The New York Clipper (December 1903)

DECEMBER 2(5. THE NEW YORK CLIPPER. 1043 Madame Anna Bl*hop also gave a concert, „nd had an accident, lor ahe sot down too Ji".„ to the edge of the platform and one leg SfSe chair went down, and so did she. But Lb, WM not hurt. I saw her again In New York at a reception, shortly before ah* died. £te sing "Home, Sweet Home," with the Mme skin, but the rich, foil voice was gone. a little girl came to Oakland with her mother to pass a few weeks at the hotel, and Afterward we discovered that she was no less « nersonage than onr Lotta Crabtree. She was^t jM»lng, »»' »tuayI»K hard. She was all forehead, legs and arms, as I re- member her now. She did not care to play !»r to do anything like other children, but she did cry over her studies, and often com- nlalned of headache. She Interested me as a little girl In a place where there were few children, and I longed for her childish com- nanlonsblp, though she was not a child In tbe common acceptance of the word. Bat she was very attractive In her strange aloof- ness. I think she might have played had she been permitted. We had minstrels, too, and I think we liked them best of anything, next to a circus. Kirch ft Backus gave several performances at this hotel at different times, and were well appreciated. Their company was good, and their dress remarkable, to say the least. Immense white collars, swallow tailed coats, with buttons as big as plates, and calico vests In flaring colors. And neckties] And flowers In the lapels I We bad a garden outside the hotel, and, as cultivated flowers had not yet been brought to California, my father had brought many wild plants from bis ranch, and tbey looked pretty. Backus and Birch were Inseparable, and they were walking Id the garden wben Backua saw a plant with beautiful and large purple flowers, and be decided to wear one that night In bis lapel. lie asked my little brother If be could nave one. Of course we were all only too proud to bave him take them all if lie wished. Bo be cut off the finest of them and put It In his coat, and then he began to edge toward tbe house as be smelled a strange odor. Finally, after too many questions to record here, he dis- covered that the flower was from the well known skunk cabbage. He wore bla big sun- flower that night. The mlnetrcls rehearsed In the ball room during the day, and It did take off a little of the shine to bear them plan to do or say this or that to raise a laugh. There was one singer, I think his name was Wambold, but It may have been another, for thlB was Ic-ng ago; but bis voice will always live In my memory as the sweetest and most sym- pathetic I ever beard. One time Birch and Backus were preparing for the evening, and Backus thought a big red patch on bis black pantaloons would be a hit. He asked my grandmother for a piece of red stuff, nnd she gave blm a generous piece of red flannel, and offered to sew It on for him, but he thanked her, and borrowed a needle and thread and went up stairs to tbe ball room. We did not know what It was for, and a girl friend and I had curiosity enough to go up to our peep holes which we had made so that we could see and bear the rehearsals. We saw Backus lying- across a table, with Birch sewing the patch on Backus' trousers. 1 do not know whether be had but tbe one pair or not, but they were fixed for tbe nlgbt then. BIrcb used tbe needle so awkwardly that Backus kicked several times. When the audience saw that patch that night they screamed, but somehow It did not seem so very funny to me. There were many "snide" performances of magic lanterns, magic, singing and dancing, stone breaking, tight rope, and cannon ball throwing, etc. Indeed, the performers were very versatile, some of them adding the High- land fling and fancy jig dancing to their other accomplishments. All theatrical, min- strel, concert and other entertainments ended with a ball, which was kept up until daylight, so that those from a distance could see to go home. Tbe performances must have been pretty fair, for no one was ever shot there for bad playing. Those good old days are gone, though, but until I forget to live I shall remember tbem tenderly, for they were also the precious days of my youth—days when I believed. 