The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-07-19
.L,ghtlns,, Up the stage Amazons.

NLfghtIng'' Up the Stage Ainaxons.
fPall Mall Gazette
.Now, see," said NJ. Levy, "the light
is obtained from this battery; We callit
a primary battery. It is fastened be-
hind the shield, which each of
the fifty young ladies carries, and
the supplies tho lights in the spear
and the helmet, which make up
the equipment. The number of lumin-
Gus points varies from seven to ten. ]
call them luminous points, for each
performer carries only three electr c
lamps proper, these being in
creased, of cour g, by means of
the reHectors" "No. no. A one
light battery is not at all diff
cult to manage, but ten-ahi" [ may
explain here that each apparatus car
ries three lamps proper, one on the
shield, another on the tip of the spear,
a third in the helmet. In each case the
lamp is placed in small space in
closed by "jewels," diamonds and ru
bies, four set in the form Of square,
and one on the top. Surrounding the
jewels composing the pentagon is
square, wide spray, at each end of
which, corresponding to the four Jewels,
is mirror.
Just then some OF the fifty young
ladies who take part in the ballet, be
gan to troop down stairs from their
dressing rooms, and came up to the
bench on which were laid out ready for
adjustment fifty oblong batteries,
each in 81, about seven inches long,
two inches wide, and some four inches
deep, the total weight when charged
being three pounds. "fhere is but lit
tie time to spare. The wait is but a
quarter of an hour. The ladies have
to change, and - ah! my dear,
come along, there is no time to
lose" And one decided AmaZonian
young lady marched up to the bench
ito be adjusted" Quickly and deftly
M. Levy takes one of the batteries, and
places it in the receptacle behind the
shield, which rests on the dancers left
arm, quickly connecting the different
parts. Just then modestly asked one
of the young ladies "if it was not little
heavy" Here, just take it and try it.
It's like baby" "a very, very little
one, surely" I ventured to remark,
weighing the apparatus. well, yes,
we don't mind them now, though they
were little troublesome at fir t. Ugh
it's hurting my shoulders. ""There. that's
right, MISS it doesn't hurt you now.
See here, mossoo, I'm not tied up at
the back" "Oh they've done me up
wrong" Dear, it's burning there
that'll do, fragments of a lively con-
yersation as the process of fitting on
proceeded. Shield, helmet, spear
fitted, the switch tried, flash oi
| lights for q second, and the owner
marches off to the wings.
For ten minutes NJ. Levy and his
assistants were as busy as bees, fitting
on and tying up the flexible cords
which connect the three parts of the
system together. By an ingeniou
arrangement, one switch, easily reached
by the hand of the wearer, itself not
the least ingenious part of the whole
controls the ten lights OF luminous
points. The while there was such {
clatter Of tongues as would have put tC
shame the builders of Babel. But it i.
good-humored fun, and the shafts O
wit which hurtle through the air 81
thick and fast are harmless enough
Indeed, these young ladies are in goo3
spirits, considering that they weal
tights and cut capers for 25 shillings q
week. "Now. ladies, please" and in a
minute the fifty amazons are dazzling
the eyes of those in front"