The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-16
This Dru1,,E IL, China.

TllS DriinaE in China.
Drar.atlc representation are popu-
lar i'll China; but tilyers i'll general
occupy AZ low social position, and arc
excluded from any ot the ful,r grades
into which respectable sociaty Is Iii
vided-tlle sage, tic ;tgricuit,uist, the
soldier, and The mc,.il;tn;t. In the
large cities, theatre, arc l",:lt for the
accommodation of the public, with 4.
pit for the community. who. stand;
boxes for the quality, who sit; and IL
stage. with It's appli:,n">s OF scenery
and mechanism, for &c actors; The
entrance for thc less nj, ;lcyrd Orders
IS Gratultous, bat something ;~ nn.,i
for the more elevated places. s;tItt!.
ing players circulate over the country.
and when by public Subscription :. SUI,
is raised to .lcfray 1hr EXPENSES ri
their visit, anl allow them a,,cuu,,:t
reconipcnse ior the: trouble. an e.r
tenapo''e theatre IS crcc.ed-if no p.i-
manent ctliticG cXi.ts-witl ilcrc.',:n:"
rllndty and marvellous ingenuity.
Bamboo pillars, bamboo raft;i-, b&m-
boo floors, are pat together with :2;n-
g'1l;tr art, and without the emplc,.-
lnent OF II halam~r OF Il nail, suddenly
Il light but not inels."ant str,ictnre
rises, as II b.s- r'agic. from the ground.
Huge boxes ef garments. weapons.
musical Instruments, conveyed hv
boats Though the rivers and canals.
or bolna on ihe shoulders Of coolies.
swung on bamboo poles, ma the l,er-
tcrmtnces o,icl h~'ln, are scarcely
interrupted for many d:,vs .l:;l n.:::.v
nights. The Iuddbist and Tauyi,s
priests are ofl"n the principal movers
III The invitations :evcil to the stroll
ers. They collect, h.? their depcl.!-
cnts, money 20 pay for t:.r :ccreations,
and inscrlbc the names; OK the uoutri-
butors OF bright vtrmilii"n papers.
Which are posted :t5 The entrances o.
the t"sn,,lcs III their nc..gLborlood,
and fur Who's. bcL:.tit the perform
ancoS arc to take ;,;;l>r
Ike nilini'rr ali,l the reputation Of
the performers. and The duration OF
the pertor!A;in.es, depend c'i the
amounts cn'!ect"d. The fame Of IL
favorlte idol, especially where ne is
believed to haze WORKED, recent lair-
..lr.;, will sonj times bring considerable
money offerings for tie theltre to be
erected i'll tAH vicinity OF MS shrine.
Funds being raised, in forr-;.ntl-tyai;-
tt hours = building cs,pal,le of convv-
niently accommodating two Thousand
persons is completed, and while the
performances are going on business is
neglected, shops are deserted, sedan
I,.,. al IA
every ything is sacrificed Throughout t;"
neiyhborhood 10 ahc t,l,:.t!.:c:l display,
which generally lasts from thee. a.
four days. There are only short
periods of rest Detwsc., the 1...p,1.s,n-
Utions to allow time t"- rnr.;s,s and
for repose. The theatre is scarcely
cleared of the spectators thai have
witnessed one exhibition, before ::Ioa!,
"f candidates present themselves TO
occupy the vacant places. The clear
ings ont and the fittings "a aye repeated
several times II day. &c ::lu.. :, .licnt:,
are not confined to dran:, tic piece.
lntrrlndes OF iorrstiG+s'Ga;ioi tricks,
tumhings, and gyEll.:.sti: exploits.
often vary the diversions All around
tie theatre aro temporary gambling
stands, fruit stalls, and frrurcntly
houses of reception OF the worst cha
racter. n Worship within the temple i;
held to4De quite compatible with prc-
flgacy without, AID there is notlino
III the example OF the bonzes to en-,
courage what is good or to &c ~ from
what is evil. They levy q rental fro,,
I'LL who sell these wares to the visitors