauon, re-
cited Cup in the Forward Car" Then q
youth with brown hair. brown eyes and a
brown suit entered with violin. He
could. just reach the top of a small sized
music stand and n piano stool would
make a fine table for him, but you never
would know it to hear him bring out the
tones of the Andante from Mendelssohn's
Vioii Concerto with such strength and
sweetness. His name is johnnie Nc
Keever, and the audience liked him so
we'll he had to play twice.
SUPPLE YOUNG VOICES AND LIMBS.
The Juveniles have learned the lesson
of their elders that benefit programmes
are Il deluSion and snare and he that
trusted in them is not wise. The sixt
number WAS not the famous Quarrel
Scene" but laughable character sketc h
by a truly marvellous child actress, La
Regaloncita, aud her small sister. Miss
Vene DAILY Ia not made ont OF iudia rub :
ber, because india rubber is not 50 flexible
as she proved herself by her dance.
Little Baby Parker, a dainty, lovab)e
little morsel in Kate Greeuaway
gown of white null, reclted Kiley's
''Raggedy Man." WAS unanimously ap-
plauded and brought out for song,
Pm So Shy" aud a funny Marionnette
dance. La Regalonclta then gave an eX-
hibition of dancing which has seldom
been surpassed by any modern artist, old
or young. Such trifies as kicking tam
bourines back OF the head. or travelling
around the stage on her toes are quite
fun to this agile child. Miss Gertie Bos-
well sang couple of negro melodies ac-
companyiue herself upon the banjo, and
rected "Little Tim" with much feeling.
Another excellent elocutionist Is Miss
Gertie Homans, whose character work
was fine in 1.-The Miller of Dee," and
"Patsy's Dream" and Miss Ed th
Widmer recited with much esprit
II travesty called Helen and Paris"
and "a Hindoo Legend" Master Wallie
Eddinger impressed his audience most of
all by his reserved and gentlemanly bear
ing. which did not fan him even in
rapid series of dialect speeches, as he re-
pested various post-mortem dialogues
with st. Peter, and afterwards Il news
boys story. La Petite Nanon, resplend-
ent In black and orange, danced sailors
hornpipe, and the little violinst pranced
about In pretty Spanish dance, accom-
panied by castanets. The Morrison Twins.
two pretty maids in pink silk, as like as
two peas. danced as fairies are popularity
supposed to do Miss Alice McGilI gave
humorous darkey reel, and WAS loudly
encored, and the unsmiling gravity with
which Harry McIutosh clicked out
a jig, won him generous applause.
Eva Midge performed lightning changes
of costume IN her spec atty, appearing
first as a granger. then as tiu de steele
"chappie." and last century gallant.
Master Walter Leon, the baby orator.
who is the owner of crop of bonny
brown curls. and voice of SURPRISING
volume, convulsed the house by a bur-
lesque speech on "Woman's Rights"
This same small boy was waylaid by an
admiring crowd of society folk. jnst after
the performance, and complimeEted until
his little head must have spun around
and around. Miss Louise Losson's dance
must be given first place in its class. The
programme announced it as Grand Bal
let, and grand ballet it was. The tech
nque, the poetry of this little danseuse,
is simply remarkable.
THE FUND AND ITS FRIENDS.
The facl that ali the performers were
less than three feet tall made Miss Norah
Lamb bert look uncommonly sizable when
she entered to give her serpentine dance.
The convolutions which the yards and
yards of silk were made to take were
wonderful indeed. Miss Peggy Webbing
recited an original poem asking for as
sistance in the good work Of tue Fund,
and with Miss Rosalind Webbing con-
cluded the programme with a one act
sketch "Personation," in which both
young people covered themselves with
glory.
just before the curtain rose on the
third part. Mrs. Henderson stepped be-
fore the curtain, and in few well chosen
words, announced that she had come in
place of Mr.. A. NJ Palmer, to return
wtry. She read the following letter from
.tr Palmer.
Ny Dear Mrs. Henderson,
regret very much that cannot get over to
people who will gather in your theatre in behalf
of the Actors Fund, but l am sure they will
fiud, as do in this effort of the little Children
ef the Stage, 10 aid our great charity, a much
more beautiful and touching appeal iu its behalf
than any words / could utter.
In common with all my fellow trustees, am
deeply indebted to you, my dear Mrs. Hender-
son, to our child actors and actresses. and to
Mrs. Fernandez for this timely help to us in
our great work. Sincerely yours
A. M PALMER.
Mrs. Henderson returned thanks for
gratuitous services to the Metropolitan
Job Office. New York. and to Prussey &
1roxell, No. 1893 Broadw way, New York;
to THE ERsEY CITY NEWS and the EUen-
ing journal, the Hoboken Calcium Light
Company and Jersey City Gas Company.
Professor Wagner and orchestra, Mr..
John Laugabee and all the stage attaches,
TO MIR. Hyans and all attaches of the box
Office, Mr.. John Moore aud all employees
of the front of the house, to Jersey City
Lodge of ElKs. to Mr.. John Reid for
beautiful decorations of callas aud palms;
to Mrs. f. l.. Fernandez, of New York
City. for her able efforts in bringing the
children together, to the dear little ones
who had so generously given their SER
vices, aud to the Jersey City public for
their generous respopse.
l.