New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-15
4 TALK WITH DION BOUCICAULT.
HIS VIEWS or WHAT oUGiT TO BE DONE TO PRE-
VENT CONFLAGRATIONS IN THEATFRS.

HIS VIEWS or WHAT oUGiT TO BE DONE TO PRE-
VENT CoNFiAGRATIoNs IN TIIEArrRS.
Since Dion BOucCaults experiments with in
coustiblc scenery attention has been 10 some extent
directed his knowledge of not closely connected
with his profession Mr. Bouccanlt stated recently that
~ studied civil engineering for two years during his
YOUTH with the intention of adopting that profession
Aftorvard he determined to enter upon the study OF
law but his preferences had always been for The stage,
and AT Is years Of age his experience IN London with
" London Assurance" decided his career. Mr.. Bouc-
can't said that his mechanical knowledge had been OF
great practical advantage 80 him in connection with the
thcater although the singular conservatism Of stage car
pcirs ard others who had To do with stage cOnStruc
tio had not allowed him 10 employ il - he had wished
said he: Il l. often remarked that the mechanism of
the stage has been wonderfully improved OF LATE years
Tie fac, is that scarcely any important changes have
been made in this respect fer hundred years. believe
tha, tie system now employed ana the ccnfri1ance'
used at DrGry Lane Thoaicr are precisely the
came as when The theatcr was ororcd in
ISIi or course a Few Individual changes have been
Introduced, INT what | mean to say Is that IL"
system II posing and manipulating scenery is the
sac as years ago " the hardest thing in the world
10 bring imVrO, cncnts into operation. II II had be'
the custom FOR long tine to tie two scenes together
with string that a0u" 10 the carpenter an
cccnt reason why be should not replace it with me
tac hook and eye. Herein lies reason. and perhaps
the chief reason why fires in caers destructive.
There Is "a prejudice against Introducing nn0YaI Ons III
the csali mc'hois Of construction II sometimes
ems a. n persons took actual pleasure III tho contcm
uEtion Of - possible death hy bnnng. IN 1882 wrote
eysra letters Te Lordon Times, IN which Suggested
seyeraI sinnlc impIOy, inents IA Misunderstanding.
called attention. - the fact that the ocailcd Tdiron
floor over the stage from wbiCh the hanging ohrft de-
pond- and which IN reality Is nothing more tnIh Moor
~ 10 SIS without boarding. might he sdcrrd far iPs
dangerous Nv The nlTpd1ctifr Gf wIi"rppe1 between
every tw iOi perforated with sOles l'I by 40Vin2
a lever thc entire space around and N-,ut The stage
,vpud become u,n'utpoth shOWcrbth. IN which Name
cad not possibly I've. nise announced Thai scenery
might be rendered ipcoiubustiDlr by = very
simpl" and inexpensive prow a. well rom
the replies which WIRE published, ono wouid
have suuu.rl that vas m0iisttr and tsDt hal III
view he w'Olr.plr destruction of'lif" AMI properly.
once rroposed c the Numbers ~ ballet cerp. 10 furnish
for those IN common us' bit they ~ouh noe accept HE
ofrr and laughed at The Idea AMI s>skins nf ncs III
tEcaer great DIAL Of scuSrlts5 talk Is beard Vt req
rucc what ought To DO required OF tseotcr Haaacrs
enough That entrances should % enlarged anu
,ultlI,rd So that when fire hhs LTOkcs QUA people
might have means ar escape. Why, a crowd would 10
liable . - tciI-nCrC lot he'icVS INIT hucii
strs should be enforced ~ VIII Drcdinds the IbsshllN
of a fire occur! Ing not simply suc 10 viii naks ihS"s
portIniiics for cscap" anprr when tsv mo hS Already
broken forth AN in favor 0f law whieo anal compel
the introduction or such apIats shall rondcF ron.
t1rr ion impossible ana which shall grani insp'ci
rcrr.es To- those trcateTS where the law has been com
phcd with, foi instance certificates arc gwen SCAM
boats Tie tendency low IS to take mold OF tGc wrong
end ~ these nattcGstO callCntiOn 10 the cniC rather
than TO tbs prevention"