4> » WIIEnE, WHEN AND WHY THE) DEACON PLAYED CLOWN. BT CHARLES II. DAT. Before the establishment of the mill, fol- lowing the opening of a railroad connection, the town was called Burrvllle. Upon the ad- dition of the manufactory and railroad sta- tion an effort was made to change tbe title of tbe proposed borough to Burrborough, the suggestion coming from tbe old resldenters. The managers of the mill enterprise mildly objected, pointing out tbe fact that In corres- pondence, shipping of goods, and so fortb, Burr was everyway preferable. Tbe mill In- fluence waa sufficient to secure tbe christen- ing of the corporation to tbelr liking, and also the election of the first burgess. Deacon Levi Powers was an extremely good man, and, although In religious matters he was radical and conscientious—easy going people said straight laced—he was well thought of as a man and a citizen, and It was not a strict party vote that brought blm Into office by a very large majority. Pastor Weed— appropriate name—looked as If be was In perpetual mourning the morning after the election; after congratulating the deacon on hla triumph he said: "Brother Barnes was left 'way behind la the race." "Oh, he couldn't keep up with the band wagon," adding, at the slip of the tongue, "ahem I ahem l n The mill management had not only had a hand ln the election of tbelr candidate, but so manipulated affairs as to make tbe bur- fesB quite absolute ln his powers. Powers of he powers was not aware of the alms of the mill magnates when they Ingeniously aided In his nomination and election, with the In- tention of using him as a figure bead, and actually directing affairs themselves. Later on the mill owners came to know their man better, and found, to tbelr disappointment, that he was not a mannlkln to be mill manip- ulated. Pastor Weed, who had tested the good man's quality ln a matter of church pol- icy, had expressed a quotable opinion apropos of the deacon's distinguishing characteris- tics: "Brother Powers will never be tempted by the devil; be Is too stubborn to be Influenced by Satan." Not long after Burgess Powers took office the president of tbe mill company took um- brage at tbe deacon's action In a public mat- ter, and concluded a dictatorial Impertinence with tbe declaration: "The mill Interest pot you where you are." .. , The good man was not moved to wrath thereat; as cool as a cucumber, and the more aggravating from his equanimity, be calmly responded: "It may be, as you say, that tbe mill Interest put me where I am. I certainly was not aware of It at the time of my nom- ination ; be that as It may, I am the burgee* of the people, and for the people. If you expect me to grind the grist for your mill alone yon have, as you say, put the wrong miller In charge." . "Ton will never be burgess again," snapped the min president viciously. With.the same aggravating good nature, firmly but.with a provoking smile, tbe deacon returned: "I will allow that you may be a seen -but I will neither worry about nor at- tempt to read the future: for the present I ■m the real thing." Tbe head of the mill enterprise, from an over share of prosperltv, had acquired a dom- ineering spirit, and, although he maintained h.s autocracy during tbe recorded Interview, he set at work to "smooth the fur the other way" at their next casual meeting. Ths president of the mill corporation found hla later Interview Indecisive and quite as un- satisfactory as the former one, when bla bull- dozing mandate failed of obedience. "Mr. Burgess," began tbe big man of the mill, in a placating manner and an oily voice, "as Spring Is near at hand, It has occurred , to me that some one of tbe mountebanking circuses may have ln view the Idea of exhib- iting ln Burr. Now. as you are a deacon, and a moral man as well as a burgess, of course you will, as It Is In your power, refuse to grant a license to the wandering vagabonds." The burgess voiced neither opinion as an official, deacon or citizen. "Pastor Weed agrees with me that aucb an exhibition should not be seen In Burr, and would bring re- proach upon our new borough." Still the ruler of Burr did not compromise himself; the great man of tbe mill hemmed and hawed and shifted his feet and bis eyes, and ex- pressed his uppermost and uttermost argu- ment last, "\Ve mill owners don't want any circus here, for that means a shutting down of the mill for one day, and that Is Just tbe loss of so much profit to tbe stockholders. Holidays are a plague—Deacon—Mr. Burgess, nnd the help had better, keep their money." ■ The deacon was serene and silent. "What do you think about the matter!" pursued tbe bead of the manufacturing enterprise. Tbe reply was as noncommltal as It was surprising: "I will meet the Issue