The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-07-30
A Chinese Theatre in ,FrIseO.


The San Francisco Chronicle de
seribes the opening Of the new Sing
Ting Yuen theatre IN that city as fol-
lows About J, 800 persons were pres.
ent during the performance, which
| lasted from half past seven ia the even
/ ing until hslf-past two Sunday morn
/ ing. Many Americans, among whom
were few ladies, took advantage Of the
occasion to witness the Chinese play,
but none except the celestial visitants
stayed until the last scene Of the pro-
longed drama WIS finished. The cos
tunes were gorgeous beyond descrip-
ton, and all made especially for use on
the opening night. The stage presented
the usual characteristics. There were
the customary perpendicular legends
upon the scene behind that closed view,
which every one viii presume to be
wise saws from Coniucius until he is
told the contrary on very good author
ity. The propertv-man kept his traps
on one corner of the stage IN sight of
the audience, brought forward articles
Of dress or furniture when they were
wanted. and restored them to their
nook when they were no longer needed.
When not busy be made tea and drank
It before every ybody-the play all the
while progressing-an even summoned
some of his companions from the au-
dience to imbibe the refreshing bever-
age with him in a convivial way. Ev-
erything was In the freest and easiest
style. The audience smoked cigars
and cigarettes, and the musicians who
played the exhilarating yee-hin 81 d
clRshed the deafeniug cymbals inhaled
N awhile the delicious fumes of opium.
The orchestra was composed, beside
the yee-hin, of the tien sok, the sam.
tien, the tong-koo, and one or two other
pieces of meIodious strains whose names
are not known to the average Amer
lean. The reporter sat in the
topmost gallery, between a Chinamsn
who was nursing his big toe in the in
tervals of his dramatic rapture and a
dirty Celestial who understood enough
Melican' to explain the general drift
and tenor of the play. The plot of the
play had the usual deviations towards
immortality, with royal wars enough to
satisfy the most bloody-minded specta-
tor, and now and then a domestic cpl
sode in which the scandalous element
was not lacking. A husband and wife
for instance, appeared upon the scene,
the former accompanied by two COWS
represented by small Cinnamon with
beasts heads. The wife has lofty aspi-
EaGlOu6 huQ QO66 uOb 1lkS nGE 1AGRG lOIU
because of his devotion to agricultural
pursuits. Enter the heavy william In
the guise of an invalid, as a destroyer
of the felicity of the hearthstone. He
gets access to the discontented wife,
and elS7es with her. Enter husband
with two cows-which he instructs to
live in harmony, and on the green
grass, otherwise mating. He falls
asleep, and they fight it ont on that
line. Enter a vile robber in miserable
dress. He gathers the two COWS by the
horns and is making off with them,
when the owner awakes and rescues his
property. Exit husband. Enter gay
deceiver with recreant wife. financial
ed thief beats the gay deceiver, and
secures the unfaithful baggage to him
self. Re-enter deserted husband, re-
covers his wife, and finally puts her to
death with unheard of tortures. After
having expired in agony, the faithless
wife deliberately gets up and ooolly
walks of the stage. Another general
war, and so on, 1b gi6itltDa. The thea
tra Is a large and convenient building.
erected for the purpose; and is said to
have cost $50, 900. The seating is am
pie, and the means for entrance and
exit qnits sufficient for the wants of the
place"