The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-22

very satisfactory results---to every one
but the property man. He is long
suffering person but the extraction of
wind from "fiexible" causes him to find
life tedious.
Every one has heard the startling
crash that is produced when the hero
kicks the villain through q four. inch
oaken door. One would think that not
only the door but tho villain must be
completely shattered. This noise is pro-
duced by tho crash machine, one of the
Oldest implements of imitation still used
on the stage. 1t is similar to the wind
machine in construction. A wheel with
paddles set at nh angle of about forty
five degrees to the radii is the main part
of tho machine. Upon the top of the
wheel one end of stout pieoe of wood is
pressed down by fastening the other end
to portion of the framework. When
the wheel is turned, tho Stats passing
under the stationary piece produce a
rattling crash. The principle of the ma
chine is illustrated by the small boy who
runs stick along paling fence and is
gratitied by introducing into the world
an additional morsel of hnbbub.
There is nothing that can bo SO well
counterfeited OH the stage as moonlight
scenery. And yet there is nothing which
requires more work. Tho artist begins
the task by painting moonlight scene.
In daylight such scene is ghastly
sight. 1t is done i'll cold grays and
greens, in which Prussian blue and
burnt umber play an important part
and the lights are put in with white
slightly tinged with emerald green. The
strong moonlight of the foreground is
produced by calcium light thrown
through n green glass. The winter light
upon the scenery ut the back of the stage
is obtained from ''grcen mediums" q
row OF argand burners with green CHM
neys. These are placed upon the stage
just in front of the main scene, and are
''masked in" from the view of the audi
encc by 'ground piece" A row of
them is often suspended from the "hies,"
in order to light the top of the scene.
This upper row is masked in by "sky
borders" Thus q soft green light is
thrown over the entire distance, while
its source does not meet the view of the
spectator. A usual feature of stage moon
light scenes is water, because it affords
all opportunity for the introduction of
the cripple" charmingly natural stage
elect. The main scene in n moonlight
Wow is alwayspainted on q "drop"-that
IS, scene made like tho curtain let
down between the acts. The position
of the moon being determined, immedi-
ately under it. beginning at tho horizon,
number of small Irregular holes is cut
| in the drop. These are then covered on
the back with muslin and painted over
on the front to match the rest of tho
water. Behind these holes is placed an
endless towel, about eight feet in length
running around two cylinders, one at
the top and ono at the bottom. The
lower cylinder has a crank by which the
towel is turned. In this towel is cut n
number of holes similar to those cut in
the drop. a strong gas burner is placed
DcIWSeu LIe G"O Sl(tCS Oh Tho GOwGl.
| When the machine is turned the flashing
of tho light from the passing holes in the
towel through the stationary ones in the
drop produce n fine ripple. It is always
better to turn the towel 80 that the holes
pass upward, as that helps to mako the
mimic wavclets socm to dance up toward
the sky. Instead Of towel large tin
cylinder has been used, but it is cumber-
somc and noisy. It is necessary to turn
this towel with great steadiness other
wise tho ripples will go by fits and starts
and entirely lose their natural appear
ance. Stars are easily put into the sky.
Each twinkling orb consists of spangle
hung upon q pin bent into double
hook. The slightest motion of tho drop
causes these stars to shake and the flash
ing of the light upon them produces the
twinkle.
| Tom Ochf1trco's Hat.
| | WaS sitting i'm tho cOnrt ward Of tho