when It comes before me officially." Shortly after this conversation the con- tracting agent for P. T. Barnum'B Circus and Menagerie arrived at Burr, and tbe gentle- man in advance happened to be Lew June, one of the great showman's partners. One of bis first inquiries of the landlord, after making himself known, was: "Who grants tbe circus license??" "If he grentt it," Deacon Powers, tbe bur- gess." "If he grants It," repeated June, Btruck with the If, and tbe emphasis. After a pause, be added, la Inquiry: "What's his given name?" "Levi." "Ob, he's all right," returned June, "I have met tbe gentleman before," and with that be hurried to hunt up tbe ruler of Burr. Less than a block away the burgess and the circus man met, and It was w'th clasped bands and "Hello, Lew." and "Hello, Levi." After a little congratulatory conversation the old acquaintances backed off a few paces and vleweu each other critically. "So you are a partner of P. T." "And so you are burgess of Burr, and a deacon besides I" Then June gave the local dignitary a dig In the ribs, and Inquired: "How long Is It, Levi, since you played clown with George F. Bailey ft Co.?" The deacon-burgess was reminded of old times, and, ln his haste to ask a question, forgot to answer one. "Is Barnum coming here himself?" "Barnum Is coming to Boston," began June: "you know he only goes to the very largest cities " "I believe be would come here " What tbe burgess meant to say was not fully expressed. June cut blm oft with: "If you were to play clown." "I would on one condition," returned tbe official, "although It Is years since I donned tbe motley. Our Sunday school library needs replenishing badly, and if your folks bave Sot the nerve to pay two hundred and fifty ollars for my services for two performances I'll donate tbe money to the library fund, and charge tbe show one dollar for license. "It's a go," exclaimed June, "and I'm com- ing back to the show to see you do It. Won't your old manager, George Fox Bailey, be as- tonished? George, you know, 1b our man- ager." "t ought to have made one proviso," re- marked tbe deacon; "Barnum ought to come here and lead the procession. You see, the mill owners are dead set against circuses, and may try to coerce tbelr workmen by refusing to shut down tbelr works for the holiday. Tbe ready and experienced June returned ?>romptly: "I will write P. T., to Bridgeport onlght and explain matters, and request blm to wire you at once. Charles Qayler, our newspaper man, will see you when he arrives ln town—you know Gayler?" "Ob, yes, certainly. What has become of Guilford, tbe scribe? He was so slow that wben he was in action you couldn't tell whether be was moving or standing still." Tbe query started the reminiscences, and during June's brief stay in Burr the two old friends iiad what the good deacon would term ait a prayer meeting "a refreshing sea- son." A few days thereafter Barnum tele- graphed tbe burgess of Burr: "I will be there If you Join me In leading the procession." Levi Powers, burgess of Burr, wired In re- sponse : "Condition accepted." The coming of the big Barnum circus to Burr was tbe talk of the borough, but wben Charles Gayler worked up tbe great extra at- tractions, the coming of Thlneas Taylor Bar- num ln person, and tbe volunteer appearance of Deacon-Burgess Powers as clown, for the benefit of the'Sunday school library, the en- tire country was aroused, and wben tbe show did come there was hardly room enough In Burr for the gigantic outfit and tbe people at the same time. At tbe first announcement of tbe deacon's Intentions Pastor Weed was amazed, and could not believe the statement told by ths type. Deacon Powers confirmed the news- paper publication, and, without waiting for argument or expostulation, Jocosely rallied the preacher: "Pastor Weed, I never found fault with your show wben you ran an old folks' con- cert In the sanctuary, and only came out twenty-three dollars and forty-two cents ahead of the expenses " "But," put la the preacher, " a deacon and a burgess maklog a clown of himself for "Two hundred and fifty dollars for tbe Sunday school library I" Then tbe deacon- burgess made a clean breast of a fact which he had neither advertised nor made a secret; "In my younger days I was a circus clown, and It Is not Immodest for me to say that 1 was counted a good one, and a public favor- ite. Marrying out of the profession, I ro- tired, nnd It Is now many years since I whit- ened and reddened my face to amuse tbe peo- ple. We