Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-29

DGNt1dl VI lel LUX OCCdSlOI l SDtdh VI III
benefits of the order in complimentary terms.
independent Wc>l<men of America.
The dramatic effort given by Omaha lodge
No. 1 in Germania hall last Friday night
certainly fulfilled the promise that had been
made for weeks before, that it would be one
of the fraternal events of the season. 1t was
a we'll rounded amateur performance of more
than the ordinary merit. The play given was
a society farce comedy from the pen of Bart
ley Campbell, entitled 1.-The Divorce" The
plot was that so often shown on the stage,
wherein an adventures USUALLY an adven-
turer) breaks up a happy home, which is
united again after a long estransement. The
characters were well cast. Frank Coy, an
actor under whose direction the play was
given, furnished the larger part Of the com
edy in the character of Mortimer. Theopilus
Mugs, a busted owma His wife, Mrs.
Anna Coy, was as acceptable in the heavy
part as the adventures. There were but two
other women in the case, Miss Marie Swan
son, who acted the injured wife very nicely,
and Mrs. Cora Reed, who did very well in
more ways than one as a maid. William
Need took the part Of the husband, while
the lesser parts were taken by Lee Forby,
George Fisher, Rodger Dickens and Ed Oil
yer. There was a large audience present,
the body of the big building being well occu-
pied. 1t appeared to be composed OF very
enthusiastic folks, for the applause was fire.
quent. At the conclusion OF the play the
floor was cleared and several hours were
spent in enjoying a fine dancing program.
1t is desired that the membership will
turn out in force to the meeting of Omaha
lodge tomorrow night. The new ritual, which
was adopted by the supreme lodge at the
first of the year, will be put In use for the
first time. The complete paraphrenalia has
been received and the officers for the first
time in the history Of the lodge will be ar
rayed in all their glory. Work will be con-
ferred upon a half dozen candidates, so that
the new trappings will be initiated In proper
manner. Another reason for a full attend
ance is that the matter of a change In the
meeting night is to be considered. There
has been for some time a movement to
change the night from Monday to some other
in the week.
Independent Order of d Fellows.
1t is rarely that such an audience is seen
at an affair given by a f%raternal body as
filed Creighton hall last Thursday night at
the entertainment given by Canton Ezra
Willard No. 1, Patriarch's militant. For the
affair did not occur until last Thursday night,
despite the fact that a local contemporary
last Sunday stated that it was then already
a part of history. A full and glowing ac-
count of every number of the program. to-
gether with the size Of the attendance, was
given in it's columns last Sunday, the only
error in the story being that the. entertain
ment had not yet been given.
Creighton hall was simply crowded Every
bit of seating room that could be obtained
was occupied, and the back part of the hall
was filed with a mass of standing spectators
and listeners. 1t was Conservatory es-
timated that there were between 500 and 500
people in the audience, a vast concourse Tor
a society entertainment. The applause was
very liberal.
The applause was largely due to the excel
lence of the program. 1t can be stated OF
the program as Of the audience, that II was
one of the best ever seen in society circles.
Two addresses were given, one by II. e.
Burnam, who acted as master of ceremonies,
and the other by Rev. S. Wright Butler.
There was plenty of music. the orchestra
giving a number of selections, Mrs. Charles
Walker and Mrs. Wells rendering a duet.
and the Karbach family a selection. A
feature was the part given to Scottish dances.
The highland fling was danced by a party of
young folks, Masters Charles and Harry NC
Donald, Arthur and George Falconer. and
David Mckenzie, and Misses Maud Goodlet,
Maggie McKinzie and Jennie Falconer. More
over there was a dance given by Miss Mag
gle Falco1er and one by Miss Jeanne Fal-
coner In addition. Another feature was a
silent manual of arms admirably given by
two members of the Thurston Rifles.
One of the most enjoyable parts OF the
program was the close. This consisted OF a
drill given by the uniformed members of the
canton and by the women of the cantonette.
The first drill was given by the canton, and
despite the fact that but a small space could
be obtained on account Of the size OF the
audience, was admirably executed. The drill
of the young women, a dozen in number. one-
half being drrayed in pink and the other half
in pale blue uniforms and adorned with the
belts and swords Of their male companions,
furnished the surprise OF the evening. They
delivered the manual of arms and went
through the movements with a precision that
was entirely unexpected and won great APP
plause.
Immediately after the drills a grand march
was formed, and thereafter several hours
was spent in dancing, The party did not
break up until a late hour.
knights of pythias.
The general eneampment Of the military
branch of the order, the uniform rank, will
be held In Cleveland, o., at the same time