The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-29
AT THE GERMAN HOUSE
THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL IN AFTER
NOON y TILL LATE AT NIGHT.
There Were Athletic shows, n German
Farce. and After All Dancing
i'm Main Auditorium.

The German House membership observed
Thanksgiving with a festival from 3 o'clock
in the afternoon till after midnight. 1t was
the annual fall festival for the Germans,
and an elaborate programme had been pre-
pared. From 8 o'clock until night was set
apart for the children. The time was spent
in playing games. Music was furnished
during the afternoon by the German House
orchestra.
The night entertainment was in three di-
visions. The auditorium of the building
was crowded when the programme began
The first was an athletic exhibition by Miss
Cabel. Miss Kappeler and Hugo Fischer,
physical director. Otto Noting played a
piano solo and a double quartet composed
of members of the Musikverein sang two
selections. Mrs. Jeffries and Prof. Alex
ander Ernestinoff each played a piano solo.
job Koch sang a Swiss song. The active
turner's gave an exhibition of gymnastics
and pyramid building, and the first part
of the programme ended with tumbling by
Mr.. Irrgang and Mr.. Elkins.
After an intermission a play entitled Mr..
Hercules" was presented by member of
the German House. The play is an old Ger
man COIllcuy U eIIOIS lull VI IlulCUlOuS
complications. The plot centers around a
school director and a director of a small
circus. inadvertently applicants for the
circus apply to the school director and a
school candidate asks for a position from
the circus director. The circus director
wants athletes. Men of muscle and power
full physique pounce upon the school di-
rector, and on the other hand a frail look
ing student with milky complexion and yell
low, curly hair, clad in the garb of a minis
ter, finds himself ridiculed by the director
of the circus. These complicated circum-
stances are finally unraveled in the last
act by the two directors meeting and sub
sequent explanations.
In the play the part of Mr.. Mailman,
the school director, was taken by Richard
Lieber. Miss Martha Janka took the part
OF his daughter. Richard Opel was the
meek young man who applied to the cir
Gus director for a position. Hugo Fischer
was the circus director. George Lehman
played the title role, Mr.. Hercules, the
strong man who astOunded the baldheaded
school director. Henry MOesch took the
part Of a porter and Mrs. Hugo Fischer
that of a servant. The play was given will
a good stage setting and the lines were
we'll said by the performers. All was in
German. When the play was finished the
hall was cleared and the rest of the night
was spent in dancing.
Aside from these amusements there were
several booths Miss Charlotte Dinkelaker
had charge of the fruit booth; Mrs. Henry
Moesch, the "KlOndike' booth; Mrs. Fred
Bachmann, the children's booth, and G.
Becherer, George and August
Tamm loudly clamOred and pounded will
paddles to attract attention to a fake
roulette game in one corner of the hall. The
KlOndike booth furnished novel amuse-
ment. Inside the booth was a large pan of
Sawdust and 10 cents was charged for
the privilege of digging out small cubes
which were numbered and called for prizes.
The auditorium and halls were prettily
decorated with shocks of fodder and
adorned with sunflowers.