The San Francisco call., 1898-05-12
Will Sing and Dance in the Cause of
 Mercy.
To-Day Is the Big Benefit Entertainment at the
 Orpheum.

This afternoon the Orpheum will be dedicated to the Red Cross. The troupe will sing its sweetest and dance its pret- tiest and crack its best and newest jokes, the blare of brass and the roll of drums will rouse all the enthusiasm of a regi- rnent on parade. and the lesson of pa- triotism and the tale of the little red em- blem of charity and mercy will be told from the stage by one who knows how to tell it.
 It will be the first of the public enter tainments to be given in aid of the Red Cross work and special efforts are being made to make 1t great source of en- couragement for the giving of other such filters of the society treasury. The whole Orpheum troupe will take part, and in addition there will be an address by Rabbi Voorsanger, patriotic airs rendered by the Venetian Ladies' Orchestra, some patriotic songs by Maude Rockwell of the Olympia Theater and music by the band of the First California Volunteers. It will be as varied programme as has ever been presented on the Orpheum boards, and the reason for 1t all will lend an interest not usually attached to the work behind the footlights. Already the sale of seats augurs well for the financial part of the programme and the remainder Is quite able to take care of itself.
 The Orpheum orchestra, inspired by the desire to aid the wounded, and confident of the efficacy of harmony as cure for all ills, will lead the way for the per formers. Hays and Randy will dance together and each by himself, and an en- core, too, if the audience demands and will wiring reluctant music from tables and chairs plug hats and sQuawking geese; John kansome will transform him self for the time being into Governor Budd, and in the person of the executive he will tell all he knows about the war Tn Durance Vile" a little comedy skit, Sidney Stii Se FfSneU Winner Uana Waiter Vincent; George Fielding, the king of all jugglers, will throw his bottles and hats and cups balance on his nose or on his head every thing he can pick up from his table, and he may search through his properties for more than one half-forgotten trick and bring it forth into the glare of the foot lights at the bidding of those who go to sec
 grotesque and comic acrobats. will en- deavor to earn another adjective to help them on the playbills; Mile. Bartho will have an especially patriotic costume for her dance, and Lizzie Raymond will have a new song, tender enough to charm a heart of stone.
 end the programme, and he has promised something particularly good for the finale. All his best living pictures will be shown, '.The Red Cross in the Field"
 The programme will begin at 1:3o o'clock and the doors will be opened the usual are selling rapidly and the success of the entertainment Is almost assured even be- fore it commences.
 The purpose of the entertainment will be one of the themes of Rabbi Voorsan- gers address. The story has been told before, but 1t will not suffer in the re- telling, and besides there is so much to tell. There is so little soldier can do for himself, anyway, even when he is wounded and dying, not so much from his injuries as from lack of care and atten- tion, is enough to bring something more and regret to the voice It brings fuil houses at benefit entertainments; 1t brin ys enthusiasm in the work of mercy and energy to those who direct 1t, and it brings money easily spared in the cause of the scarlet emblem of mercy.