Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-05-31
Il CHINESE DRAMA.


San Francisco IS quantity described in
the Century by George 81. Fitch, who
says of the play:
The drama that was presented on this
occasion is known as the "The Dragon
Disputing Pearls - 1t is play of in
trigue, in which diplomacy takes the
place Of love. In fact, the tender pas
sion, which lends the main interest to
the dramatic literature of other nations,
is almost wholly ignored by the Chinese
playwriters.
In the drama referred to, the scene
opens on the household of an Emperor,
who is blessed with two wives. Each
spouse represents favored province
that has shared in the honors and re-
wards of the royal choice. Each wife
has borne son, but to the son of the
first wife belongs the inheritance of the
throne. The fierce jealousy between
the partisans of the two wives is COM
municated to the two brothers, and in
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 efforts to save the
youth. Injury to the Emperor's person
is capital ofense, 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 in
FAINT 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 y
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 func-
tionary 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 play-one of
the shortest in the theatrical repertory
was begun at o'clock and ended at
midnight. 1t was relieved by not
single sparkle of wit, not solitary
CLEAN of humor. The nearest approach
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 "Well, console
yourself I'm not going TO kill him
again" This brought out 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 false
head, which he apostrophized in blood
curdling terms. Tho only other express
sion Of enjoyment was elected by the
disguise Of the mother in mans attire.
When she stroked her long, false beard,
several Of the spectators laughed heart
lily, while ripple 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
skilled actor, and initiated many pc
culiar feminine traits and gestures with
much nicely. The leading man, who
was broughtover from Pekin, and whose
salary is $4,000 a year, has face brim-
full of fun.