Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-08-11
; CHINESE THEATRlCALs.
Amusing illustrations of the HistriOn.
10 Art In N San francisco Theatre.
Rr,,,, tla san Tran ciacn Mornin % CalI

10 Art In n San FranclscO Theatre.
From tho San Francisco Morning Call
A few years ago the proprietor of the
Chinese theatre on jackson street returned
from China bringing with him q company
of ninety performers that had been per-
forming for many years at Canton, as who
had o wide reputation for talent, and aero
bats, vaulters, yocalists, and general per-
formers. Their wardrobe IL 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 were
several ladies' whose feet were no larger
than 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 evoning now sees quito number of
Americans in the audience. Last night we
dropped in for few mements, and were
astonished at tho scene before us. Near
the door sat silent old fellow rolling up
betel nuts and quickllme, and selling a
''chaw" to the auditors as they camo in.
The females are the greatest patrons of the
luxury and scarcely one failed to invest
five cents in chaw. A short distance off,
were several well-known politicians, who
were evidently under the convoy ofa prom
inent Chinese cOmpradOye. Tho stage is
filled with actors, musicians, and specta-
tors; for if the actors have enough room to
stand and move about they aro content.
The music (7)--shade of Mendelssohn T.
was considered grand by the Chinese, but
to our ears it was nothing but tho terrific
din, caused by the beating of gongs, the
clashing Of cymbals, the squeaking of fd-
dies, the beating of drums, and the footing
of asthmatiC trumpets. 1t gavo
us headache that, We did
not recover from for ten hours When
we arrived, it had arrived to that pitch
where rebellion had broken ont, and the
adherents of each party were preparing to
decide matters by the gage of battle,
Troops wero being marshaled and reviewed,
inspected and harangued to tho highest
pitch of courage. The cavalry were rep
resontedby fellows carrying switches, and
the taking of the switch from the hand of
the rider was, by o violent presumption,
considered to be diSmounting. One body
of cavalry was painted to looEas 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 party, and We're "eager for the
Fray for they dared their antagonists to
come out and have n "square thing" Of it.
After q great deal of preliminary fussing,
the battle began, and then wo were treated
with display of acrobatic leats such as
are never seen outside of Chinese thea
tre One fellow who had q pencIdm for
getting upon 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 somcr-
saults, until ho would reach certain dis
tanoe from the table, when he would
straighten out, while turning, and plant
his feet in tho breast of his adversary with
tremendous force. Some of the performers
had o great fondness for climbing upon
three tables placed ono on top of the other,
and, turninga aip-fap lighton 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 nerved
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.