Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-01
THE NEW NATIONAL THs TER
somethfng About the New Building
and the Winter r0zralnme.

=
evening, with Maggie Mitchell, the favorte
actress, in the role Of "FsnchOn," will be heard
with pleasure by Washington theater- goers
The history of the places of amusement which
have occupied the site of the present new Ma
tional is an eveRtful one. The first heater built
on this site was erected in 1898; 1t was DESTROYED
b, fire in 1876. Six years later 1t was partially
rebuilt, and a few months afterwards, in 1851,
this building was also burned. A new building
was erected in the fall OF the same year, and in
1867 it was again destroyed by fire. At the time
~ its destruction in this year it was leased by
Miss amy Morant, and the night OF the burn
iIs was her hrst temperance after = severe
illness as ROsalind in Shakspeare's comedy OF
"As You Like It,"
AN Old TIME DESCRIPTION OF A PIRs
The National IHteuigeaceT of February 7th,
1851, thus describes the burning:--sY Yesterday
AFTERNOON, at about quarter past three O'Clock,
smoke was seen issuing from the caves Ut the
National TheateT, adjoining the Union office,
which soon increased, and the fire, fed by com
municating with some scenery, quickly filled
the house and resumed it's complies destruction.
From all we can learn, there was 10 trs on ia
stage, nor anywhere else in that quarter of the
building whence the flames burst forth. A
young man engaged at the scene painters work
place was obliged to leap from window in the
rtar OF the building. As soon possible the
Franklin and Union fire companies and the
Northern Liberties company were on the spot
Fortunately the UaiOR establish ment sustained
ne serious injury, or not more than about $3.50
VIII repair. For so large AMI imposing a con-
Migration, il is a matter Of satisfaction that o
little injury was done 10 the neighbOring build
ing buildings. The mayor, in view OF the men
aciDg condition of the naked walls, early "a We
orders for their demolition, and the hook and
ladder companies ezerted themselves to the b.st
OF their ability in Obeying them. The theaJer
has been for few weeks under the direction OF
Mis- Fanny MOraBt, though Messrs. Kunkle Il
Co. continued TO be the lesSees'
THE NEW BUILDING.
About the beginning of the war Messrs.
q tad a mas Init
the same site, but on the 29th of January las,
TINS, too, was swept away by the flames. Moth
ing daunted, Mr.. w. W. Rapiey soon began
preparations for the erection of another build
ing which should be superior in every respect to
any OF its predecessors. The new structure has
just been completed, and is pronounced by com
petent authority one of the finest places of
amusement in the country. Mr.. Rapley, the
proprietor, in nergetically pushing forward
the work of reconstruction, has of course
availed himself of the valuable suggestions of
MIR. j. G. Saville, lessee and manager, who has
personally supervised the important matters of
detail, such as the arrangement of the stage
and its accessories, and the new temple in all
its arrangements is second TO none in the coun-
try.
INDEBTED TO GOTTA"
MI Raplev during the panic was eonsidera-
bly, pressed for currency. in common with other
business men, aud the difficulty OF procuring it.
being 80 hard on account OF the then prevailing
light market, he was at one time on the point
OF delaying further building operation. At this
jnnCtuTe Miss Lolita, the wel-knOwn sprightiy
actress, came TO the Rescue with Sl0 900 in cash
which she advanced, and to her, as well as Mr.
kapiey and Saville, are the public indebted for
the early completion OF the building.
THE NEW COMPANY.
Mr.. Savile has been successful in securing
some OF the finest dramatic talent, and las been
enabled to present an unusually attractive pro-
granmc for the winter. And first it should be
stated that he has secured as his stage manager
Mr.. L. Lamb, an old Washington favorite, aud
Acknowledged to be one OF the finest comedians
in the country. Fer over a year past MT. Lamb
has been playing at Booth ,Wallack 5, ana other
hrSt-class theaters in New York. aud has won
the unqualified comm eudation of the press.
