The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-16
ELkS MINISTRIES
TO HAVE FINE
1NTFRtOCUTOR
Carl c. May.)

(Earl c. May.)
1t has been only by the exercise
OF almost superhuman ingenuity and
effort that the management of the
Lakeland Elks' Minstrels has been
able to retain the invaluable serv :.
ices of Baron Ozias Moriarity Eaton,
who will act as first part interlo
cutor when Lakeland Lodge b. P.
o. E. No. 1921 gives its second an :
nual minstrel performance at the
Lakeland Auditorium the evening
Of April 9.
Although accustomed to public
appearance through his long service
for the municipality of Lakeland,
and. although properly famed as a
public speaker throughout the
length and breadth Of South Florida
Baron Eaton suffered severely from
shaking of the hind legs when the
curtain rose on last years minstrel
show. For it was the Baron's first
appearance as a minstrel show in
terlocutor. The baron could run a
passenger train with the nonchal
ance of veteran, but he had never
run a minstrel show first part be-
| fore and he was in about the same
state of mind as if he was running
wild without orders ON dark and
stormy night with the track pretty
we'll messed with extras, and no
wires working.
As the records so we'll show, Ba
ron Eaton came out of the ordeal
with flying colors and with new
luster to his laurel wreath. His
extreme dignity of bearing. the clear
clarion tones of his matchless voice
which carried to the uttermost cor
ners of the vast and crowded Audi
torium, added class to the brilliant
performance and stamped him as an
interlocutor of the first order.
There is a common impression
usually founded on fact, that the
jokes and merry wheezes character
istic of the orthodox minstrel first
part are carefully rehearsed ant
that the end men and the interlo
cutor are letter perfect before the
curtain rises. This was the opinion
held by Baron Eaton before las
seasons show began, but 1t hadnt
been going fifteen minutes before
the boys on the ends began to hant
the baron some new ones.
The best part of the show to tn
fellows on the stage was the manne
in which the baron juggled tn
balls that were thrown to him. TIL
first one that was pitched withou
signals caught him amidships ant
doubled him up and almost took hi
breath away. He fumbled badly
caught it in mid -air-and after tina
, threw away his score card and too
them as they came.
1t is not generally known tina
minstrel managers, like baseball
, managers, keep scouts on the roa
looking for promising new materia
, but there we're several minstrt
scouts in the Auditorium when tn
Lakeland Elks made their first min
strel appearance and the manner !
which Baron Ozias Moriarty Eato
carried" the first part brought hi
several dazzling offers.
Such minstrel magnates as ca
burn, Dockstader, Primrose an
Fields submitted some flattering OF
fers and Baron Eaton admits that
, his resignation as mayor had bee
2 accented and he had been able
peddle his palatial Cadillac that b
I might have been ION the road Ion
| ago.
Just one other thing kept hi
v from DOMINIC the war paint, featt
7 ers and black cork Of the profession
al minstrel man and that was h
loyalty to No. 1891. Baron Eato
then a plain Cap" was one Of tt
r charter members Of his lodge, WI
its first exalted ruler and has serve
it unselfishly and continually. wit
n distinction, ever since the lodge wi
4 installed.
/ "As long as Lakeland Lodge, E
y p O. E.. No. 1891, wants me, 81
= can have me-" says the Baron In h
rich Polish brogue. Other hif
e trionic worlds may tempt me. but
shall never fall. And. besides.
!. expect the boys to hand me re
6 new Jokes this season, and new jok
are not to be sneezed at"
e The new jokes have been provi'
h ed, which "covers" the almost 81
" perhuman ingenuity and emo
o .b0ya rafarred to