The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-02-23
ELKS Benefit.
An Excellent Performance by
Topeka Dramatic Club.
A Large Audience Applauds It's
Appreciation.
BE TWICE REPEATED.
Second Presentation to Be Civ
en- Tonight.
Pick Smiths Unique History Of
the Topeka Lodge.
BE TWICE REPEATED.

MY Lord in Petticoats" was present
ed at the annual benefit of the Topeka
Elks at the Grand Opera House last
night. A large audience saw the piece,
and generously repaid the efforts of the
performers with applause.
Miss Georgia Brown of Lawrence, who
has been exceptionally successful in di-
recting amateur theatricaIs, has had the
rehearsing of the farce in charge, and
her work was evident in the perform
ance. Miss Brown took part in the
farce in the character of the real "Dona
Lucia"
The Topeka Dramatic club includes
some of the best amateur talent in the
city. and this fact was proven as de-
cidedly in last nights clever perform
ance as in any of the perform
ances for which the club has been re-
sponsible in the past. The cast included
three recent recruits to the successful
organization, Miss Emile King, Mr..
Harry Van Nordstrandt and Mr.. Wal
ter Smith.
MY Lord in Petticoats" will be given
a performance tonight and Saturday
afternoon.
The characters of the clever farce
were taken as follows:
Stephen Spettigue, Solicitor, Oxford
Walter Smith
Col. Sir Francis Chesney. late Indian
Service-Dean Low.
Jack Chesney, Undergraduate-Hale
Hamilton.
CherIey Weychom, ST. Olde College
Adrian Sherman.
Lord Fancourt Babberly, Oxford
Joseph Morgan.
BraSSett, College Scout-Harry Van
Nordstrandt
Kitty verdum. spettigue's Ward-vir-
CLINE MulVane.
Amy spettigue. Spettigue's Niece
Emile King.
Ella Delahy, an Orphan-Daisy Smith.
Pick Smith contributed the following
unique history of the Topeka lodge
published in the programme:
Topeka lodge No. 2S4 of the Benevo-
lent and Protective Order of Elks, is
now well-nigh onto ten years old, and,
in truth and in fact, is 'gettin' a big
boy now" We have ''growed'' mighty
fast recently, until dads coat now fits
Willie nicely, with no wrinkles in the
back. We would like to tell you how
we have prospered during the last year,
but don't like to brag; but we will say
this much-as we believe in advertising
everything that is a good thing for
Topeka-that our membership has in
creased so much during the past year
that we have found it necessary to
either change our stamping ground or
enlarge our quarters. Consequently we
have just closed contracts with the
owners Of Masonic temple-Wherein we
Hve,move and have our being-for more
than double our present space, and
when the changes are completed, which
will be right soon, we will have the fin
est and most convenient quarters out
side Of misunderstanding of course,
our states institution at Lansing. Then.
when we have social "doings'' up there,
we will not be crowded to death, and
our guests who have cOrns and bunions
will have more latitude. We will then
have three dining a large libra
ry and reading-rOOm, which can be
used for dancing, several parlOrs and
reception rOoms-in short. all that heart
could desire or money Chat is, some
money! purchase for our comfort and
pleasure and to make glad the hearts
Of our guests; and if you are not an Elk
you will not be lin it," often.
CTO the ladies': If your husband is
not an Elk, you'd better see that he ap-
plies at once for admissiOn-that is, if
he is a real nice man, as we are to have
just a little the SWEETEST ouse-warming
when our new quarters are in shape
that ever happened on this portion of
the "fOotstool" None but Elks and
their kin-fOlk will be invited-that is, of
the sterner sex. OF course, if you are
spinster-we mean maiden fair-and
some nice Elk sends pO an Invite" to
attend this function, don't you think Of
declining, for really and truly, as you
girls would express it, the affair viii be
Q6GlQGQlJ ISGuefc4e.J
But, as we were saying before, we
really don't know how long the war in
South Africa will last, but that don't
bother us any more than the bear fight
did the woman. What. never heard of
it2 Well, that is funny, for it is a reg
ular old chestnut. But here 1t is: A
poor woman was strOlling through the
woods in search of her husband who
had been out all night sitting up with
a sick friend" or attending some ones
birthday party-at least she didn't
know where the blessed man was She
unexpectedly came upon him in a heat
| ed controversy with a bear He solicited
/ her good offices in his behalf but as it
/ seemed about an even tussle and she
/ believed in fair play, she merely re-
marked as she turned on her right heel
/ eve believe it was) and wendell her way
/ hOmeward: Go it, mani Go it, bear!
I don't give a snap which whips" And
yet, people sometimes ask single men
/ why they don't get married.
We go thus into details in our History
/ of the Elks lest some people who know
| little, if anything, concerning US may
! get q, wrong impression of our objects
and purposes in life. Many men who
/ have never yet taken an excursion on the
| hurricane-deck of our goat, and some
! women, too. have an idea that we are
! They're way off the reservation in this
/ respect
Next year we will tell you more of
/ our secrets-maybe
Hoping you will enjoy the play and
J have sweet dreams after you retire to-
night, and every night, for that matter,
| and that you will give US another lift
next season, We bid you good night.