may differ on tbe point, but I think that Powers, the clown, did bb much In bis way, making people happy, as has Deacon Powers endeavoring, by precept and practice, to keep his fellow men In the straight and narrow way. P. T. Barnum, George F. Bailey, Avery Smith, John J. Nathans and Lew June are all highly esteemed friends of mine, and I am proud that such sterling gentlemen recip- rocate my sentiments." Tbe big show did not appear at Bnrr until Wednesday, but on Monday a notice was posted at the mill gates which was presumed to administer.a decisive blow to tbe Barnum exhibition, as far as tbe afternoon perform- ance was concerned. Ths official proclama- tion read: "TO AIL EUPLOTIS. "This establishment will be open every day this week for business, and no employ* will be excused from service on any account whatsoever. "The Burr Mill Company. "By Order of the President." There was no strike, no public meeting of expostulation, but there must have been an undercurrent of mutual understanding, for wben tbe grand Barnum parade reached the mill, with P. T. himself and the deacon-bur- Sees riding In the open barouche, behind the rat band wagon and toe cavalcade of knights and ladles, the mill worker*, to • man, to ■ woman, to a boy, to a girl, shut off the opera- tion of their machines and marched out of the works, and fell In line at the rear of the procession, and became a part of It for the balance of the parade. It was a red letter day for the deacon, a great day for Burr, and a memorable day for the mill workers. Pow- ers was at bis best—"better than ever" agreed Barnum, Bailey, Smith, Nathans and June, who led the applause, P. T. made a speec and nominated tbe special jester "for burgess, during life and good behavior," add- ing. In a Barnumesque way, "so good a clown could not escape making a good deacon and an efficient public officer." At the next election Deacon Power* ran for burgess. His competitor. Judging from the vote polled, walked. The rival candi- date, the president of the mill company, was so far behind In tbe race that upon the face of the return* It appeared almost as If be bad never started. As the local newspaper had It, the mill magnate "put up a stiff flght," importing professional political cam- paigners to advocate bis cause. Deacon-Bur- gess Powers pursued "a still hunt" up to the night before the election, wben a "grand rally" was held that was Indeed a mass meet- ing, the orator of the occasion being that astute politician, showman and humorist, Hon. P. T. Barnum. of Bridgeport, Conn. ♦ «e> AN AUTHENTIC SKETCH or tub OniGIN OF THE B. P. O. ELKS. During the late sixties tbe theatrical pro- fession experienced many financial hardships, as the earning powers of the country were serving their country's cause till 1885. At the close of the war the stage bod a serious suspicious odium, and It was some three years or so later that the nubile began to see that the theatrical profession had no sympathy for the disgrace brought upon tbe honored name of one among tbelr number. And the profes- sionals upon tbe stage having bad bard times enough, bad opportunities of seeing that some system of benevolent fraternity would be of endlesa aervlce to them when stranded far from home. Theatrical agencies also saw the need, as they frequently had to get tbelr patrons home In some manner at their own expense. In 1807 and early ln 1808 the subject of a benevolent order was agaltated among those engaged In the variety, minstrel and dramatic ACADEMY Or MUSIC, 14th Street tail Irving Pise*. Monday Aftersonn. Jane s, 1Mb. MAMMOTH BtrrBBTAlNHEKT. GRAND MtNRTRRL FESTIVAL. __ „ BRNEriT OF THR FUND OF TIIK PKRFORMBJW BENEVOLENT AND FROTBCTIVB ORDER OF KLKfl. Oo which Oceeelon will be Presented Till GREATEST COMBINATION or TAI.RST _ THE WORLD EVER WITNESSED rasssEHm Bryant's Wastrels, ., . . Kelly sod Leoo't Mlnitrele, S»n Fruelteo Minstrels, , _ ., llonlev'e Mlnilreli. of Brooklyn, 91 arplej and Cnttoa'i Minstrels, . _ .. . Tony Pastor's Combination, Theatre Comlque Company, ■nil Many other first clnts artist* . , ,., In their rrsracllve specialties. Four complete orchestra* combined In one Doorr open * 4 t"l T. u Conimenrei IK r.