The Osceola times., 1877-01-27
The Safety OF Theaters.

The burning of the Brooklyn theater
seems to have had an effect which the
burning of all other theaters hitherto
have failed to accomplish. 1t has led to
the most careful investigation, and to ac-
tual enlargement of the means of escape,
as wall as TO other safeguards in theaters
This effect is not confined to this coun-
try. In Londen the lord chamberlain
has issued stringent orders regulating
certain details, sucn as the opening oil
doors outward, keeping gangways and
staircases clear, and he has Announced
that upon authentic information of dis
regard of his orders he will cancel IL
censes. This does not show very compre-
hensive conception Of the real nature of
the peril, nor the remedy. Nor is it to
be expected that official care will move
very far in advance of public demand.
Care is expensive, and if people throng
careless theaters, managers and proprie-
tors will not incur great expense in TAX
ing care. 1t is amusing TO see that in
New York many of the managers are APP
parently of opinion that it is rather safer
to pass an evening at their theaters than
to stay at home, and that il is ridicu-
lous excess and superiluity OF care to
provide additional means Of escape.
According to the reports, at the Metro.
politan theater new stairway was or
dered from the vestibule to the gallery.
"1'he manager felt that the change was
utterly uncaled for, The exits were re-
garded as ample before; but, novcrthe-
less, to humor public whimsical about
its security, and officers who insisted
upon it, the changes would be made. At
Wallack's various Improvements have
been ordered. "The manager stated on
Saturday that he had regarded the build
ing as perfectly safe, but had willingly
complied" ct cetera. The Partisan va
rieties has been closed, but "the man
ager stated on Saturday that the changes
ordered by the inspectors would be car
ried out before the theater was again
opened to the public, although he deemed
them unnecessary" The managers of
the Brooklyn theater would undoubtedly
have said the same thing. But the
ground of confidence in the rapid empty
ing Of theaters is mistaken. One man.
ager calculates that his house could be
emptied in less than two minutes. But
that contemplate quiet and orderly re-
tirement of the audience. The danger, of
course, in case of fire or alarm of fire, is
panic. The remedy, and the only RENE
dy, is such a consciousness upon the part
of the audience, of ability to escape un-
that there will be no panic.
But they will not have this conscious
ness unless they see for themselves that
there are ample means Of escape, and in
very few theatres or r1halls can that now
be seen.
Mr.. Boucicault, who is both actor and
manager, has taken hold of the subject
with great zeal. He proposes, by the
Use Of chemical preparations TO make the
scenery, the woodwork, and every thing
inhammable in the theatre fre-proof.
This he claims to have done in Wallacks
theatre, 80 far as regards the scenery,
and the rest of the house is to be SINH
larly treated, and when all is done the
inspectors are to be asked to furnish Ger
tifcates according to their finding"
Mr.. Boucicault wishes to begin at the
beginning, and to make 6res in theatres
impossible. He mentions some interest
ing facts about the safeguards which are
often suggested. The iron curtain has
been proved to be entirely ineffective. A
hose pipe always ready in the flies is
found to be impracticable for various
reasons as a defense against fire in the
place where it would probably be found.
A force of firemen is unnecessary. because
there isa,ready such force All the me-
chanics, scene-shifters, and supernumer-
aries everybody behind the scenes-are
a force of firemen constantly on the alert.
But the instant official fremen arc placed
we're. al thqse are relieved iroH ra6aasu