The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-24
AMBASSADORS OF FRANCE
The Chinese Ora matte Troupe.
The following account of these novel performers
who are now in California is from a San Francisn,

correspondent OF the st Louis Iatcuigencer
One Of the most curious exhibitions witnessed by
outside barbarians has been going in this city
week or two past. About fortnight since, there
rived here Chinese theatrical troupe consisting of 123
actors, male and female, and embracing learn
of the most distinguished OF the Celestial hisronic
lent Indeed it is aid that several Of them to the
Chinese what Kemble and Garrick and Siddons are,
rather were, to outsiders " Some days ago /. was
announced that they would make their first appearance
at the American Theatre, and confess felt very
great curiosity to how such exhibitions con-
Quoted in China-a country OF which we now know so
little, but destined very soon to know great deal
was present at their first exhibition, and would
eudeavcr to describe it. If conscious that Is
utterly impossible to convey any ineligible idea of it.
Before the curtain raised favored with music
ON the Chinese orchestra il thai can be called music
which was combination of the most unsarthy sounds
that saluted mortal cannot describe the in
sruments from which these sounds proceeded, except
that one of them immense gong, whilst several
Others diminutiye one sringed Gddles Of a
peculiar shape They had also pair of cymbals and
large oval elevated above the oor frame work
and which they beat time with couple of sticks AL
together the was about such as would be produced
by dozen tin pans of different Sizes half dozen cracked
ddles steamboat bell, the filing Of q saw aud the
squslng of cat The musicians were placed the af-
ter part Of the stage instead of in front and kept
the din during the OF the performance That your
eaders form an idea of the play send you one Of
the bills -
american Theatre under the management of a joint
stock company. The management respe ,fudy announce
to their patrons that they have made an arrangement
this theatre First night of the great Chinese Dramatic
Company Of TuDg Hook Long consisting of LIB perform
China, accompanied by Chinese music. Under the man
aagement of Mr. Likoon, Norman Assing Tong Achiek
evening will open with fayorite farce in which the Amc
rcan company will appear. After which will be presented
CIVILIZATIONS The Six States making 500 rsin their
Great Minister g The Parting at r.Kew" and The
Defeated Revenge Part l. On the birth day ofYuh-
twsng the High Ruler and Heavenly Majesty the Eight
Cent? whose names Han chung-le, Nan tsoi no,
Chang ke.lo Lii shun yang Tswa kwok kan LIE teehkwi
Hansang tsy and koo come to congratulate him
Part DnYin he ri vi he
at Of which the State of Fsn the strongest
500 tin went around among the other six States OF ISL
Tao Hen Nga rse induce them to unic together
and attack Tsin This they did and thus defeated Esn
For 1t they 500 Tsn their great Minister aud Cen
dypasty and the wars Of the three D. 2
wan chang "a famous warrior) and Lau pc, were de-
feated by sow Tsow The conqueror sent an officer to
urge Kwan to submit but the latter refused to come un-
der his rule saying, AT present can only dwell tenn
porarily in your tent when have lcarned%her Lau
that Lau DO was with Yuen. shew. Kwan went to join
bin, and Tsow tsow made parting feast at Par Kew,
and gave him robe On rcceving it. Kwan put 1t on
underneath given him by Lau pc. When Tsow-
Tsow asked him the he replied, man OF honor
never orgets his old friends but remembers the impor
lance of the relations between Prince and Minister Part
The King and Queen Of the Or pc fung country, while
hunting expedition, shot spirit which had assumed
the form of deer and wounded 1t In the leg The spirit
becoming angry passed with the spirit OF fox into the
forms of the father and daughter making the father offer
the daughter concubne to the KING and intending,
through her to ruin the throne of the latter Bud
hist Priest named Gong som chong who on his way
to the Western Heavens in order to get his books
happened pass by and pacing the anger Of the spi
Iit secured peace to the King Prices of admission =
Private boxes SCI dress circle 81; parquet 81; pit So;
gallery, $2n
or course do not understand word that spoken
the stage; but completely amazed at the msgpi
cence Of their dresses which all Of silk or satin
and covered with the most beautiful and costly embro
derry No company in the United States at all vie
with this in the spendor Of its wardrobe. Indeed had
formed conception previously OF the immense labor
and expense expended in China upon such fabrics as
these The embroidery Is wrought into the beau
ul figures, representing birds flowers leaves, &c. in
endless variety and in the brightest aud most tasteu
blended colors. The Tor the mos. part wore on
their heads sort Of helmet OF unique shape and beau
tifully wrought. whilst the women had profusion OF
brilliant ornaments about the head with the hair done
up in the most singular style They all wore immense
trousers CT silk fatin and with long loose robes
reaching below the knee, and having enormously large
sleeves Their shoes had wooden soes about two inches
thick and turned up at the toe The play appeared to
be sort of opera at all events large portion OF IL
consisted Of singing that be termed singing which
is something between screech. wall aud negro
lody sung In the most drawing nasal tone They APP
the elements of music Their voices have little or no
compass and 1t is impossible to conceive OF harsh
and grating sounds than they emit
In depicting the passions several Of them have consi
derabe sl and power though In them nothing at
oil above mediecrty in this respect, whilst for the
part they are far below third rate actors On
the whole IL exceedingly unique affair and pre-
sumo parallel to Il has before been witnessed out
side of China It raid that the troupe has been engaged
to make the Of the United States and will then 60
to Europe.