Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-02-02
Modern Scenic Effects.

| REALISTIC RAIN-SroRN Is PRODUCED
| Tome In and see how We work stage explosion
and IRE In The White Slave" said Mr.. Morgan
sherwood, the property man. OF the National
Theater. to STAB reporter last night.
Accordingly the reporter followed him to his
sanctum, where were arayed large number OF
lycopodium torches, lightning machines. red fire
ana smoke pans, as well as a battery that at the
GIVEN instant makes the terrific explosion that sc
| ssaxtleS the audience
The lightning machine is an ingenious and eS-
Hamey simple little device. 1t consists OF a small
eeape pipe fastened TO one end OF block Of wood
ana receptacle to hold raw cotton soaked in alco
mol placed at little distance from the escape-pipe
| iuIIute quantity Of magnesium is placed in the
Gynnaer, the alcohol lighted, and when the piston
Is pressed In the: magnesium is blown through the
uaihe OI the alcohol, creating an intense light. In
the storm representation forked slit is cut in the
scene ana covered with transparent cloth, so that
When thls brilliant light is flashed behind the scene
a.; very successful representation OF stroke OF
| lg mining Is given.
| THE FIRE SCENE.
| The lycopodlum torch is used to make the I'M
mense sheets OF flame seen in fire scenes, and is
| simple bowl filled with lycopodium above which is
| screwed a pan containing raw cotton saturated
with alcohol. When the alcohol is ignted and the
loren shaken violently large and apparently very
| nearly harmless.
&c, Come on. we viii go below the stage now" and
ntt,I,, handing the lightning machine to MI.
sherwood led the way to the stage. The 'steam-
Ooat scene was in progress and the stage manager
| Was sklli1uly manipulating tremendous bass
druIn. initiating very well the noise OF steamboat
| engine.
THE THUNDER APPARATUS.
Ihls drum Is also part Of the thunder apparatus,
the thunder being made by a heavy stroke on the
drum followed Immediately BY the violent vbra-
uon OF large sheet OF metal suspended from
| above.
Leaving the stage manager engrossed In his pleas
ant occupation. steep flight OF stairs was de-
Scended ana the underground region reached. The
| cellar Is excessively damp, but the reporter was
comfOrted by the information that since the con-
crete floor has been put down it is absolutely lux
ur1os as compared to its previous state; that for
| merry Inc Workmen below the stage had to move
arounu on rats, and the first requisite OF men,
mer - '"' 0''neS'fa was 'ha' ne De an expert SWIM
| PLAYING TRICKS UPON A REPORTER.
1t was noted here that In preparation for the
| coming scene several traps mad been removed from
the stage and gratings put in their place, while
| the large center trap was arranged as hatchway.
Belore the cue for the explosion came the reporter
was decoyed to spot nearly over where the battery
lay unperceived and when the word was given and
the explosion had taken place the victim OF mis-
GUIDED curiosity was left entirely dazed and labor
Trying Lne experiment OF hitting can of nitro
glyceline with sledge hammer. In an instant
1ue req IRE was aDlaZe, the smoke pans sending UP
vast clouds Of smoke and the lycOpodlum torches,
as they were swung back and forth. hurting up
soiUmes OF fame, wreathing and twisting IN a
manner purely demonacal. Transforming each trap
into an 1ncpient volcano belching forth mingled
masses of flame and smoke The erstWh1le damn
and muggy cellar was SO entirely metamorphosed
by the 1urid light that to the demoraIized news
hades.
