The San Francisco call., 1896-05-17
STUDENTS ON THE STAGE
" Skull and Keys" Society at
Berkeley Successfully Pre-.
sent a Farce Comedy.
Prospective Freshmen Are in Ouan.
dary Over What They Shall
Call Their Class.

BERKELEY, CAL, May 16.-The Skull
and Keys Literary and Social Club of the
State University, composed of juniors and
seniors selected from the various fraterni-
ties, gave its annual theatricals tonight at
Shattuck Hall. The building was crowded
to the doors, 500 invitations having been
sent out, and the affair was voted de-
cided success. Society leaders from both
sides of the bay turned out in full force,
and assisted to make tie evening the
social event of the spring season in Berke-
ley. The play was a farce-comedy in three
acts and was entitled Uncle" The cast
of characters was as follows:
Uncle Bootle, ]. P. Hutchins; Paul Beau
mont. Edward Blake; Peter Fletcher, Alex
Baldwin; Putin, Brockway Metcaf; Mrs.
Beaumont, Fletcher McNutt; Emily Montrose,
II. U. Roeding; Sarah Jane, j. r. Hamilton.
On account of the sudden illness of Edward
Bake the part OF Beaumont was taken by c. S.
Bates.
The entire performance was under the
personal direction of Leo Cooper.
The farce throughout was glowing with
humor and filled with amusing and pecu-
liar com plications. Paul Beaumont,
nephew to Uncle Bootle, marries un-
beknown and contrary to the wishes of
his uncle, who is supporting him on the
unmarried.
Peter Fletcher visits Beaumont and
hirts with Mrs. Beaumont. Implications
arise upon the unexpected arrival of Uncle
Bootle. Mrs. Beaumont is introduced as
the wife of Fletcher to avoid the detection
of Beaumont's marriage. The woman to
whom Fletcher Is engaged also appears
and upon discovering that Mrs Beaumont
and he act as husband and wife further
complications are preclpltated. Matters
are finally cleared up by the betrayal of
the scheme by the servant. Uncle Bootle
becomes reconciled to the marriage and all
ends we'll
The setting was extraordinarily good.
the make-ups were excellent and the per-
formers acquitted themselves more after
the manner of professionals than student
amateurs.
freshman "Exes" Over.
BERKELEY, CAL, May 16.-The three
davs of freshman examinations closed this
afternoon. The 175 "preps" who went
through the ordeal will now be in anxious
waiting until they receive cards from the
recorder announcing whether they are to
be admitted to courses in the university.
Taking the examinations as a whole they
were considerably harder than those of
last year.
One question which appears to be worry
ing the embryo freshies excessively is
class, to be sure, will be the class of 1900,
but custom has established the use of the
two last figures of the year number to
designate the class.
For the coming freshmen to use the two
last figures of 1900 would only be to give
them 100" They are noe satisfied with
this and in consequence are debating on
whether they shall call themselves "fwo
Zeros,'' tGipher Two" or "Naughty
Naughts." A sophomore, their natural
enemy, suggested to-day that they duo
themselves Nit" Many OF the class
the plain number of Nineteen Hundred"
to the sacrifice of brevity and the destruc-
tion OF precedent.
Death of Edward f. Brakenridge.
BERKELEY, CAL. May 16-News has
reached Berkeley of the death in New Or
leans of Edward f. Brakenridge, promi-
nent lum Der dealer of that city and son
OF E. A. Breckenridge of l410 Louisa street.
His family are weil-known citizens of
Berkeley and were paid visit by their
now deceased son and his wife last year.
During bis stay in California he acquired
MANY friends. He was native of Port
Huron, Mich, aiI went 70 New Orleans in
1884. He engaged in the lumber business
and was among the pioneers of e North
ern investors in the purchasing of pine
lands in Louisiana. MIR. Breckenridge leaves
a widow and young daughter.
Only Five Deaths In April.
BERKELEY, CAL, May 16.-Only five
deaths were reported in Berkeley during
the month OF April. One was caused by
consumption, one by pneumonia, one by
cancer and two from other causes.
From Gutter to Pulpit.
BERKELEY, CAL, May 16.-M. w.
Pratt, a reformed drunkard and gam bier,
will lecture tomorrow evening at the First
Congregational Church on the subject,
From the Gutter to the Pulpit" The
speaker comes indorsed by the pulpit and
press.