The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-03
HAWTHORNE Is A WONDER
THROUGH HIS EFFORTS LARGE
CROWDS SEE "BEss."
All Kinds OF Fancy Work to he Had
at the EIl<s' Mardi Gras-Visitors
from Other Towns.

Were John Hawthorne delivering pane
syric over his dearest friend, he could not
do 1t with more earnest ceremony than he
assumes when he introduces the engimatical
Bess to the crowds that pack her booth
every night at the Elks' Mard Gras. With
solemn pause, he arranges his glasses,
plaits his mustache. removes his hat and
begins in voice that trenbles with feeling:
Ladies and gentlemen, am about to In
troduce TO your notice that mysterious, that
marvellous, that much heralded, that long
looked for creation. Bess. Bess is not what
some of you might thing. the Queen Bee of
hive Of honey gatherers, neither is she the
Bell Cow Of the choicest herd of Jersey cat
tie that ever roamed the fragrant meadows,
but living. moving. breathing. pulsating.
animated creation. full of grace, poetry and
motion, by the side Of whom the girl with
the auburn hair and the man in the iron
mask pale into unalterable insignifcance.
just here, ladies and gentlemen, allow me
TO request that after you have gazed in
awe-stricken admiration at this wonderful
creature, you Will pass quietly from the hall
and say no words TO your friends Of who
Bess Is, but let them come and see Bess to-
gether with the other wonderful and mar
velous curiosities of this museum. And now
while the orchestra softly plays 'Hiawatha'
gaze upon the marvellous creation Bess.'
The curtain rises and for one minute Bess
fits before the gaze John Hawthorne
smiles and the diamonds on his manly
bosom sparkle; he has performed his duty.
DRAWS THE CROWDS.
Whether it is Bess or John Hawthorne.
that booth draws the crowds that visit the
Mardi Gras as a magnet draws steel. Last
night the booth doubled its receipts and re-
filed almost before 1t could be emptied Of
spectators. Although there was some talk
of changing Bess the managers have decid-
ed that 1t would be killing the goose that
lays the golden egg. for Bess has already
outstripped their expectations and contrary
20 the fear that she would grow tame"
she grows In popularity.
If the Mardi Gras was a success Tuesday
night 1t a double success last night,
for the crowd was more than doubled and
gil the boths reported that they had doubled
their business. 1t was the same care-free.
happy crowd that visited the carnival Tues
day night except that the gayety was great
er. The bankers had gained their second
wind and made the hall echo with their
walls "Bill' Quinn, who stands at the
entrance OF Bess's booth. is still the ''yeller
dog" Of the barkers and when he lets the
full volume of his voice roll out he browns
the shouts Of the bankers about him. A. V.
Wilson. who dispenses noise from soap
box beside the automobile, Is another lusty
lunged barker that declaims to the crowds.
Charles BALI, the barker of Lady Bountiful,
appeared last night in fascinating costume
that captured the girls, who did as Mr.. BALI
said. make him shell out, that's right"
All the booths were unusually bright and
attractive last night and their occupants
ing out their wares and curios. If one
prdss himself f on his his luck there are ample
bargains at the Mardi Gras
AT THE BOOTHS
At the fancy work and art booths there
are many things that could not be pur-
chased at the downtown stores for less
than SO that are raf1ed off at the carnival
for 10 cents chance on the fortune wheels.
Pillows, sewing baskets, fancy work and no
end Of attractive handiwork went last night
: for a mere bagatelle. The furniture booth
also offers some good investments. Three
chairs were sold last night. They were ex-
penstve pieces or furniture donated by the
New York store, Rhodes, Burford and Clune
Harris were the winners. An avalanche OF
tickets was again sold last night on the
automobile and the launch. All the other
booths were well patronized while Lady
Justice kept her policemen working double
time and assessed fines as fast as she could
A good vaudeville was again offered last
night, the feature OF which was Company
= OF William Z. English's Hoosier Zouaves
which are said to be the best in the coun-
try. Tonight the bill will be changed and
will include Ed Laugh, baritone; Master
A. Hamerlacker, who has just graduated
from the New York School Of Music and Is
said to be a violin wonder: the two LIE
Mars, In sensational aerial act, and a
comedy quartet.
Tonight Is expected TO be the big night
OF the carnival. Four hundred members OF
the Fraternal Order of Eagles have been
notified to attend and a number of the
other orders OF the city have sent word to
their members to be present. Three hun
dred Elks from Anderson have notified the
managers that they will attend Special
preparations have been made to make the
night the largest of the Mardi Gras.
The carnival will close Saturday night
On Saturday afternoon matinee will be
given for women and children. An event OF
the matinee will be the juvenile vaudeville
composed OF small children of the city. Mr.
Kevers, manager OF the carnival, says that
the receipts already more than ex.
pected, and he Is well satisfied with the
Mardi Gras. The receipts will go to the
Elks' charity fund.