The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-25
HAPPY CHILDREN
IHRONG THE. BIJOU
ELKs MAKE 1900 LITTLE HEARTS
GLAD. :
Lodgemen, Street Railway and Electric
Companies, Theater Managers, Ac-.
tors and Musicians Unite to Give
Christmas Treat to Little Folks-Not
a Murmur Of Regret Is Heard.

Fifteen hundred little hearts were
made glad thru the Christmas enter.
talnment given to the poor children of
the city at the Biiou theater yesterday
by the Elks: Fifteen hundred happy
faces beamed from every part of the
auditorium up to the actors on the
stage. And when it was all over, and
candies and oranges had been distrib-
uted to the juvenile host, fifteen hun.
dred little mouths were all busily en-
gagged in munching the goodies as their
owners made their way to their homes,
almost too full of both joy and confec.
lions for utterance.
1t was memorable occasion for the
children. Most Of them, probably, had
never been in theater before. And in
view of the fact that the children be-
longed to the poorer families in the
city, it will be many day before they
again see a dramatic program. "
The Elks secured the names of the
children to whom they gave matinee
tickets from the various charitable or
CARNATIONS Of the city. The manage
ment Of the street railway did its part
that each child could ride to and from
the theater. The actors who made up
the vaudeville program gave their SER
vices, the orchestra made no charge for
the music, and the General Electric
company donated the afternoon 8 light
ing. Theo L. Hayes gave free use Of
the Biiou the eater, and, in addition, his
personal services as stage manager, an
nouncing each "turn.''
Boys Could Whistle.
The program opened with an address
by the Rev. J. S. Montgomery. It was
talk to little ones, given in DR.. Mont
gomery's happiest vein. 1t was a
Christmastide address with all formali-
ties thrown to one side.
"Boys, can you whistle?' asked DR..
Montgomery at the concluion of his
talk. The response sounded like a half
dozen locomotives all coming around a
bend at the same time. The boys could.
Then the curtain rang up on the next
attraction Of the afternoons program,
the Frawleys in "The Littlest Girl, -
dramatized by Robert Hilliard from
Richard Harding Davis story, "Her
First Appearance. Charles MacDon-
aid appeared as Mr.. Caruthers; Louis
Thompson as Davenport, the servant;
T. Daniel Frawley as Van Bibber, and
last, but not least, Ruth Monroe, the
"Littlest Girl'' of the Lester Opera
company. Curled up in a chair by q
glowing ''stage" fire during most Of
the piece, little Ruth was the center
Of attraction for the childish. eyes Of
the audience, many of whom were too
young to understand the words of the
actors.
Mamie Gets Clogs.
Mamie Halperin of Minneapolis was
doubtless the second choice of the pro-
gram offered. Herself hardly more than
13 or II years Of age, light Of foot,
bright of eye and with sweet voice,
she was loudly applauded as she danced
and sang her way into the hearts of
her little hearers. Mamie Halperin was
happy. She had cause to be gay which
her audience knew not Of. For months
she had been trying to save money to
buy pair Of real "clogs," hardsoled
dancing shoes, but each week her earn
ings had to go to help out her mother 8
fully given them regularly, tho she
longed for Sc all her own with which
to buy the coveted dancing shoes. A
kind hearted Elk heard of the longing
Of the little stage girl, and. before the
performance yesterday afternoon the
coveted shoes were placed in her hands:
Mamie couldn't wait until her turn
came, but put them right on and
' clOgged' to her heart content in
one of the stage dressing rooms unit
she was called to continue her nimble
dancing where it could be, and was,
appreciated by the audience.
Because of matinees at other theaters,
some of the performers scheduled were
not able to appear, but "extras' were
rung in, and the program filed out.
Fred Watson and the ,Morrissey Sisters
from the Orpheum were scheduled. The
."Sisters did not appear, but Fred
Watson did. Sautelle and Sears, in a
dance and duet turn, from the Dewey,
made a hit with the children. D. j.
Sullivan of the "Arizona' company,
Bilou, sang two songs, "star Of My
Life'' and "a Message from Home,
Sweet Home,'' in excellent voice. Ed
ward Mulligan Of the sArizonav com
3pany gave q song and dance speciality.
The Gem theater contributed two acts,
Lutz and Je1lings, Dutch comedians,
and and Bert Turner, comedy juggler:
James Jay, banjoist, gave an excellent
number. Little Arthur White sang sew
eral songs, which were loudly applaud
ed. Sam Carlton and, F. e. Tucker
gave monologs. W. C. Marlowe rendered
a !cornet solo. The program finally ended
with moving pictures, showing Santa
Claus, first in his workshop, then speed
ing over vale and hill with his rein
deer, and finally descending chimneys
and filling waiting stockings