Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-08-04
VOL. TX.
CHINESE THEATRICALS.
A Amusing illustrations Of the HistriOn-
fc Art In a sam Francisco Theatre.


fc Art In a sam Francisco Theatre.
From the San Francisco Morning Call.
A few years ago the proprietor Of the
Chinese theatre on jackson street returned
from China, bringing with him a company
Of ninety performers that had been per-
forming for many years at Canton, as who
had wide reputation for talent, and aero
bats, vaulters, vocalists, and general per-
formers Their wardrobe is of the most
gorgeous style, and cost in China, where
everything is so cheap,a ''power" Of money.
Their arrival, as a matter of course, caused
considerable excitement among the Chi
nese bon ton, because in the troupe We're
several ladies whose feet were no larger
than a mans little finger. The theatre on
Jackson street, which is as large as the
Metropolitan, was crowded to excess on
the opening night, and each evening since.
The fame of the company has gradually
extended beyond Chinese circles, and
every evening now sees quite number of
Americans in the audience. Lastnight we
dropped IN for a few moments, and were
astonished at the scene before us. Near
the door sat silent old fellow rolling up
betel nuts and quicklIme, and selling a
''chaw" to the auditors as they came in.
The females are the greatest patrons of the
luxury, and scarcely one failed to invest
five cents in a ehaw. A short distance off,
were several well.known politicians, who
were evidently under the convoy ola prom
inent Chinese comprddoTe. The stage is
filed with actors, musicians, and specta-
tors; for if the actors have enough room to
stand and move about they are content.
The music C?)-shade of Mendelssohn i
was considered grand by the Chinese, but
to our ears it was nothing but the terrific
din, caused by the beating of gongs, the
clashing of cymbals, the squeaking of fid-
dies, the beating Of drums, and the footing
Of asthmatie trumpets. 1t gave
us headache that we did
not recover from for ten hours. When
we arrived, it had arrived to that pitch
where rebellion had broken out, and the
adherents of each party were preparing to
decide matters by the gage of battle.
Troops were being narshaled and reviewed,
inspected and harangued to the highest
pitch of courage. The cavalry were rep
resented by fellows carrying switches, and
the taking of the switch from the hand of
the rider was, by a violent presumption,
considered to be dismoUnting. One body
of cavalry was painted to look as near like
devils as possible, and without hesitation,
we Will accept them as such. Another lot
were gallant Zoo-Zoos, and wore the con-
ventional big trousers of the zouaves.
These latter appeared to belong to the at
tacking panty, and were sFeager for the
Fray for they dared their antagonists to
come out and have a 'fsquare thing" of it.
After great deal of preliminary fussing,
the battle began, and then We were treated
with q display of acrobatic feats such as
are never seen outside of a Chinese thea
tre. One fellow who had pencbdnt for
getting upon a table to crow over his VIC
tory, was continually getting knocked
''head over heels" by one ofthe rebels, who
would come upon the stage turning somer-
saults, until he would reach certain dis
tance from the table, when he would
straighten out, while turning, and plant
his feet in the breast of his adversary with
tremendous force. Some Of the performers
had a great fondness for climbing upon
three tables placed one on top of the other,
and, turning fip-fap, ighton their backs
on another table, ten or twelve feet away.
A double sword and spear combat displayed
considerable skill, and was fought with
real earnest, for several of the combatants
received severe wounds, from which the
blood poured in streams. This delighted
the audience, and their applause neryed
the actors to greater courage, and to more
valorous deeds. While some of their feats
of agility are wonderfully well executed,
they have not the grace and finish that is
to be seen in our gymnasts; in fact, they
appear to do everything by main strength
and awkwardness.