The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-03-02
THE MORMON THEATRE.

Outside, this theatre is a rough Dorlc
elifice, In which the architect has con:rived
to produce certain effect by simple means;
inside, it is light and airy, having no cur
taius and no boxes, save two IN the prosee>
num- with light columns TO divide the tiers,
and having no other decoration than pure
white paint and gold. The pit, rising sharp
ly from the orchestra. so that every one seat
ed on its benches can see and hear to adTan>
taee, Is the choicest part of the house. All
these benches are let TO families; and here
the principal elders and bishops may be seen
kevery play night, surrounded by their wives
Aud children, laughing and clapping like
btys at pantomine. Ion rocking chair,
III the centre of the pit, is Youngs own scat,
hes place OF pleasure, in the midst Of his
Saints When he chooses TO occupy his prl>
yu}e box. one of his wives, perhaps Eliza the
Poe,ess, Harriet the Pale, or Amelia the
Magnificent, rocks herself IN his eLair while
laughing at the play. Round about that
chair, as the place of honor, cluster the benz
ches of those who claim to stand nearest
their prophet of Heber kimball. first coun-
cilor; of Daniel Wells, second councillor AMI
ger eral~ln>chief; OF George a. Smith. apos-
tie and historian of the charch of George
O. Cannon, apostle; of Edward Hunter, pre-
siding bishop; of Eldet Stenhouse, editor of
the Daily Telegraph; and of host of less
brilliant Mormon lights.
% In the sides of the procenum nestle two
private boxes; one is reserved for the
prophet, when he pleases to be alone, or
wishes to have gossip with some friend the
other is gwen up to the girls who have TO
play during the night, but who are not enga-
ged in the immediate business of the piece
As a rule, every ones pleasure is considered
in this model playhouse; and can answer,
on the part OF Miss Adams. Miss Alexander
and other young artistes, tina, this apprGpria-
ton to their sole use of private box. into
which they can run at all times, in anv dress,
without being secn IS considered BY them a
very great comfort.
''Througi the quick eve aud careful hand
of his manager, Hiram Clawson. the presi-
denl may be congratulated OH having made
his playhouse into something coming near to
that which he eonceives playhouse should
be- Everything in front of the footlights is
in keeping peace and order reign in the
midst of fun and frolie. Neither within the
doors or about them do you see the riot of our
own Lyceum and Drury Lane; no loose
women, no pickpockets, no ragged boys and
girls, 10 drunken and blaspheming men.
As Mormon never drinks spirits, and rarely
smokes tobacco, the only dissipation in which
you find these hundreds of hearty creatures
iudulging thar appetites is hat of sucking q
peach. Short plays are III vogue in this thes
atre, just ;s short sermons are the rule in
yon tabernacle. The curtain, which rises at
8, comes down about half>rast 10; and, as
the Mormon fashion is for people to sup be-
fore gong out, they retire to rest TIE moment
they get home, never suffering their amuse-
ments to infringe on their laDors of the COM
ing day. Your bell rings fer breakfast at
o'clock
:. But the chief beauties of this model play
house he behind the scenes; in the ample
space, the perfect light, the serupulous elean'
illness OF every part. l am pretty well ac|