Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-06-11

Curious Chinese Dramatic Entertainment

Il X =
/ The most curious entertainment which
has ever been given in this City, was pre-
sented on Friday night at Niblos. A COM
plete Chinese Company, from the Celestial
Empire, via. California, performed, repre-
senting religious and other ceremonies,
dramatic episodes, &c. The whole affair
was SO utterly different from any thing
hitherto offered on our boards that we shall
hardly attempt to describe it, but advise
every one who would not seek to be Ignorant
Of some Of the most salient points of the most
ancient and peculiar people in the world, to
go and see and hear it. According 10 the
lplay-bill, il forms a living history of China
as follows !: Part Ito commence with the
imposing religious ceremony, Invocation 10
Toss; Mu-chong-wong, King of Kings; Ko-
numn, Queen of Heaven Ten How. Lady
Of Light supplicating benediction and bless
ing tor future welfare in the United States.
| Grand feast t-and presentation to the God and
| Goddesses of the Beasts, Birds and Fishes,
from the Throne Of the Imperial Dragon.
Part I-Grand Marriage Ceremony, en-
| trance Of the Emperor and train, unveiling
of the bride. Part lIl-Japanese Tum-
blers, &c.
The whole reminded us Of splendid gilded
tea boxes, galvanized into motion-the
figures are so grotesque, pompous, and that
indescribable compound Of cultivation and
barbarism which distinguishes the great
Empire. The dresses are gorgeous to the
last degree. All that silk, Grape, got-hssue
the cumulated splendors of Chinese taste
could conceive Haunted on the stage. This
alone would fully repay a visit to the
theater.
A glided range Of lofty steps covering all
the stage, surmounted by a Chinese monde.
script, and rows Of CHAIRS was the chief
scene Corporations. The different characters
came with glorious pomposi,y, and ching
changed. or chum-fee. .hede il in front Of the
platform and then assembled the platform.
Sometimes one spoke alone, sometimes
several The same words, Chinese music
was rendered by sticks beaten together,
cymbals, bowed instrument played as a
viol or violin sounding like a bag-pipe and
using the Scotch scale identicaily or the
black notes ofthe piano-forte, beating various
discordances. 4f
The singing and playing were like COM
pound of distressed Gals, an old pump handle
ungreased cart wheels, a poker on a Tin
kitchen, and tie spiritual rappers in COM
munion with the internal regions. How, -
and even arrived at the ne plus ultra of a
who have beside musical notation, can
grind, squeal bawl, snort, shuttle, ,snivel,
drawl, squawl, howl, grunt, groan, in such
manner and call it music, is as great mys-
| terry as Chinese feminine feet, hailowed pig.
tails, or blood relationship with the sun and
! planets. s.s an & f
The tumblers were sufficiently active; and
| the somersets, doubtless revolving from the
| remotest antiquity, would do credit to modern
performers. H a 9,i @.l
| To see these evidences of Chinese life,
sets one to analyse the things of daily life at
home, and wonder if our ceremonials, civil,
military and religious, are not ridiculous too
1 What, from this barren being do we reap,
Our narrow and our reason frail--s zs5ta
Life short and all things weighed in customs alest scale?
These poor Chinese deserve specially
good reception at our hands They have
come long, long distance. They tell US Of
4 the grandeur of our own empire, Of the
magnetizings effects Of California of the
\ opening glories of the Pacific. They are
\ fully up to the mark in all they do.@ If they
| were any wise different they would cease 70
/ be genuine; as it is. they are the mirror of
| Chinese life, even asst existed four thousand
years ago. Il certainly is a privilege to be
broughtinto communion with the distant and
the past by such attractive means.
III. IN Y. Tyibune.1
1 The FIRST STEAMBoAT.-The first steam
boat that ever run. on the western waters,
was built under the superintendence Of Mr..
John Robson, 80 years old, the 9Th instant,
and now living with his son William, two
miles back Of Newport, KY. His head is
whitened by age, but his memory il good,
and he recoliects well about his wonderful
exercises. ss Il .5s Il, s#3ss ,ft
He was employed by Fulton, Livingston
& Co, Of New Fork. The boat was launch
ed al Pittsburg, Pa, on the nth day Of
March, 1911, and was called the New Or
leans. She was painted with 9bIneish
colored paint. She passed New Madrid,
Mo, at the time Of the earthquake il De-
cember. 1911. il al., IS s.3
Mr.. Scowls, now living in Covington,
wealthy man, was cabin boy on her, An
drew Jack was pilot, and q Mr.. Baker was
engineer.
She carried Gen. Coffee and Don earle
from Natchez, with their troops, down to
New Orleans in 1914, at the time Gen. Jack
son was defending that city against the
British. s5 z S3
All these old times are we'll recdlected
BY our good old friend Robson, whose COM
.pany is more interesting and instructive, re-.
lafing 10 the events that occurred ia his
younger days, than any history Of the pre-
sent day. Asa tsfaas sHse
Mr.. Robson is now hearty, hale and we'll,
and attends to considerable business on the
farm.--Nswport lKy1 Nsus ~
10 A sentimental youth, having seen a
young lady at home, bending over something
in her lap, and weeping bitterly. took the
FIRST opportunity Of questioning her as to the
cause Of her sorrow, and was perfectly awe
struck on being informed that she was only.
pealiag onions.
% a Datchman being called upon for q
Here ish Il. der heroes who iii, pied mt
died NIT ter pattles Of Punker Hill of which
an one.
Drank standing.