The times., 1897-08-06
FIVE THOUSAND ADMIRERS
Wilkinson and Harlan Get an 0Ya-
ti8n at Glen Echo.
The Romantic World Bids the
Artists Good Luck and
GOdsDeed.

Up to last night 1t was written in cold
type grand testimonial TO Harlan and
Wilkinson. Last evening at moonlit Glen
Echo, in the packed ;amphitheater, In the
blaze of eleetria flights, and in the presence
of 5000 enthusiastic friends OF the bene-
ficianes, 1t was an ihdisputable ovation.
1t was understood that Messrs Harlan
and Wilkinson are to take out their own
company on the road this season, and
so, wnie the management always provides
an entertainment Of high order, 1t was
undoubtedly the fact that Mfr. Wilkinson
and Mr. Harlan were in tended to be hon
ored that accounted for the immense crowd
which assembled in the great building aud
on the grounds.
All the world OF Washington that is
worth knowing know Tom Wilkinson, the
MOST amiable OF gentlemen, clever artist,
aud q prime favorite In the best social
clubs of the capital city He is known to
and beloved by the press. being a large
integral part OF it, ana il liz hard TO spot
him in his various roles of Pythian, Scotch
Mason, Adwriier. athlete, Elk, fat man,
Hot Biped, Growler, whistler, songster, or
man Of many tuners.
1t was because OF these many relation
ships and because of his own rare qualities
that the place oyerflewed with Eiks, and
Masons, and yttrians, and the swell set
generally, male and Female, of the city's
social organizations. In other words, Mr..
Wilkinson's friends went out TO see him.
1t was quite like him, too, TO forego his
own advertised role, and act as master Of
ceremonies, which was, besides, a very
generous way OF starring his friend, Byron
Harlan. from thesvery start.
Mr.. BYRON Harlan vas, OF course the
inseparable star Of the special combina-
ton lust evening He helped TO make "a
Texas Steer famous, and also himself
incidentally in that play. Later on in
other plays he made himself more famous
and he and Tom Wilkinson, 5r, are about
to make this matter of fame'a progressive
performance. Mr.. Harlan never sang in
better voice than he did last night. The
anphitheater is a severe test for a tenor,
but Mr.. Harlan's sweet, natural voice rang
from stage TO walls with musical dis
tinctness. The success OF his songs was
best demonstrated by the enthusiastic
manner in which they were received by
the audience.
AS good luck and good speed to the
Merry MonaIohs of the Glen" and to
their theatrical venture this season. the
splendid reception TO Wilkinson and Harlan
last evening was what they perhaps most
desired and which they undoubtedly de-
served.
rrts-f, = t1.rnn flfr ,.p
in the ''Faerie Queen" might be written
about the romantic environment of Glen
Echo on this particularly eventfuI occa
sion. 1t was Mt. Wilkinson himself who
spoke OF Venetian scene and, to be sure.
the moonlight on lakes and canals, and
the music aud the breeze (fresh from tho
Adriatic) made perfect the Illusion OF
these Venetian scenes.
bat that vas all tie Iiltsion or de fusion.
1t was an evening of substantial delights,
the glorious night, the glorious women, the
splendor of the terior OF the amphitheater.
the accomplished artists on the stage, the
bright eyes the merry voices The spa king
waters, the fun and fancy, the feathers.
fuss and the perfumes made one inyolun-
tarily desire to know why life was not
made up entirely Of Venetian sounds and
scenes and reveiries at Glen Echo that is
when Tom Wilkin son, jr., and Byron Har-
Ian have their summer oya tions.
But the beneficiaries were not the whole
program. Col. E. B. Hay made one of
his cleyerest speeches, largely about Glen
Echo as al indispensable institution Col.
Hay always makes hit, and his refer
ences to the management and to Glen
Echo itself were heartily indorsed by his
audience. 9st
The FaGettes played and were encored,
as usual, many times. as Were the Madrids,
YuDdt, Ford, and Holmes. Master Robert
Emmett Walsh. the boy soprano, who
sang with MT. Har an, was right in the
middie-in the heart. SO to speak-of the
audience.
big feature was the cinematoerauhic
views, whichwere announced and explained
by Mr.. Wilkinson. who. by the way, intro
duced everything and everybody felici-
tously.
Certainly it shoulu be written today
not benefit, but an ovation.