«. Price of Tickets to thin Mammoth Entertainment, rifty Cents. Renerved Seeta ln Pirouette and Bslenny, 7Sets. Bests In Bines. *U». Private Botes, lift' ami liom. B..X om.ee open from 9 ».M. to a r. M„ Friday, Saturday and Monday, June 5ih sti, and ftth. Reserved Xests rur Sale Nov, by THOMPSON A KK1HS, Tlieurlcsl Agency, l«9 Bowery. For further particular see Announcements in Daily Papers. Programme*, etc. This wss tbe first Introduction to the pub- lic. Tbe entertainment was a success and netted a snug sum. An act, not on the programme, occurred be- tween tbe factions that marred the pleasure of those Interested and determined the policy of those In power as to the admission of Ibe serai-professionals, or, as tbey termed It, tho "music hall and Vivian crowd," to the Order of Elks. That Incident and the course followed made trouble for tbe new order. The proceeds of the entertainment, owing to this disturbance, were newer accounted for. But this did not kill the Elks, as It was ex- pected to do, but made the members mors determined than ever to succeed. They en- listed more and abler men, end broadened their scope to Include managers as well as actors. Thompson and Biggs' experience in theatrical agency business was responsible for many things that shaped tbe policies adopted to build tbe order for a solid and permanent benevolent organisation. Tbe order grew quite rapidly and there waa an attempt made to Incorporate It. A bill and In want, afar from his home, to return to hla friend* and family, and for Lbait pur KM are hereby empowered to make, eatab- h and adopt such necessary by laws, rules abd regulations as may be required. "Section 2.—The said corporation shall ■ posses* the general powers, rights and pr'vi leges, and be subjected to the provisions cot- tuned in tbe third title of chapter eighteen of the lint part of tbe ltovlsed Statutes, so far as tbe same are applicable. "Section 8.—The management of the affairs and concern* of said corporation shall be conducted by the persons now holding office In aald order, and such shall continue In office until the next annual meeting of the order for the election of officers, and said management of the affa'rs and concerns shall be conducted by those persons wbo may be from time to time elected by said order. Section 4.—Tho aforesaid Benevolent and Protective Order of Klka shall have power to receive and disburse funds and purchase or bake by donations, deed, dovlse or bequest any real or personal estate given, granted, divided or bequeathed to It for the purpose stated In Section 1. but It shall at no time hold property beyond the valuo of nfty thous- and dollars, and shall bnvo full power to grant, bargain, lease or dispose of the same, provided that the proceeds of such bargain, lease or disposal sltnll never be In nay man- ner d I rooted to any other purposes than that for wbioh the property was originally acquired or donated. ■\SccHon 0.—The said Order of the Benevo- lent ami I'roteotlve Orclor of Klks nre hereby empowered to establish branch lodges, pro- Tided said bratvab lodges conform to ths prov'slons of this act. "flection 0.—This act aha.ll take effect Im mediately." "INDOIISKMENT. An Act to Incorporate the Bonovolnnt and Iroteotlve Order of Klka ln the City of New York. I hereby approve of the Incorporation of the within society. March 4, 18(10. . " OKonnie t). II.min.vri>, J. 8. C. Piled Sd March. 1800." It will be noted that the slm was chiefly to provide for unfortunate performers away from home and friends. At this time there were shout one hundred members of the order, among whom were such ablo men ns Henry P. O'Ncll, whose far see- ing calculations of coming events ninnng men won htm much admiration. Ho formulated and gave to the Order of Klka a chart that the phenomenal growth and expnnslon has found expedient to follow, nlthoiigli trials have been given on others, which have been found defective and (limn rded. and the' original chart returned lo. Mr. O'Nell's memory In the Order of Klks will In coming years grow brighter as his work Is under- stood. In 18TI I he New York Lodge of Klks do elded to extend tbe order to other cities, nnd for some reason, which seems never to have been fully explained, disregarded tho pro- visions of Incorporation obtained In 1801) (which seems to provide for the establishing of branches over the United Stales), and ob- tained a charier for a grand' lodge to grant charters to lodges elsewhere. This changed (lie original plan, ntul continued to exist till 1880, when the subordinate lodges proposed that New York Lodge be rondo to stand on Ihe samo basis ns any other lodge, and that the grand lodge be the creation or the com- Mned lodges. New York l<odgn sulked fur thrcj years, then It saw lis error, and In 18112 the discussion ended, nnd