Evening star., 1945-10-14


might share in the enjoyment of read
ing it, too. SO here it is:
odd FELLOWS HALL.
"1875. A New Year Festival.
Friday and Saturday Afternoon and
Nights.
Return to Washington of the eminent
artists, Rose and Harry Watkins, and
the wonderful child actress and song
stress, Little Amy Lee, in a grand moral
drama, entitled:
His Worst Enemy, or the Angel
Child dedicated to the memory of
Father Matthews, the great apostle of
temperance and the Good Templars of
America. This powerful play has met
with extraordinary success throughout
the country and is faithful picture of
the times we live in,' depicting the po-
litical and social aspects of our national
life and vividly illustrating the besetting
sin of society.
Admission, so cents and Is cents; re-
served Seats rs cents-to be had at
Ellis Music Store on and after Wednes-
day morning"
Uncle Tom
Following on the heels Of this came
Blind Tom, the celebrated Negro boy
pianist and vocalist, who always ap-
plauded himself even if no one else did,
which, of course, was seldom the case,
and then, perhaps, sandwiched in be-
tween the more serious performances
came troupe of athletes and the man
who played on the musical glasses such
exquisite pieces as II Wander Today
Ger the Hills, Maggie" He was followed
later on by the ever-popular Uncle
Toms Cabin" whose pathetic parts
have brought tears to the eyes of many
a sympathetic attendant.
The variety of shows put on at Odd
Fellows Hall might be judged by the
two advertisements herewith which
were published in The Star of April
Is and May 3, respectively, 1875.
Though we old timers fondly recall
the tattooed man, the living skeleton, the
fat man, the sword swallower, the giant
and other curiosities, yet no doubt the
Lilliputians attracted most of our youth
attention, especially Mr.. and Mrs. Tom
Thumb-Minne Warren and Commodore
Mutt. They came to Odd Fellows Hall
for a number of years, under the man.
agement of P. T. Barnum, who, as a
Snowman, was probably without an
equal.
Tom Thumb
In 1852 Barnum picked up Charles
Haywood Stratton in his home town Of
Bridgeport, Conn, and seeing the possi-
bilities of an additional attraction to his
New York museum, engaged him at the
seemingly ridiculous salary of So week.
The name Charles Haywood Stratton
was not a good name for the show busi-
ness and Barnum Immediately changed
this to Tom Thumb, and, proving a
drawing card right from the beginning,
mis- salary was soon increased to $25 a
week and travelling expenses.
In 1854 Barnum took him to England,
trip which proved highly financial
success, and the handsome dwarf was
presented to Queen Victoria and~other
members of the royal family. From
England he was taken to Paris, where
he was welcomed by more national lead
ers and where additional coin of the
realm was pocketed in anticipation of a
rainy day and their return to America.
Charles Dickens Visit
When Charles Dickens visited WASH
ington in l842 he stopped at Fuller's
Hotel, site of the present Willard Hotel,
and he is said to have lectured at Tenn
perance Hall, more recently at 914 E
street NV, but since the cornerstone
of this building was not laid until July
4, 1843, such could not have been the
case. However, when he returned to
Washington in 1868 he gave his read
ings at Carroll Hall, then on the south
side Of G street between Ninth and
Tenth streets. This hall and Temper
ance Hall are no longer standing.
In this connection the writer prizes
very highly letter he received back in
June, 1884, from man OF whom there
Is no more esteemed and beloved native