The morning times., 1896-04-17
BRAVED TEE heat
For (HARITY'S SAKE
Society Witnessed Amateur Stage
Efforts at the Lafayette Square.
Pretty Girls Sold Flowers and Titled
Gentlemen Served as Usilers.
At Al Benefit Play.

On pleasure bent and with due disre-
gard of temperature. society assembled
Yesterday afternoon at Lafayette Square
Opera House in the name OF charity
The ushers who seated the gaily dressed
crowd were: Senor Don LiuS Pastor,
Count Conrad de Buisseret, Marquise de
Chambrun, Mr. Hugh j o'Beirne, Mr.
Curtis Gilmore, Mr.. George Howard. Mr..
John Edie. Mr Ward Thoron, Mr. II. Hoff-
man PhiIip. Mr. Robert Wallack. Mr.. I.
Slideil Rogers. Mr.. Montgomery Maccmo'
Mr.. CIeeland Davis, Mr.. L. j. Magiil, Mr..
J. T. Myers. Mr. John P. Story, jr., aud
Mr.. Frederick Bugher. They wore red
and white carnations as badges Of Office
and fulfilled their duty with the energy
and skill of professionals. A number of
young women, in dainty spring costumes
with broad hrimmed hats, laden WIN
plumes or roses, sold flowers
This garden of girls included Miss Martha
Hicbburn. Miss Caroline Story, Miss Mary
Todd, Miss Elsie Davis, the Misses Clayton,
Miss Charity S Swearingen, Miss Josephine
Merrick, Miss X eats Rodgers, Miss Mildred
Merrick. Miss Josephine Boardman, Miss
Nina Boardman Miss Ida Elliot, and Miss
Josephine Cobb Miss Martha Hichborn
Wore a black satin skirt with bodice OF gold
coIored satin veiled with chiffon and huge
black hat with nodding plumes and made
a charming picture offering quickly bought
up nosegays. Miss Nina Boardman, charm
ingly pretty n a light tinted costume With
rose wreathed nat, was among the most
successful venders OF bOut"nnieres and bOu-
quets. Mrs. Story and Mrs. Rodgers dis
tributed programs.
The patronesses occupied boxes, ca Ch
with guests. These were: Mrs. Carlisle.
Miss Herbert, Mrs. Nelson A Miles, Mrs.
John Sherman. Mrs. Sheridan, Mrs. Hearst,
Mrs J. b. Henderson, Mrs. +. p. b. Sands,
Mrs. Franklin, the Misses Patten, Mrs.
John Moore, Nine. de COvarrubiuS. Mrs.
l. amont, Mrs. Edward Douglas White,
Mrs Sartcris, Mrs. Reyburn. Mrs. Riggs,
Mrs. Ffoulke. Mrs. n. s. Lincoln, Mrs.
A. A. Wilson. Miss Riggs, Mrs. Cullen,
Mrs W. E. Montgomery and Mrs. Cam
eFon.
'.Petticoat Perfidy," a comedietta in
one act, by Sir Charles L. Young. Baronet,
was the opening play. Miss Katharine For
rest as Mrs. Mountrevor; Mrs. Norwood
Jones, a widow, Miss Ellen Constance
Palmer; and Juliette, Mrs. Mountrevor's
maid, Mrs. A. NJ. Thackara; was pretty
bit OF dra wingToOm chatter with brisk
exchange of feminine amenities. No man
appeared in the cast. but the usual ma scu
| line skeleton was of course in the closet
of the plot.
"Tambour Blatant. - (at the tap of the
drum, a sprightly French vaudeville per
fornance of single act, was the second
| diversion. The scene was laid in Paris
| time. the present, anu brillian opportunity
was afforded Mr.. Arthur Dexter. Miss
| Charlotte Honston nd Mrs. Fiske Warren
| for displaying artistic ability of decided
value. The dialogue was given in the
| original as written by Messrs. Dievurcelle
| Barniere and MOrand. Miss Honston is &
| young woman of extreme beauty and grace
and Mrs. Fiske Warren dainty aud fascin
| ating. The latter is i pupil of Coquelir
and at one time contemplated becoming
a professional actress.
Second Thoughts by G. C. Herbert
with Miss Ellen Constance Palmer, Mrs
A. NJ Thackara and Mr. j. Columbus
O'DonneIl in the cast, was u jolly bit o
comedy.
Between each act the girls sold flower
| and ices and teas were offered. A pleas
| ant tea room was arranged on the SECOND
floor, from which delicious strawberry
cream, generously donatedby DemOnet. wal