The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-12-17
AFFAIR A BIG FROST
HINKY DINK AND BATH HOUSE
ARE IN THE DUMPS.
Concert Given By this Couplet in Chi
cago Did Not Meet Up With the
Expectations of Those Who Man
aged It; Was Not Like This In
the 0lden Days." Few People At.
tend the Songfest.

| Chicago, Dec. 15.-It was sicklyl
Along about nine o'clock Hinky Dink
slipped in apologetically and moused
his way over to where the Bathhouse
stood, Kenna nudged him.
'Hello!" said John.
Mike just dropped the corners of his
mouth a bit more. Then he glanced up
at Caughlin with an expression that
suggested seasickress.
AS Napoleon and his aids may have
watched concluding incidents at Water
loo Coughlin and Kenna looked over the
metamorphosis of the First ward ball.
In the center of the big Coliseum
they say a platform which will be oc-
cupied by two wrestlers tonight. Fish
er's military band filled the seats. On
the floor which was waxed and shining
Ia year ago, were thousands of wooden
chairs, nailed down.
By $3.50 o'clock there were only 500
people in the hail. but by ten o'clock
$500 has passed through one door and
out another. t~
By droves they came in with an l.
maybe driven-here- but-Tll- mash-any-
man-t hat-saysso expression on their
faces. They sidled and squirmed this
way and that until sure that either the
Bathhouse or Kenna had seen them.
Then their filtered through tier or
two of seats and headed for the in
conspicuous exits.
Coughlin Wears Dress Suit.
The First ward concert was such q
contrast with the First ward ball of
years gone by that it gave ticket hold
ers that vacant feeling of descending
down in fast elevator. Most of
the tickets held were red ones with the
inscription complimentary" across
from corner to corner.
"They're pretty, amt they?" Bath
house commenced.
Along about nine o'clock the fellow
in the cage from whence issued the 81
tickets was asleep.
"You must have made about $l8?"
someone suggested.
yes" reluctantly admitted the al
derman, "more OF less"
Coughlin had on a dress suit, one
of these fuzzy, shampooed muleskin
hats, red sash across his shirt bosom,
and a lavender tie.
Kenna was in street attire, coat
collar up about his neck, and his trou-
SerS DaSSy.
1t was just about time for the. con-
cert to begin and Kenna had reached
Johns side again.
"The First ward ball amt nothing
like this" he averred.
NO." John admitted.
"Guess I'll go up to council meeting"
"All right"
Band Plays Johns Selections.
Then Coughlin walked up to the
band stand.
Guess you better play little"
Bandmaster Fisher agreed and then
played a little. His musicians broke
out first with a ragtime twostep.
Then the band played the overture to
civilian Tell" Selections from musi-
cal comedies followed. The audience
SHED little and applauded in elm
afraid we'll wake the baby fashion.
John beamed as the band played the
pieces he knew.
"Them is all my selections" he said.
"And here's thing 1 might as well
tell you about now. I've been offered
$4,000 to go on the vaudeville stage for
year to begin next January"
They want me to sing original COM
positions. I guess I'll make hit.
I'd have sung here tonight only the
band couldn't get the stuff arranged
in time as high as l like to sing