suggestive REGION the stage was reached, when the
man al the drum was apparently engaged In a
frantic enort to d1sembOwel it. In an Instant the
curtain fell, and the stage was Immediately pre-
pared for
THE STORM SCENE
on the river that follows. Just back OF the first
"border' overhead, and reaching from one side Of
the stag to the other, WAS suspended an iron pipe
perforated with countless minute openings on the
lower side, while On the stage, directly underneath
Just back of the fcotlights, was arranged trough
run to the sewer. When the water is turned on it
lalis through the perforaons in the pipe In verit-
a a1e driving ih rain ag re front OF the stage and
the rainfall appears to cover the whole stage and
to pelt down mercllessly on the characters OF the
play From behind the scenes, however, the
effect is ludcrous: the whole affair is SO highly
homogeneous The boat is drawn in behind
the falling sheet of water, and the boatman takes
from 1t until the sympathies of the audience are
aroused Tor the players who are so recklessly eX-
the lighting machine, the amateur JOve, the ex-
temporlzed foyer with the elements, stands in the
wings with bored air, and occasionally presses in
the piston, flooding the stage with binding light
Ihen the hero and heroine drift in spar that is
burning at one end in cheerful and determined
way, In utter disregard OF the drenching rain.
Label the Churches.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
AS one OF the many readers OF THE STAR who
looks for Saturdays issue with unusual interest,
permit me to offer, through to-day's paper, a sue-
gestion which may be of mutual benefit to the vari
city. - WA
My suggestion is, that on each church edilce in q
prominent position, the name and denomination be
placed, thereby affording strangers Who are con-
sIantly visiting Washington, additional facilities
Tor Worshlping In the church OF their choice.
Frequently have been greeted with the cues
ton: what church is that" and If we advertise
our business houses, hotels, &C., with signs, why
otour cnurcnes? SUGGESTION.
WHAT THE PAwNBROKERs WANT-A memorial
has been prepared by the pawnbrokers OF the Dis
tTct 10 congress- protesting against the passage Of
the new license bill, far as it affects their bust
ness ~ It's present shape The principal objection
sonally known and requiring the proper names OF
the party to be written on the pledge, since it
would subject deserving class who may be tenn
porar1ly embarrassed to a scrutiny OF the police
authorities and outrage the sense OF delicacy en-
terta1ned by such class OF persons
HEAVY DAMAGES CLAIMED FOR A BROKEN Leo
suit was entered to-day by Mr.. John Amber
smitn, TOT r. Thomas, esq, against the District
broke his leg on Pennsylvania avenue, near 10th
street northwest, In February last. He alleges in
dition from ice, and had been so for long time
He claims that he spent over 81 600 for medicines
anu IneOlcat aJtendance. MI. Thomas is prOmi-
nent readjuster politician Virginia. and 1t is eX-
pected that Hon. John s. Wise Will be associated
with Mr.. Smith in the case.
A BOY CHARGED WITH STEALING A WATCH-Tas
H. Jones, a boy about seventeen years of age was
arrested to-day on suspicion of stealing watch
from Judge Pelham, and was locked up at The NTH
precinct station Jones has been employed as
clerk In Pelham'S Office He acknowledged taking
the watch, which has been recovered.
MARRIAGE LICENSEs.-Marriage licenses have
been issued by the clerk OF the court to Morris
SnoWden and Adelaide Singleton; George Selden
and Hattie SingletOn; John Della haunty and Nellie
Leahy; George Jay Sweltman, of New York, and
Florence Fischer.
A DIVORCE GRANTED.-Judge Cox to-day granted
Richard Lewis decree OF divorce from Mary Eliza
beth Lewis. The petition which was fled by Mr..
Campbell Darlington, set forth the marriage OF the
couple June 2, 1862 in this city, and that she de-
serted the plaintiff June 2, 1873
1NDICTMENTs.-The grand jury at noon TO-DAY re-
ported to the court the following Indictments
George Kelly and George w. Morgan, alias Frank
Warren, false pretenses Cornelius Campbell and
Green LightfOOt two indictments; assault with in
Julia TascOe, larceny two cases); Sarah Nichols
housebreaking In night; Robert Humphrey, rob,
berry; Sarah Lewis, false pretenses; VIM McDeyitt
embezzlement; James G. Helm, assault with Intent
to kill.
In THE CUSTODY OF THE MARsHAI--Susan Keath.
the Old cOlOred woman who has been in the custody
OF the police several times lately and who was ac-
quilted on charge OF larceny In the Police Court
this morning, was charged with keeping bawdy
house about four years ago. and her attorney failed
10 notlly her Wnen the case was called for trial,