The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-24

Melted for Gym at New City Building
u Entertainment Given by Police
and FIrcmen Friday--Was Great
Success.
A success in every detail, made SO
by the generous support of thousands
of citizens, and by the manner in
which the entire program was carried
out, is the least that can be said of
the Police and Ffremen's gymnasium
benefit entertainment, at the Auditor
ium, Friday afternoon and evening.
1t was successful -com a financial
standpoint and successful for the
pleasure that 1t afforded the thousands
of persons who witnessed the perfor-
mances, matinee and evening
While the entertainment abounded
with many of the novelties of modern
vaudeville, the feature that stood most
prominent in the estimation of the
audience, was the Life of a Fire
man." arranged by Fire Chief Mesnar,
in which all of the daily routine of
the local fire stations was portrayed
with striking vividness. The scene
came near the close of the entertain
cellent reproduction of one of the
were the stalls, In which two sturdy
horses of the department stood. In
the center of the stage stood one of
the hose carts. Electric connection
from box AZ at the other end OF the
stage to the operating desk, had been
installed. AS the audience looked on,
nI. 1A
stage Willing away the time play
ing checkers, smoking and studying
the map, upon which all of the fire
plugs are located.
Extreme calm and tranquility pre-
vailed over the whole scene. Now
and then the telephone would ring,
and the eager firemen anticipating an
alarm, felt keen disappointment when
they were called upon to answer a
mere casual question. So the time
progressed. Then the firemen retired
and the lights were put out.
While peacefully slumbering in their
hunks, Miss Winnie Thomas sang two
illustrated songs, THE Man Who
Fights the Flames" and when Our
Firemen Face the Foe
Then for a moment all was hushed.
Then came the slight tinkling OF
smashed glass, from the farther end
of the stage. In twinkling all was
in an uproar. Amid the harsh clang
of the fire gong, the lights were
switched on in time to see the fire.
men emerging from their beds, slip
ping on their garments and sliding
down the poles. The heavy horses, on
the alert at the sound of the gong,
pranced from their comfortable quar-
ters, and backed carefully but quickly
into their harness, to be hurriedly
hitcheG. The whole stage presented
a scene of clamorous but systematic
activity. The fremen jumped upon
the fire truck, and all was in readi-
ness for the start.
In the afternoon performance one
OF the horses, unaccustomed to the
stage, failed to get into its place prop
erly at the hitch, and the performance
was given over again very success
fully.
During the afternoon there were
many school children present, and
Chief sMesnar gave these a short talk,
telling them of the many false alarms
turned in to the fire department on
account of tampering by youngsters,
and asking them to report all such
Offenses to the mayor.
The remainder OF the program was
made up of minor features. Moving
pictures of the parade of the Colum-
bus fire department, taken while the
Fire Chiefs national convention was
In session there, were given very
realistic effect by changing accom-
paniment upon a huge gong. The
Police Quartet of Pittsburg, rendered
several selections in a captivating
manner. William Loos and Miss Har-
ding of this city are deserving Of great
credit for their excellent acrobatic
performance.
Those to whom credit is due for
their unceasing efforts towards max
jng-the affair the success It was, are
A. II. Abrams, manager of the Nickel
Odeon, Fire Chief Mesnar end Chief
OF Police Smith, and the scores of fire
laddies and blue coats In any way
connected with the entertainment.
Among those who witnessed the en-
tertainment yesterday afternoon and
evening were Jerome F. Shepley, of
the Massillon board of public safety;
Captain Christ Baatz, of the Central
FIRE station, at Massillon, and Chief
Aungst, of the Alliance fiere depart
ment @
II was estimated last night that the
net profit rom the entertainment
would be about 1900.
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