Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-19
THE FENCIBLEs, BIG BENEFIT.


A Large Attendance and an Excellent
Program Well Executed.
The affection felt for the National Fen
cibles by the citizens Of Washington was
fully demonstrated last night by the large
audience that assembled in the Academy
OF Music on the occasion Of the benefit
rendered to that popular organization The
program was en- excellent one and held the
attention Of the audience. from beginning
to the fall OF the curtain In Browns
Baby" This comedietta. by the way, was
really the attraction of the evening, first.
because II was written by a Washington
newspaper man-Mr. Willard Holcomb-and
was given its first representa- ton last night:
and second. because its principal character
was Interpreted by Washington girl. who
has made decided success in her profess
sional career-Miss Annie Lewis As Birdie
Bright Eyes, Miss Lewis added to her repu-
tation by her vivacious acting and her
excellent singing Of several catchy songs.
including The Girls OF Today" She was
ably supported by Miss Eleanor Poole. as
Minerva Brown. a neglected wife; Hans
Roberts. as Talcott Brown. her husband:
William A. Conley. as Bridget. Hjbern.an
domestic. and William Doughertyas Man
ager Plank of Planks Gsiety Theater
The piece Is full of fun. the lines are
bright and sometimes witty, and there Is
a good lesson taught in the story. The
people were all good and Mr. Conley made
decided hit, particularly In his introduced
song. Since Katie Got Struck on the
Stage" which is also Mr.. Holcomb's COM
position.
This piece concluded the program. but Il
commenced with the "Fencibies' March,
excellently played by the Academy orcbes-
ira, followed by the one-act comedietta,
"A Pair of Lunatics." which gave Mr.
Talbati Pulizzi and Miss Abbie johnson an
opportunity TO do some good work. Miss
johnson took the place of Mrs. Hammock
who was suddenly called away, and was
~lxa
Apollo Quartet. composed of Messrs W. D.
Mcfarland. Perry d. Turpin. Frank p. Rec
side and Bernard A Ryan. who sang La
comes "L'Estudiantina" in such a spirited
manner that an encore was demanded and
in response they gave 'Tenting on the Old
Camp Ground" Mr.. Reside singing the
solo. Their work proved conclusively that
there is no better male quartet In WASH
ington. The quarrel scene from Julius
Caesar was presented by Messrs. Edwin
Ferry and David c. Bangs, both gentlemen
interpreting their parts In an artistic man
ner. They were assisted by Miss Florence
Gray as Lucius, who added to the effect
The Columbian Musical Club. Mr.. l.. A
Callan, director, gave two good selections
the second being in response to an encore.
Mr. Herndon Morsell sang Danza's Star
of NV Heart so well that he was obliged
to sing again. and the Leech sisters took
the house by their banjo playing and sing
ing of old plantation melodies.
Miss Mary Helen Howe sang the Jewel
song from Faust so artistically that she
received an emphatic encore. in response
to which she sang the nightingale song from
the Fencing Master" in exquisite style. The
love scene between Helen and Modus, from
1.-The Hunchback," was eXceliently given by
Miss Lavinia Shannon and Mr.. Giles Shine,
and then the Philharmonic Quartet, COM
posed of Mrs. II. II. Mills, director Miss
Mccullough, Mrs. Hills. Miss Simonds ami
Miss Stidham. sang 'Loui du Bal" Gillet-
Harris. as they only can sing it. AS is
usual with this quartet, two recalls fol-
lowed both of which were highly pleasing
The Waterbury brothers presented an in
teresting musical melange, proving them
selves good musicians and attractive per-
formers Mr.. Arthur d. Mayo. Miss Jessie
Wise and Prof. Harry Wheaton Howard
ofIiciated as accompanies in the most salts
factory manner Many of the performers
we're the recipients of floral tributes, notably
Miss Lewis and Miss Howe. The whole
affair was one of the most successful both
artistically and financially, that has ever
been given in this city. The Fencibles will
realize about $1,000. Although the program
was a long one. everything went of with
out hitch. and there was no wait between
any of the numbers. This was owing TO the
excellent stage management Of Mr. David
Towers.