The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-03-18

wheels. To an Assyriau chariot Is attached
the King and four other Captives, three of
them women, while an Assyrian guard drives
them into captivity.
The scene now represents King liczckiah
restored by Gods intcrpostion from fatal
sickness hearing tie prophecy Of Isaiah. The
pOtentatc Is seated upon II canopicd throne.
Before HIM Scribe reads scroll, and at his
side stands an officer Of The Court.
The Captivity: In the scene presented
NebuchadncZ2ar is mounted on Il marble
throne before him in bronze brazier an
officer Of court u heating the iron that will
destroy the captive monalChs sight, while
the hnplcss Jewish King, "a hlnI. II chains
awaits his torture The ground I, s,rewn
with golden vessels Of every shape, which
are to be borne into Babylon.
Bclsha2zcr's feast; In tn" design present.
cd Daniel mas been summoned 10 interpret
the writing on the wall. BclAhazzar sur.
rounded by his woman SITS aghas' Que
of the princes is knccling in front, while
Daniel reads.
The proclamation Of Cyrus IS next pre-
scented. That monarch is seated upon throne.
Before him are The golden vessels. Al his
back stands IN aged counselor, and before
him in robe and Cowl Of cham mail gazing
ntently upon the scene OF the Prophet Jerc.
mlah.
The car which next moves into the fore
ground represents the triumph of Queen
Esther. King AhaSucrus and this most de
voted OF women are seated at a sumptuOus
banquet, as is also lIaman the pursc-proud
tavorite who has plotted the destruction OF
Mordecai, ESther's husband, and all the Jews.
The three days OF icasting are over, the hlng
and llaman at Esthcr's solicitation have at
tended her feast; wine has freely flowed, and
the King flushed with the CXhilerating grape
blood has promised any boon she asks. Then
is heard the dcnunCiation Of liaman and that
the villain is unmaskcj TIE scene is one of
Oriental splendo-, an altar flaming with in
Ccnse gives sanCtity to the view, while lux
uriOus divans and sumDtuouS entertainment
present all that feminine taste can suggest or
unbounled wealth procure.
The last scene of all which ended this
strange history and wonderful dclincatiOn OF
it is the Roman triumph and the final dc
struclion OF Jerusalem
In glttering trlumphal car, his brow
crowned with laurel wreath, sits Titas. Be
fore him on the platform Of the vehicle,
stands his son and Dominican. -Four horses
draw this chariot OF victory, and surrounding
are bronze columns with antique lamps, ST.
mon, a Jewish general and a Hebrew priest,
chained to the car, follow in its wake. War,
famine and months of fierce combat are de-
pictcd upon their haggard countenances,
and hard lines Of despair ground into each,
indicate that a people who have ilourishcd
twenty centuries have at length been crushed
The pageant is over, and a bewildcred mul
utude watch the fading light IN mute amaze
ment.
The days festivities were closed bya grand
ball by the Mystic krew in the Variety Thea.
ire, and ball and reception Of Rex at Expo
sitlon Hall on St Charles street.
While an ocean of human beings surged
through the streets, an inner current, the tide
of Opulencc and fashion, giided in phos-
phoresccnt stream toward the center Of at
traction. The broad Corso for one evening
flashed in the shimmering inundation, while
ripping into by-ways, the crowd poured in
until the streets were transformed into NOV
ing areas and the entire prospect was living
mass. Surrounding and seemingly. envc!op-
ing all in its mighty swell still swept the
multitude, and the glare OF lights, peals ofhil.
arity, the roll et carriages, and grotesque out
cries of an host Of masqueraders combined
IN so dazing an ihcongrUity, that had the
scene been planned by the Chief Priest OF
the Turmoil, the confusion could not have
been more complete. A quiet haven Is not
far distant, and past spacious veStibule,
where thicket of lamps shed their radiance,
the daintily attired throng sweeps into the
Varieties theatre. Rusting through the pas.
sage5 gathering after gathering is seated, an
auditorium becomes resplendant with exqui
site toilets, a thousand fluttering fans fill the
air with faint odors, Us many voices STIR the
scene with ripple OF excitement. What
language will exhibit IN new light the
thrOng which annually gathers in this lem.
pie of the MUSES., or what description would
add another phase to that which for years they
have been accustomed. Never perhaps had
a subject more pregnant with interest been
chosen, and never certainly did pageant
contain greater wealth of coloring nor more
artistic design. Two tableaax Were present
ed. The first representing the Garden OF
Eden" with premature man AID woman in
their bright season of happiness. The second
was indescribably grand, embodying no less
than one hundred and five characters, which
embraced nearly every historic parsonage,
the magnificencc OF the spectacle simply eX.
cells belief.
The REX BALI al Exposition TALL, was
equally grand. The Throne Room VAS what
was called the Art room, and, ~ ordcr to
reach il, II was necessary 10 pass through
the ball room from the -. Charles street
front
The Kings throne was at the end, In the
centre of the coEcayc of semi circle, on
either hand being ranged the colors and cs
Cutchtous Of His Knights. In front Of the
Throne was Il circle enclosed with an iron
railing and filled with rare flowers and ever.
greens, IN which were hidden statues and an
eiilgy Of the lion, the royal beast, and from il
toatcd the sweet sounds of many music boxes
The room was drapcd with Stars and Stripes
from ceiling to floor, and presented beaut
full sight. Immediately opposite the entrance
To The ball room, above the small gallery fac
ing 1t. was shield bearing bulls head
with flags dropping from each side. This
room scarcely needed adornment, so beautiful
is It's architecture, yet 1t was very handsome
ly decorated. The supper room was in the
third story, above the ball room. 1t is unne
ccs.ary to suggest that in all its appointments
II was ia keeping with the other rooms.
The ma 'ses lIngerer long and lovingly til
the day of fasting and humiliation was tn
advanced before wraps were donned, thcligh''
put out, and the rumbling of carriages an