The morning call., 1894-11-12
TO LIST TO oUIPs AND CRANKs.

Large crowds of people attended the Cal
ifornia Theater yesterday afternoon on
the occasion of the annual ladies recep
ton" of Golden Gate Lodge No. 6. of the
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
1t was not a stag party. either, as there was
plentiful spTinkling of the fashionabl as
we'll as beautiful element known as the
fair sex.
This has been an annual celebration ever
since the Institution of the society. Sordid
gold from The pockets of the unworthy is
not accepted at these reunions; it is solely
the invitatioa-the nicelv worded ticket
of admission without the consideration
stamped on its face that entities the Elk
admlrer TO participate Ia the afternoons
joys.
All these things being considered. it is
small wander that the spacious theater
was filled to the ceiling with the best set
the city of San Francisco could produce.
The day was one of glorious sunshine and
tempting atmosphere, and yet crowds of
persons chose TO fOrego the pleasure of a
day in the country to sit in an artificial light
in order to show their appreciation of an
order, once exclusively theatrical almost
and now open to those that come. 1t was
4 good showing the pIeasure-lovers of this
city made. and they entered into the spirit
of the thing by encoring vigorously as
many numbers as they could without call
ing down rebuke-slways remembering it
was free show.
Well, the programme opened with an
Grafton from Mrs. Robert Downing. better
known as Miss Eugene Blair, who acted
as chairman of the occasion. She was in
hr 81
S colt. master of ceremonies. who did his
best in a short Introductory speech, and
then Miss Blair told her audience how
glad she was to be there. She was an en-.
thusiastic admirer of the Elk movement,
and as such she wished her hearers to
know that nothing on earth could swerve
her from her allegiance. All hail to San
Francisco and its ElkS.
An overture was committed by the Cali
fornia Theater Orchestra. after which
Brother Scott was heard from again. lie
talked awhile on the subject Of his order,
and did his best TO fulfill what was ex-
pected of him, viz, TO amuse his brothers
and guests. This was merely Or elude to
the fun TO follow. so the revered brother
was not e0cOTed, but merely applauded
when he sat down. Then the audience lay
back in coy ar mchairs and waited for the
variety show to follow.
A youthful but talented artist of the
name of Jimmey Swinnerton, who has /
earned some reputation by drawing bears /
and carlcatures Of every living soul he has |
come across since first he saw the light, !
was announced to give a show of comical
nature, in company with one Homer
Davenport, another newspaper artist.
Davenport, however was smittsn by
fell disease at the last moment and didn't
show up. so SWinnertOn went on alone in
his celebrated imperSonation of "our
original little bear" He gave limitations
Of most people he knew, and Of some he
didn't know. 1t was clever show, and
received deserved appreciation.
Miss Alice Nelson. the vocal queen"
followed with a new novelty. 1t was
Kathleen Mavourneen," sung in the Irish
language. and advertised as entirely new
TO San Francisco. 1t was entirely new to
San Francisco, and being well rendered
was duly appreciated.
John }. Rafael, 'the phenomenal barry !
tone" as advertised, sang The Heart |
Bowed Down" exceedingly we'll. In fact,
he sang it so phenomenally that he had to |
respond TO a call for more phenomena.
Perhaps the most wonderful part of the |
show was the performance OF little Flor |
eBce Burke, d 12-yeaT-old child, in piano |
solo. She played a "rOndo capriccioso," !
by Mendelssohn. in such style as to take |
her hearers by surprise. She is a wonder |
full child.
Ward and MarteO, banjo artists, gave a |
turn of a musical as well as comical de-
scriptioD, and then the vast audience |
listened TO piece OF the curious entertain !
ment presented by Blind Tom, the veteran |
darkey who has puzzled doctors and scien-
fists, not TO say musicians, for so many |
long years. Tom gave his little show and |
was we'll received. He gave way to Mrs.
Gussie Cohen Levy, who rendered some |
vocal selections pleasingly.
Albert Keesing gave tenor solo; G Gorge |
Evans, a UaverlY minstrels man. recreated |
that amusing creation, Standing on the |
Corner; the brothers of the order shouted |
''Should all acquaintance be forgot" with |
a special request to the audience to join in |
The chorus; in fact, everybody did MS level |
best to amuse, and at last the California |
Theater orchestra played the people out
with a selection called ''The Elks' Ball."
Altogether the show was a success. |
There were over 1000 people present, and
The galleries were filed with ladies, who
could not find a seat else where. The an
nual EIks' carnival and ball is fixed for the
evening of Saturday next, November H.