Among the attractions to be offered at the
National this winter are Dion BOucicsuIt, the
u hoI-sctoT, Clara Louisa Kellogg. Lester Wal
lack, Mare 2ek's ltahan Opera Troupe. Mr.. and
Mrs. W. j. Florence, the YOkes family, Mrs. ID.
y. Bowers, the aimee Opera BOuffe Company,
Edwin Adams, Joe Emmett and the Fox aud
Denier PantOmime Troupe. A. We have before
said, The new thester is complete in all its de-
tails. The drOp-CuI tain. which l. of crimson
cloth, with gold trimmings. il rich and hand
somej the chairs in the parquet are of the same
9ttern as those at Nlblo's, New York, and are
upholstered in enameled cloth; the priVlt
boxes are as elegant as the hsndspmest in the
country; The fIescoIng. done By those accom-
pushed rtists, MesSrS. Scbutter and Rakem4n.
ELECTS greet admiration by its beauty, aud the
heating arrangements are everything that could
be Ceslred.
TIE OPENING NIGHT.
The theater will be opened tonight by the
performance of Fanchon, with that peerless
little actress. Maggie Mitchell, in the initial
role, who will be supported by Messrs Sberi-
dan, Lamb, flanagan, Mrs Melinda Jones.
Lucy Keller, Clara Milton, and others. An ap-
pr"priate feature will be the reading OF an
orening address; written by J. L. stewart, of
this city. by W. l.. Sheridan, esq, the leading
man OF the stock company. Since Saturday tue
tickets have been selling quite lively, aud a
large and distlng uished audience is assured.
OFFICIAL NsPECTIoE-sAFETY OF THE BUILD
ING.
Board + plblie ICorT.s District af Co7,,,,J;-
Cfice Of Inspector IF Buildings,
WgsiiagioH, n. O., December l, 1878. \
This is to certify that the proprietor of the
National Theatre, - in the course of its recon
strUctlOn, has cOBiOrmed to the requirements of
the regulations established by the District gov
eminent tor attaining ample security, health
and comfort TO the public. The arraL gements to
facilitate egress in cases Of alarm, fire or acct
dent, and to afford proper accommodations for
the public protection in such cases are liberal.
Eight hundred and twenty persons seated in
orchestra chairs and parguet walk out through
doors having an aggregate width OF TWENTY-FIVE
feet, and leading through short and wide YES
Thule 10 the street. Five hundred and twenty
persons seated on dress circle leave the house
by two flights OF stairs, of seven feet in width
EACH ami through the above short vesi-
bule, which being thirty-twO feet in
width, readily accommodates both parluet
and dress circle. The gallery is provided
with separate stairs and outside doors
Besides these, there are fire. escapes leading to
the alleys on the east and west Of the theater;
they have on each side an aggregate width of
ten feet. Another escape. twelve feet in width,
leads from the stage direct to the alley in the
rear, ana there are still other outlets through
the adjoining billiard saloon. A safely-con-
suucted steam heating apparatus insures COM
fort ana protection against colds, and due eff
forts towards an efficient ventilation have also
been made.
1t affords me pleasure to testify to the reaIi-
ness with which The owners and architect have
submitted to any suggestions made, tending
towards the ends indicated above, ever since
the accident OF last wear. ADOLF CLuss
Inspector Of Buildings, ID. &.
IT, VI. - ". Raplsyi Proprietor "Nd,ioaal Tie
0feF,n Washington.
AN INTRICATE DIVORCE CAsE-AbsolOm
Iransue few weeks ago fled a bill tor q di-
yorce from EleOnOra Catherine Transue. He
charges IN his bill that they were married in
ISIS IN Bethlehem, Pa; that he Is a resident of
the District, and defendant resides near Easton,
Pa; that within year past she has correspoDded
with one \. h. Eliot, Of Indiana, and that she
committed adultery with Elliot at Terra Haute,
Indiana, IN September last.
The respondent filed her answer on Saturday,
ia which she states that plaintiff, although In
the public service here, votes at Easton, Pa;
that he has treated her cruelty and endangered