Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-05

1t is not until evening that we can with an
easy conscience take off our gloves. and in the
easiest possible chairs around the open fire dis
cuss the campaign, and If we do laugh a little
at the recollection Of what snares and pitfalls
Turkish rugs and p0rtieres are to the feet of
unWaFy youth and how exciting was the exit of
that gifted four. who, in hacking out reached
the door simultaneously, and became entangled
! N the rug. the p0rtiere end each other. no
doubt they are quite even with Us, and II We
SOW the wind we reap the whiTlwind. tor what
don't those frightful fours in hack say about
US?
THE WONDERS OF NoSeE.EsN STAGE
MECHANISM.
HOW Scenic transformations are
TIunaged.
MAGICAL CHANGES AND EFFECTS-THE MODUS
| 0PERAND1 OF 4 STAGE WATERFALL. WITH REAL
! WATER-A ''FLIPPER" SCENE.
| After viewing from the auditorium Of the
theater the exquisite scenery of In the Ranks
and witnessing the extraordinary manner in
which the huge elaborate stage settings dis
solved into thin air to make room for Others
just as ponderous, STAR reporter became i'm
bued with an unquenchable desire to know how
these marvellous and entirely bewilderinc
; q
goer the region behind the curtain is yelled in
deepest mystery and is regarded with the most
profound curiosity. In order to learn the "how"
in this case, the reporter by the courtesy Of Mr.
Harry Rapley. of the National theater and Mr..
Ben Stern, the business manager OF the COMPANY
went behind the scenes during a performance
| OF the play. After the grim-faced stage door
Keeper had been successfully passed. q glimpse
was caught Of the property room" the sane
tum of Mr.. Sherwood, piled high with stage
paraphernaiia. Hanging beside this room is
the ''call board OF the theater. plastered over
| with calls OF rehearsals and printed slips de-
| taIilng the summary punishment that will DE
| dealt out TO transgressorS. After travelling
along passage the stage was reached just as
| the curtain fell on the first act. The moment
the huge cloth was fairly down, the stage was
oVeIrun with busy mechanics and assistants
removing the kitchen scene. with its rural BRIG
| a-brac and arranging the wood scene with its
| wonderfully natural cascade that follows.
HOW THEATRICAL WATERFALL Is MADE.
| Colored lights are grouped about the stage to
bring out the beauties Of the artists work the
water is turned on. ascends through an ex-
tremely matter-Of-fact hose, rppes and babbles
over the crumpied tin that forms it's bed, falls
unsteady into a trough that is lined with heavy
! cloths TO prevent undue splashnr and is car
/ ried OIL again 10y means Of another umromaRtic
/ piece Of hose. The stage is entirely cleared of
| the ordinary scenery and the grooves in which
! the old-IaShiOned scenes are run were hUiStcd
| up out of the way, the stage scenery OF modern
! days being held in place by braces that are
| c!amped to the floor After the fall of the cur
| tam at the close Of the second act confusion
| again regned supreme. Ropes were lowered
| from the flies" and the solid hillside. trees.
| brook, logs, etc, were whiSked into the upper
| regions like magic. The scene was torn to
pieces with the most apparent recklessness. and
| the different portions heaped together in seem
| ing ineXtricable confusion.
| THE CHURCH SCENE
is now set, the best part of it being let down
from above, during which time it behooves the
| stranger on the stage to keep an eye overhead.
Jets of gas are arranged in different parts of the
| stage, behind trees and tombstones whose
presence is entirely unsupported BY the au-
dience the curious projecting window of tie
tavern is hOisted into place; the stage is snrink-
| led with pastebOaTd autumn leaves and all Is
| ready for the curtain to rise on, probably. the
most artistic scene ever represented i'm a Washing
ton uheatcr. There are thirty-siX drops that are
lowered during the progress of the play from
the lilies" The other scenes.-th0Se mounted
on frames,-are placed on rollers. and it is
curious sight to see a man handle one of these
tremendous frames of canvas as easily as an
expert Walter does his partner.
THE AUToCRAT OF THE STAGE.
The stage manager is an interesting and i'm
directions in a COOL authoritative manner. and
| displays no special energy except when he is
| reused to unholy wrath by the appearance Of a
much-berouged young lady, whose costume is a
tlitle odd. 'Do you go on in the next scene?"
he asks, in tones laden with horror yes. sir"
"Wh-a-a-tl In that c0stume:" Yes sir"
Young woman are you aware that the next
| scene is an exterior. i'll the snow, and that a
crimson dress. cut low, with lace collar is not
pS tly ri.,f,
diately, and put on a hat ard shawl ard then
the stage manager turns around with sigh of
relief and asks q couple of supernumeraries
attired as soldiers if they don't think that they
could remember to 90 through the formality of
closing the celldoor after they hurl the prisoner
in. SO that he may languish with some degree of
proprlety. The engagement is drawing to
close, and he would like to have that prison
door closed once, just for luck.
Then he walks up to Miss FOrSvthe who il
| standing in the wing and sympathizes with her
as she complains of severe headache A mo-
ment later she makes her entrance smiles the
smile of devoted love on her sorely prosecuted
husband, and enchalts the audience by the ten
der pathos Of her acting.
STAGE "FLIPPER"
| The most elaborate scene is reversible one.
that not only has two painted sides, but is what
is known as clipper" or a scene one side of
which opens like a leaf of a book, producing a
GU ia oioeV. AliIs pitCC represents nun s
garrett and the barracks and the street scene.
1t is massive structure, the two sides braced
with iron that stands without support. and Is
rolled over the stage with ease Between the
walls at each end, when the scene is in motion.
pilot is stationed, who, by means of peep
| holes covered with gauze. guides the huge wall
! to the black mark on the stage that indicates
the stopping place. Attached to the scene is an
iron frame. invisible to the audience, on which
the table and chairs are placed. whose mystic
| rious entrance with the scene causes so much
| wonder Most of the stage effects were planned
| by Mr.. James Dickson. On the fall of the cur
tain at the end of the last scene in the last act
the reporter left with lurking doubt as to
whether they could ever getthe scenery in order
| for the next performance.
Sullivan i'm COlOradO-The OK Story.
From the Gunnison News Democrat
| ''Mr. Sullivan" said the reporter, shave YOU
ever met Mr.. Fox's new man. Jack Connellv?"
''No, never have; but suppose shall see
| him In Leadvlle."
"And when you meet him" suggested the
| reporter.
"That will be the last you will hear of hin"
| said the champion, filing in the sentence.
"FOr some time past the press has been gem
erallV exercised over the ranort hat Won 4,