the order since that dsto has advanced In the benevo- lent field as no other fraternity ever dreamed possible. . , The amusement profession can Justly feel proud of <rfae Order of Htka—M is f heir child —not bora, but the produat of evolution and a combination of motive* for good among their fellows, Thirty-five years old, 100,000 obligated brothers. In eight hundred nnd fitly families located wboraver the stars and stripes will shield tbem. There Is scarcely a city In the United States large enough to support a theatre wbclh has not Its lodge of , Riles, and In bundred* of the larger cities tbe ' order baa Its own palatial home. The com- bined lodges support a National Home at Bedford, Vs., where the brother who ha* done hi* work faithfully wblle In prosperity and health can now find sweet comfort and rest among his former co-workers. In the IlaJI of Faroe or the Klks will be found the name* of George \V. Tnomp'iun, (leorge K. McDonald, Thos. 0. Itlggs, Win. Shepperrd, Henry P. O'Neill, and stores of other* down to the present, with additions to be made each day or month till tbe end. • ■» SI M.IVAN, HARRIS A WOODS, . The enterprising theatrical manager*, ire in* deed to be congratulated upon tbe success of tbelr numerous enterprises. This firm announccB, In another portion of this paper, a list of attractions llint tbey will present for tho season of IIKM-OB. This Arm has not felt the depression In D'ARVILLE SISTERS, Jeannette and Irene, have had an excellent stage training. Jeannette began her stage career In Kronen comedy and melodrama. She early became an expert swordswoman nnd crossed swords wltb the best swordsmen of her native country. Later ahe became a dancer and singer, In which lines she also became proficient. Irene made ber entree in the profession as a child, appearing In "Olsmonda," "Itlp Van Winkle," "A Mid- summer Night's Dream," "The Musketeers" and "Itotneo and Juliet." Later she became a leading soubrette. Besides tbelr acting of parts tbey bave a novel sister act, In which they Introduce singing, cornet solos and fencing. ends of the profession, and a plan of organisa- tion was decided upon. Thompson fc IUf theatrical agents, together with George tlon was decided upon. Thompson fc Itlggs theatrical agents, together with George V. McDonald, Billy Sheppard, Joe Norrls, Cbas. F. Shoittuck, Louis Never* and a dozen or so of their friends started an organisation that on Feb. 14, 1868, they launched, under tbe name of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of New York. The now order absorbed a majority of tbe members of a social organization that bad btarted some time before, and which hud no aim but a social meeting on Sundays, and to enjoy refreshment that the excise laws re- strained to some extent. This organisation was called tho Jolly Corks, and the member* carried a cork hi tbelr pocket and worked tbe cork trick en tbe uninitiated for an Initi- ation and tbe amusement of Lbose ln the se- cret. The Jolly Corks' membership was so re- duced by the organization of tbe Elks that It ceased to exist In New York City, but was afterwards started In l'blladlpbla by Charles A. Vivian, and existed for two or three years- Tbe name Elk was decided upon by a committee appointed for that purpose. It waa found that the English stag and the Ameri- can mooae elk showed little dissimilarity, but Elk was tbe name of the street in Buffalo, N. Y., where Mr. Itlggs was born, and Mr. McDonald discovered In Goldsmith's Ani- mated Nature a description of tbe elk, wblcb made It a fitting emblem for tbe order. There were fifteen votes cost on tbe motion when It came up, eight of wblcb were in favor of the adoption of tbe name of Elk. Thus the Order of Klks was born on Feb. 14, 1808. On the adoption of name from tbe commit- tee's report, tie next step was for a ritual and otber requisite* for tbe order, and tbe same committee was continued for that purpose, wblcb reported and tbe report was adopted May 24, 1S08. This made tbe organltaton complete and tbe Order of Elk* commenced to grow In members and popularity. Immediately step* were taken to give a benefit performance, advertisement* of which appeared In all the- papers. The following ap p eared Mi Tag Cuffs* of June 8, 1848: was Introduced in tbe legislature In tbe Win- ter of 1808-'O0 for that purpose, but It failed to pass on tbe objection of Its being a schema to evade excise laws ln New York City. Ex- planations and arguments did no good.