The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-28
ELKS DRAW WELL
Largest Audience Of Week at
Auditorium Last Night.
Sacred Music Gives Way to
Cocoon" Songs.
THE SINGING PLEASED
Performers Were All Treated to
Enthusiastic EncOres.
Series viii Close With COlored
Talent Concert Tonight.

The walls of the Auditorium were still
dripping from the baptism in classical
music when the people assembled within
its portals to hear modern minstrelsy as
delineated by Lee Jones and his aggre-
cation of black face artists.
The strains OF Hear Ye Israel" Yet
Doth the Lord and Lift Thine Eyes
which greeted the audience on the open
ing night may be just what the people
considered appropriate on that occasion
because sacred music is really the prop
er thing for a baptismaI service. but
those who sat through the famous ora
tor1O and applauded at the proper in
tervals because it was the thing to do
and not because they appreciated high
class music, got what they wanted last
night-negro melody in plenty. Men who
attended the oratorio and the symphony
because they looked upon it as a duty
which should be performed by every
patriotic citizen, and who applauded
when a musically informed neighbor
nodded approval. came last night with
a smile of confidence and expectancy
because they knew they would hear mu-
sic they could understand and appre
ciate- They could say truthfuily the
next morning that they enjoyed the mu-
sic without making the recording angel
work overtime on their account.
The average man who is healthy does
not enjoy classical music and Topeka
men are no exception if they are above
the average 4nGY may say they 90, Out
they don't Negro melody is the hand
which reaches out and tWangs the heart
strings OF the properly constituted man
and woman. There never was a heart
so hard that the ''Suwanee River" or the
old Kentucky Home" would not soften
and thrill. and the rag time song will
start the foot tapping with the merri-
ment the heart feels Jolly or sad the
negro melody, the coon song, is the mu-
sic that is distinctly American and is
the music the people love-that is why
they were out in such force last night in
spite Of the rain It was the largest
audience of the week
1t was $3.50 before the audience was all
seated and the chorus marched in and
took the seats in the rear of the stage
They were followed by the artists and
interlocutOr who took the seats arranged
in semi-circle in regular minstrel
style The end men, of which there were
ten-count them, ten-were the only
ones BACKED. but they were made up in
regulation minstrel fashion; red coats.
white trousers. loud shirts and curly
wigs Lee Jones was arrayed in a man
ner that Solomon in all his glory
couldn't touch. His fat legs were en-
cased in black tights. there were puffs
on his shoulders. his yoke was insertion
and a sort of tOga, the emblem of digni-
t.. trailing down his back and
tangling his movements. He looked
real well' and would pass for Falstaff
The impression given was that he in
tended to do a stunt from Shakespeare
later in the evening and that he had
come clothed in proper costume because
there was no dressing room in which to
change The audience was disappointed
for ne confined himself to his minstrel
duties.
There were not many jokes, but it is
true that most Of them were not old A
few antiQuated and decrepit ones crept
In, but they were recognized as old
friends and were extended a warm hand.
There was a notable dearth of local
gags" which is something looked for
in a home talent minstrel. Only twice
were local jokes attempted. The in
terlOcutOr asked a sleepy looking end
man. How are you feeling this even
iug2" oh. kinda Chief Ramsey-lilze'
What do you mean by Chief Ramsey
lfke2" inquired Mr. Jones. "Oh, kinda
sore about the joints
Mr.. Jones before begin would like
10 know if there are any shirt waists in
the house?" inquired w. c. Swartz, who
was the extreme end of the bone" men.
Mr.. Jones walked to the footlights and
don't see Charley Holiday here" That
started the cracking of jokes
Mr. Jones. when I come into this
barn-like place. stop. Mr.. Swartz.
this is not a barn-like place. There is
nothing about it resembling a barn. 1t
is a fine Auditorium built by the people
Of Topeka. and we feel very proud of
it," interrupted the interlocutor. yes.
] know that; but it's barn like place"
insisted Brother Bones" Il say this is
harn-like cause the people OF Topeka
keep their mayor here"
The song Rag Time Life" which Mr.
Swartz sang in true coon manner.
caught the audience and started their