The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-12-12
RAISING A STORM.
The Way to Make Thunder, Light
ming, and Rain.
Disclosing the Secrets OF Theatre
simple Contriyances Behind
the Scenes That Produce
weird Effects.
Nav York Times. !

New York Times.
IL was evening, Otherwise known as y. H.,
or night The glar Of gaslight illuminated
the stage Of the theatre, and the nutter Oh
fans made genils c1mmotion In the stale,
unavoidable atmosphere. In two seats Close
20 the orchestra railing sat two young men,
ons of whom regarded the scene with the air
of weary man OF the world, while the other
viewed his surroundings with the deepest
interest. When the curtain went up and the
play began this young man watched the
progress Of the performance with
great intentness There was
thunderstorm In the scene. The
thunder Numbered, and the lightning light
ened, and the wind winded, and the rain
rained, and the crashing tree branches
crashed. The young man regarded 1t all
with tho awe OF one who could not compre-
bend how 10 was done, but his older COLI
panion smiled weary smile and intimated
in language more popular than elegant, that
Il was "dizzy fake"
ANY ono who knew the two young men
would have recognized them ut once as the
famous Thespian sage Josephus and his
simple.minded pupil Ptarximander. After
the curtain had descended upon the last scene
Of the drama they wended their way TO
neighboring resort, and sat down TO partake
of the Asucculent bivalse" and the foaming
vintage Of Harlem.
"Josephus," said Ptarximander, swallow
ing ono end OF his cigarette in his absence OF
mind "thnt was "A remarkable stimulation Of
a storm, was IL notP
any dearly beloved, unfedged gosling, you
speak as one who talks in his sleep Poor lit
lie boyl Let me tell you that these things
are initiated easily and effectively by simple
mechanical contrivances worked by the arm
of man. They are a regular set Of Oympian
gods those fellows behind the scenes. They
launch their thunders at will-or rather at cue
and can bestow rain and wind when and
where the author will permit them The
property man and the stage carpenter ARE the
presiding deities, and the pronpter is the
great Jove who tells them when 10 let loose
their thnnderR."
Ptarximander looked crushed, and for a
few moments was wrapped in a mnntle OF
dismal silence. Soon, however, lie recovered
his accustomed imbecility Of spirit and asked
Josephus another question.
allow do they initiate the thunder"
listen, my non compos men'is babe ard
will unfold 10 you the secrets Of my prison
house, so that they shall no more niake each
particular hair upon your hollow head stand
ON end like quilts upon the fretful inkstand.
Thunder Is IN these days Of French flats and
modern improvements producsd by what
is known az the thunder drums. In the
good old times, when Eddy feastsd
upon q pair VI flats every night at
the Bowery theatre, it was produced 10y
means Of u large piece Of sheet-iron. sus-
pended over the prompters desk, and sup
piled with handle at one end vigorous
shake of this instrument produced that hol-
low, metallic crash, which is often heard
in thunder storms This kind Of thunder,
however, doesn't have that booming, rever-
berating roar which is so effective aud mt
ural. While the old sheet-iron thunder ID
still useful I'm its way. IL has been supple.
mented and improved by the thunder drum.
II consists of heavy box frame with q calf.
skin drawn tightly over it, Upon this the
prompter operates with a stick, which has n
padded end covered with chamois, and re.
sembles the favorite instrument OF the bass.
drum punisher.
@The theatrical business is great" ex.
claimed PtarxImander. "Now, how do they
manage the rain!'
aOh, that's done with the rain machine"
"You don't mean TO say that they have d
machine for making rain' Why on earth
don't they get it patented and sell them tc
farmers In dry weather and make their ever
lasting fortunes"
"Rest, perturbed spirit, rest" answered
Josephus. THE machine doesn't make rain
IL simply initiates II. A cylinder Is made o
half-inch wood. IL is five feet in circumfer
ence and four in length. Inside are rows o.
small wooden teeth. A quart Of dried pea
In also placed inside. Then the machine 1
put In place In the rigging loft over tn,
stage and q rope belt passes around on
end Of 1t and down to the prompter'
desk. All the prompter has to d
when he wants a shower is to pull the rop
and turn the cylinder. The dried peas rattl
around among the teeth, and there you are
Then there Is a way Of taking wind ms
chine in q country theatre that does no
possess the genuine article. A common child
hoop In procured and piece OF heavy brow
paper Is pasted over IL, after the manner Q
the balloons through which the young lad
jumps In the circus. A handful OF bird -sho
In placed on the surface OF the paper. Ther
by causing 1t to roll around you get a fairl
good imitation OF the sound Of rain"
"How do they initiate the windr
"Young man" remarked Josephus sternly
Ayou are altogether too antediluvan. Th
wind machine Is q simple and effective con
trivance There Ii heavy FRAME in whic
. Is set cylinder provided with paddles, al
ranged like those on the stern wheel OF a
Ohio river tow-boat Across this cylinder
attached to two stationary stanchions,
tightly stretched piece Of heavy gros graf
silk. The cylinder Is turned by crank an
the rapid passage Of the paddles across th
surface Of the ELK produces sound like tina
of wind"
= ais there any way of taking q wind ms
elmer 49,.
"Well, should wager The way of
man who fakes wind machine
hard. All you have TO do Is TO pr
cure q piece Of rubber gas hoee-know
In the parlance Of the stage as 'fex
ble'-take IL TO q convenient portion Of tn
stage, and swing It around your head Q
like the moaning of dissipated gale. Ate
you have faxed wind machine throug
about half an act you will wish you ha
never been born. Is there anything NOR
you'd like 10 known
"Yes; how do you initiate the crash
add you ever see o small boy run along
paling fence and draw stick over the SUI
"The boys action illustrates the principle d
the crash machine There is a stout fran,
work In which Is set wheel. Thi, wheel Ia
paddles set at an angle OF As degres
10 it, radii. One end OF piece OF stron
wood IN fastened TO the framework 1
that the other end Is pressed tightly dow
ON the paddles. When the crank is manip,
lated and the wheel turns, the piece Of 700
rafting quickly over the paddles produces
crash. ~ asa r.
"Now you have all the constituents OF
first-rate storm, except the lightning Tht
may be produced by the fash torch, which
remember once explained 10 you, or by
i. small pinch of magnesium placed on Il
blade OF knife and igiited. This Is the be-
kind Of lightning, as Il produces a blindin
glare. IL Ii not extensively used, howeve
because II costs SIS per pound
aI'il make my lightning with a fash torch
remarked PtA. umander In conclusion.
A CoeI-Headed Engineer.