The Lakeland evening telegram., 1919-04-05

A fine show, a tremendous crowd
and everybody feeling they had gotten
their moneys worth, was the result Of
the big Elks Minstrel staged at the
Auditorium last night before fully
1000 people.
The curtain went up on a Missis-
sippi barbecue-like all up.to-the min.
ute minstrels, the new style Of pre-
senting the olio first and the main
spectacular scenic production for the
last was adhered to, and Scene No. l
showed E. R. Carswell as Aunt Han.
nah and all the other coons partici-
pating in a wedding, in which DR.. Ir-
vim appeared as the bride and Clyde
Trammell the groom. AS niger
bride Doc was a peach, and it looked
like Parson Schurman was going to
get them tied in great shape, when in
walked P. A. Curtis, a bad actor, who
forbade the knot tying, using a six
shooter very effectively until the cur.
tain rolled down with every Niger
dead or dying G. White was the
deacon; Joe LeVay's appearance was
greatly enhanced by his new complex
ion-and when it came to dancing,
Joe backed everybody else off the
boards S. w. Moody was Rastus,
Henry Thompson was the Mississippi
Buzzard and Dale Williams was the
Skeeter.
Real Roman Gladiators had nothing
on Eugene Jones, and w. v. McRae,
who were some strong" men, and
especially strong was Virgil on the
use of his handkerchief after his
wonderful feates of strength.
If the Hindus only knew about e.
r. Carswell he wouldn't be allowed to
roam the streets of Lakeland, for he
surely would be heralded far and
wide as a mind reader whose amaz-
ing powers would astound the world
that is if he had Ed Schurman down
in the audience to help in the as
founding process. AS Prince Gonzola
Wasso he was certainly some Basso
Profundo.
The Circus Side Show was revela-
tion, concealing SO thoroughly the
good looks of number of Lakeland's
handsomest mentor who would
imagine l.. w. Yarnall could look 80
vicious as he did as the Wild Man; or
how emaciated TRULY O'Steen could
be as the Dope Fiend" or how really
like a skeleton Mr.. Haas, of the local
Post Office force could be? Ellery Rey
nolds was some Snake Charmer and
/ G. d. McDowall as the Bearded Lady
gave everybody their moneys worth
r. B. Child was too cute for words
as the fat baby. Col. Edwin Spencer
as "The Spieler," showed off these
freaks to the best advantage, his sup
erb bursts Of eloquence being equal
to the interesting objects Of his de
scriptions.
Dale Williams, whose equal on
skates hasn't been located this side
of the North Pole, gave spectacular
exhibition to the enjoyment and
: amazement of those who had seen
him perform before and many who
had never before had the pleasure.
The big closing scene was the show
proper, and the beautiful scenery
representing the Battleship Florida
set off the yeomen, first class sea
, men, deck hands, and roustabouts, al
i. torpedoes of minstrelsy, who started
/. off the fun with pep, good songs and
{ clever Jokes, which kept the biz
4 crowd in an uproar. The Captain o.
the Ship, Mr.. o. M. Eaton, turned
2 over the duties of Interlocutor to Mr.
. w. r. Pattie, under whose direction
; the show was staged, and from thu
moment the first shot was fred b.
Malcolm McMullen and T. Stanle!
Filbert until the curtain went dowl
on "The Statue of Liberty is Smilint
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