- This defeat again renewed determination to accomplish tbelr alms. Consultations with New York lawyer* and legislators favor- able to tbe Klks, who knew tbelr ob- jects, resulted In discovering that the revised statute* of New York Suvte spe- cially mode provlsons for tbe Incorpora- tion of charitable and benevolent organiza- tions, such as tho Klks had started. At once ■tens were taken to Incorporate the order, and this was done on March 3 and 4, 1800, by filing tbe certificate of Intention In the New York County Clerk's ofllce, the some being indorsed by Justice Oeorge O. Barnard, of the Supreme Court. This certificate read as follows: "An Act, to Incorporate the Benevolent and Protective Order of Klks of the City of New York. "Tbe people of tbe State of New York, rep- resented ln Senate and Assembly, do enact a* follow*: "Section 1.—Oeorte W. Thompson, William Bhcppard, James W. Llngsrd, James Glenn, John Mulligan, Thomas 0. Itlggs, George McDonald, Louis Never* (lie vers i, Bphralm Horn, George Green, William II. Brown, Wil- liam L. Bowson, William Coffin, George K. *VSC|fU IU'1I1#| " linuiii ^'""-'l mvmatm we Obrle.it, John K. Campbell, Harry Stanwood, and tbelr associates and successor*, members of the Order of tbe Benevolent Order of Klks, and such persons as msy become asso- ciated wltb tbem, are hereby constituted a body, Incorporate by the name, style snd tills of the Benovolent and Protective Order of Elks, for the purpose of social Intercourse, nnd to protect, enhance and promote tbe wel- fare and happiness of each otber, and to watch over, to succor snd provide for In sickness, and to assist In distress an un- fortunate brother, and to render *uch assist- ance that will enable • brother, friendless business, owing to the fact that they always equip tbelr plays, giving them magnificent scenic environments, with proper (lags ac- Parmer, George Jackson, George Rockafeller, Ituey Hughe*. Charles Bhattuck, Joseph Cook, Joseph Norrls, William Carter, John O. cessorles and casts of unusual excellence. ' They bave now In their employ three hun- dred and fifty performers of well known rep- utation and ability, and tbey never allow tbelr attractions to deteriorate. Tbey ar* Justly named "The Musketeers of tbe Melo- drama," and, as they bnve twelve big sue.; cesses, they are also holders of a number of box ofllce record*. Tbe magnitude of this firm can be easily • estimated by the fact that tbe overage an-' nual expenses of their aggregate attraction* make a total expenditure of 1720,000 per annum. This, of course, Include* all ex- penses attached to all the attractions In the wav of printing, railroad fares, salaries, etc. Next season tbey have contracted with Billy D. Van, the original I'atsy, and will present him In a big musical novelty, en- tiled "I'atsy Ilollver.' r Mr. Vau will be sur- rounded with the best talent In the vaude- vllle line, and the production will be up to tbe standard of Ibis firm. Joe Welch, the greatest of all Hebrew de- lineators, who has been so successful under this firm's management tbst he has tested the capacity of the theatres In the United States In the past two seasons, In "Tbe I'cddicr," wilt lie presented In a new play, by a well known author. The scenery Is now • In the bands of the best scenic artists. "Tbe Fatal Wedding," by Theodore Krs-. mcr, has become an International success, four companies playing It In tbe United' States and five In Europe. This play will be sent on tbe road with a ca*t of unusual excellence. There will be two companies of "For Her Children's Sake," a companion play to "The Fatal Wedding," and two com- - panles TKnstern and Western) of "Wedded and Farted." "Tbe Peddler, 1 ' a big scenic attraction, will be sent out next season wltb a cast up to the firm's standard. Sullivan, Harris ft Woods are enterpris- ing, and stop tt nothing to make tbelr at- tractions box office winner*. en SIMS REUViCM' LOSSES. It Is probable that Hlms Iteeves lost mors money through unfulfilled engagements than any other singer that ever lived. He him- self computed ths total amount thus elimin- ated from his banking account, during a career of half a century, at $400,000. An: eighth of this sum would bave sufficed to bave spared him the rigid economy nnd the music hall work which marred the closing years of his existence. In tbe early "nineties" be took up teaching and accepted a professor- ship at the Guildhall School, where we fre- quently csme In contact.—From Hermann Klein', "Thirty Year* of UutUal Life ta London," " >