Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26
JOLLY SHRINERS' DAY
The Excursion to River View Yesterday q
Conplee Success
Program WasaInteresting, the Crowd
Large Euna Raised to Be
Devoted 10 Charity.

Those WashinstoniRns who neglected to
take advantagedof the opportunity offered
yesterday by Almas Temple, Mobiles of the
Mystic Shrine. missed the enjoyments Of an
excursion as successful in every way as any
that ever set forth from local steamboat
| wharves. The entire fleet of boats owned
by Captain Randall was called into service
last evening, and there were at River View
| in the neighborhod Of 1900 persons. In ad-
dition a large number visited the resort dur
ing the day and returned to the city before
dark.
That the Shrners were entirely satisfied
with the results was formally attested when
Frank H. Thomas, the illustrious potentate
of Almas Temple, addressed the excursion
lists during a lull in the evenings enter
tainment. He stated that the proceeds from
the trips made during the day were suffi-
cient to meet all expenses, and that the
money paid for tickets by the excursionists
of the evening, in numbers, as stated. near
ly 1000, was clear profit. 1t Is estimated,
therefore. explained Potentate Thomas.
that fully 800 families, without regard to
creed or color, would be provided from the
fund with most substantial dinner next
Christmas. On behalf Of Almas Temple
the speaker extended thanks to those pres
ent for their interest and attendance.
Interesting Order of Exercises.
1t is hard to believe that the program
could possibly have been more entertain
ing. Those who went to River View early
in the day found sufficient to hold their at
tention, band concert having been ar
ranged as an addition to the regular amuse-
ment features of the resort But the ma
jority of folks waited until evening to join
the pleasure seekers. 1t seemed that the en-
tire population Of the District Of Columbia
was vending it's way to the river front,
judging from the crowded condition Of the
street railway cars.
At the wharves bands of music were
playing and things took on gay and fes-
tive air. Shriners wearing the picturesque
red fez were everywhere The steamers,
one after another, were quickly loaded to
their full carrying capacity, and they lost
no time in heading down stream. AS the
fleet approached River View the resort
was seen to be ablaze with lights. An at
tractive innovation was the setting off of
large quantities of fireworks the boats
neared the landing.
The Dancing Pavilion.
Some little time was allowed for strolling
about the grounds and then as many per-
sons as could crowd in assembled at the
spacious dancing pavilion, where Noble
Harry Standiford reigned supreme. He in
troduced as the first entertainers of the
evening the members of the Twentieth
Century Club, an organization OF colored
singers, who were In fancy costume. They
proved to be most pleasing entertainers
and were loudly applauded. The West End
Club. another coiDred organization. similar
to the Twentieth. Century Club. then took
possession of the stage and was as well
received as was its predecessor. Cake
walking was next in order, and it is safe
to say that the spectators got their
moneys worth
There was instrumental music all the
steamers and returning the colored singers
also enlivened matters. Everybody was
landed safely in Washington at a seasona.
BILE hour and at midnight the recorder of
the organization had made note in its his
tory that another worthy proposition of
considerable magnitude had been carried
to successful conclusion by the jolly
Shriners.