The daily sentinel., 1903-03-14
The MINISTRIES
Last Night at the Park Opera
House Pleased the Majority
of Those Present Stage Eff
feet Equal to the Best.


weeks for that matter. so far as the
Elks are concerned. passed into his
tory last night. 1t was the first min
strel entertainment by the Elks of this
city.
Taxing the entertainment as a
whole it was most creditable to those
who participated. To properly pre-
sent the features of the brilliant pro-
gram has entailed an immense amount
OF work. known only to those who
have had the affair in charge.
The audience last night was bril-
liant and inspiring one. Every seat
down stairs, was occupied and if
there was anything to be gained for
the performers from a splendid audi
Pence. inspiration certainly was not
lacking. as those present We're the
fri 9nds of the members of the caste
and the organization as whole.
No expense was spared by the com
mittee to properly stage the perform
ance. 1t was their aim to give every
| thing the touch and tone of high
class minstrel performance. That
they succeeded was evidenced by the
applause that greeted every number
on the program. If there were any
preie or not present who expected
to see a farce. whose ridiculous pre-
sentation would be its first and main
recommendation. they were disap-
pointed, as throughout it was clean
in tone and feature.
When the curtain rose a scene bril-
liant and beautiful was presented to
the ewes of the audience. Every fea-
ture of the modern minstrel setting
was there. The seats arranged in
tiers one above another presented from
forty to fifty members of the cast,
| black faced. conventionally costumed
and with no shifts whatever. or no
gaping places to hide. The ensemble
was brilliant and attractive and spon-
taneously the audience, as if moved
| by a common impulse. broke into loud
and prolonged applause. No higher
compliment could have been paid the
management than this hearty COM
mendation of the splendid spectacle.
expressed in this recognition before
one word was spoken.
A large and brilliant electric star
hung from the centre of the stage.
Elk heads were at every vantage
point, each brilliantly Illuminated
with several electric bulbs. The cos
tuning of the end men. eight in mum.
| Der. was very effective. their suits be-
| ing strictly of the minstrel variety
and made of handsome material. All
the other gentlemen wore full dress
suits and the orchestra. under Prof.
Boyer, leader, also were black faced
and wore their uniforms. The OPEN
ing number was a chorus by the whole
company This was sung with dash
and brilliancy. which delighted the
audience.
The first part throughout was most
excellent. The soloists were J. f.
Whitaker. B. P. Blair. j. H. Gal
lupe. Frank Mason, A. r. Jennings.
W. c. Boyer. J. A. Munson and T. G.
Hickman.
Some novel features We're introduce
| tA DN hAlC 9OAOl1AHs dhAVbE tAShi bCAhE
the introduction during the singing of
the solo by W. @. Boyer. of a little
colored babe. which acted its part to
perfection. turning its head and
blinking it's eyes humorously. as it re-
ceived the admonition from the singer
to ''go to sleep.
The singers were generally recalled.
At the conclusion of several of the so
los the singers We're the recipients of
the compliments of their friends, in
the shape of large rooster in cage
to Mr. Whitaker; bale of hay prop
erly labeled to Mr. Gallupe. from his
warm and admiring friends; a small
rag baby and nursing bottle to Mr..
Jennings and a cabbage head. proper
/ ly decorated and festooned to Mr..
Munson.
Several of the solos were exceeding
ly good. from the singing standpoint.
but the chorus parts were enjoyable in
every instance.
1t would be odious to draw compar-
Ison of the singers and this judgment
| of tho rnarrrs of tba sava,o1 ,,arSici