Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 302, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1912 — BIG AUDIENCE WITNESSED FUNFEST [ARTICLE]

BIG AUDIENCE WITNESSED FUNFEST

Good Words Heard on All Hands About Holden’s Charity ShowCleared Large Sum. The funfeSt proved a very enjoyable event and the local charity fund was augmented $72. About three hundred people were present and all seem to enjoyed the program thoroughly. The money procured will be used by the Presbyterian, Methodist and Christian churches in supplying Christmas joys to the poor or held by them as a relief fund. The money procured at the Thanksgiving entertainment, the liberal gift by Mayor Meyers, the money given by the Good Fellows and the money raised at the funfest will aggregate about $250, and this will be a fund that will probably last throughout the year in the hands of the organized charities. r The entertainment promoted by Mr. Holden was something entirely new in Rensselaer and was very much life “amateur” nights employed in charitable entertainments in cities. It consisted of songs, mostly the old-fashioned favorites, musical numbers, jokes, short speeches and a mesmeric act in which Mr. Holden hypnotized Attorney Honan, blackened him up and caused him to deliver a darkey oration. Mr. Honan very ably carried out his part, acting very much embarrassed when relieved from the trance. One number that proved a great delight was given by “Grandmother” Morgan, who sang an oldtime religious song. She was 89 years of age the 9th of last May but she has by no means lost her sense of humor- and after she had sung one verse of the song, she hesitated a moment and then said, shyly, “Well, they only asked me to sing one verse.” Her remark served to bring the large audience into an appreciative laugh and a round of applause followed that must have been very gratifying to her. The program started in a very laughable manner. Attorney Williams explained that the entertainment had been started by Mr. Holden, who had laid down and caused himself and Attorney Spitler to do all the work. Mr. Spitler raised up and protested the statement of Mr. Williams and then Mr. Holden appealed to the audienbe While all were talking in a loud tone, the pipe organ, the piano and two violins started up, all playing different tunes and then the band, which was concealed in the basement, began playing. It was a prearranged scheme that had the appearance of a “rough house” for a little while. The program closed with a song by the “Battle Axe” quartette, composed of C. C. Warner, Yern Crisler, Moses Leopold and George Williams. They struggled through a verse or two of the Spanish 1 ' Cavalier, and finally all left the platform but George Williams, who continued to sing. A elever part of the program was the story telling of B. F. Learning. The success of the entertainment can be credited to Mr. Holden, who planned it, staged it and . took charge of all details. He has probably secured for himself a steady job as an annual charity entertainment promoter. Why not a nice bedspread? Lee has a good line.