Elks' Charity Benefit

The Elks owned Ann Arbor Friday ïfternoon and evening, at least yon svould think they did from the numbers of those horned gentlemen whn were present on onr streets in knots of Èwos and threes and sometimes more. Ihey were ubiquitons, here, tbere and sverywhere, and were eugaged in having a generally good time, as they always do. The cause of the gathering was the first annnal charity benefit of Ann Arbor Lodge, No. 325, B. P. O. Elks, the entertainment taking place in the evening at the Athens Theater. Shortly before 1 p. m. a special train Df threa Pallruan coaches pulled into the Michigan Central depot, having on board over 100 Elks from Jaokson and Boos' band. The Ann Arbor boys bad been at the depot for an honr waiting Eor them and no time was lost in useless prelirninaries. The Jackson boys with their band were marohed to the front of the column and the Aun Arbor Liodge headed by the Washtenaw Times band falling in behind them a parade :hrough the city was inaugurated which lasted for nearly au honr. On airiving t the Elks' lodge rooms all dispersed ;o their several hotels or homes for 1 inner. During the afternoon each enjoyed íimself as he saw fit. JMany attended ;he St. Thomas' cburch fair, where hey spent their ruoney freely and had ots of fun. During the afternoon the ïumber of visitors was swelled by a mail delegation from Detroit. There were bnt few vacant seats ia he parquet and parquet circle of the Mhens Theater in the evening and the allery bad quite a nnruber ie it, but t was not a gallery crowd that attendid that show. At 8:15 the curtain inng np and for wo honrs or more that followed the indience laughed at and enjoyed a ninstrel and specialty performance that vas excellent in its character. True, t moved a little slowly, but that was iot the fault of tbe performers but of he stage hands counected with the heater, who were in a state of mutiny ind practically refused to do any work ibout the stage settings. Those who took part in the first jart were : Negro minstrels - Fred Huntoon, inerlocutor; James E. Harkins and Frank Ryan, tambos; George Parker ind Dean Seabolt, bones; James H. Boardman, of Jaokson. Chorus - William Gwinner, August Kooh, Vincent Crittenden, William Duun, George Fiscber, Robert Gwinner, Engene Wagner, Frank Mclntyre, Prederio Dansingburg. Specialists - Jacobs and Rose, singers, dancers and comedians in the PasMa-La and buok and wing dancing; Frank Chamberlain, in fancy rifle shooting, trick rope juggiing, etc. ; Seabolt, Ryan and Mclntyre, comedy trio; Stark and Benoit, musical comedians; Nate Leipziger, legerdemain. The songs were all good and enoores were frequent; the jokes of the endmen were not chesnutty and abounded in local hits. Mr. Leipzigers feats of legerdemain, the bnek and wiDg dancing of Jacobs and Rose and "Dot Leedle Yerman Band" pleased the audience greatly. Prof. R. H. Kempf trained and directed the chorus in bis raasterly manner. In fact, the entertainment was "all right, " and was so pronounced by all. After the show the local and visiting Elks with a few friends repaired to the lodge rooms where a temptmg banquet was spread for 200 people and eveiy seat was filled. Martin J. Cavanaugh was chairman and aftar bringiug the assemblage to order he introdneed in rapid succession a coterie of gentlemen who made things hum with their excellent speeches. Among them were Mayor Hiscook, of Ann Arbor; District Deputy Robert Lake, of Jaokson; Charles A. Ward, of Ann Arbor; Senator Charles H. Smith, of Jackson; Dr. O. J. R. Hanna, of Jackson; Representativo A. J. Sawyer of Ann Arbor; Hon. John W. Boardman, of Jackson, and Prusecuting Attorney Elrner Kirkby, of Jackson. lt was eariy in the morning when the pleasant occasion carne to an end and the best part of it is that the charity fnnd of Ann Albor Lodge, B. P. O. E. is rioher by a couple of hundred dollars by reason of it.