Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1882-06-01
4 Chinese Drama.


qu lint described In the June Century by George II
Fltcl who says VI the play:
The drama that was presented OF
this occasion is known as "The Dragon
Disputing Pearls" 1t is play of in
trigue, in which diplomacy takes tht
place of love. In fact, the tender pas
sion, which lends the main interest tC
the dramatic literature of other ma
tions, is almost wholly ignored by the
Chinese playwrights. =
In the drama referred to, the scene
opens in the household of an emperor
who is blessed with two wives. Each
spouse represents favored province
that has shared in the hOnNrs and re.
wards of the royal choice. Each wife
has borne a son, but to the son by the
first wife belongs the inheritance OF
the throne. The fierce jealousy be-
tween the partisans Of the two wives
Is communicated to the two brothers,
and i'll quarrel the younger Stays his
elder brother, throws the body into the
river, and gives out the report of an
accidental drowning. The truth of
this domestic tragedy reaches the ears
of the emperor. He summons the
younger wife and her son. In the
mothers presence he kills her boy, but
not before she has bruised his forehead
in her struggle to save the youth. In
jury to the emperor's person is a capital
offense, and the wife escapes death
only by declaring that she is with
child. A short time after she gives
birth to boy. The emperor has a
great desire to get possession of this
infant heir to the throne. He succeeds
in palming off a spurious infant on the
nurse. The mother detects the fraud,
ascertains where the genuine child is
hidden dOns male attire, and at the
head of an armed force (six "supers')
marches to the province and demands
her child. A long parley is held with
the governor of the province, but
when the imperial flag is shown, this
functionary delivers up the infant, and
the militant mother returns in triumph.
The emperor is struck with her ability,
recognizes the child as his heir, and
peace broods over the imperial house.
hold.
The performance of this pla, one
Of the shortest in the theatrical roper
tory-was begun at six o'clock and
ended at midnight. 1t was relieved by
not a single sparkle of wit, not a soli-
tary gleam of humOr. The nearest ap
proach to pleasantly was furnished by
the speech of the emperor, when he
killed his child. The mother exclaimed,
"Alas! you have slain our son." To
which his answer is: swell, console
yourself; I'm not going to kill him
again." This brought out a burst of
laughter from the audience; all seemed
to regard it as finished bit of humor
They looked on unmoved, however,
when the CORY corpse rose and retired
from the stage, while member of the
orchestra handed to the murderer a
head which he apostrophized in blood
curdling terms. The only other ex
preston of enjoyment was elected by
the disguise of the mother in mans at
tire. When she stroked her long false
beard, several of the spectators laughed
heartily, while aripple of smiles passed
over the stOlid faces of the others.
The roles of the two wives were played
by Chinese men with fine soprano
voices. One was a skillful actor, and
initiated many peculiar feminine traits
and gestures with much nicely. The
leading man, who was brought over
from Peking, and whose salary is
$4,000 a year, has a face brim.full of
fun.