Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-12-14

pearance OF the engines by contrast. The
twinklipg of the lanterns, the leaping ct the
| flames and the throbbing OF the engines,
which were really fired up," all tended to
make the scene startlingly realistic. I,
The act was scosed by grand ballet and
spotbeosis that eclpsed anything in either
the prologue or the previous act The reg
ular body of dancers was fifty, led by the
best talent of the French capital, while the
500 other participants were ranged in pha-
lsnxes ON the sizes and at the back OF the
stage. The costumes displayed IN the whole
piece could not have been less than 800
in number, and | do not believe that such
lavishaess would be justified in any city IN
the world except theatregoing Paris
The apotheosis at the close WAS a hitting
finale TO the act The cloud scene IN the
extreme background rolled away, disclosing
magnificent example of aerial suspension.
The foaiing fair ONES wsre in the midst OF
a gigantic star OF Ellison incandesceht jets,
made up ofst of the same, that were also
made OF stars.
Upon the rising Of the curtainin the third
act more comedy followed. Glorihed peas
ant No came in, sang awhile, and then
seated himself 10 eanOpied alcoye, No. z
entered and exploded an egg. The paVll'
ion rose eight or ten feet, disclosing char
in story below, in which No. 2 ensconced
himself. No. 3 now doomed up, exploded
an egg, and seated himselfin the next story
below, which had generously come up to the
level The susceptible princess now entered,
discovered No. 3. and began spoonlng with
him, having seated herself In chair beside
him. Princess drops handkerchief, and No.
3stoops TO pick it up. In the meanwhile
chair glides up to second story. Princess
resumes her love-making with No. 2, with
out noticing for q moment and No. tries
TO find some one upon whom to bestow the
handkerchief. Surprises all around.
Chair Jumps Up to Third Story
when the interested parties are looking away
from each other. and more surprises follow.
No. / is about to bestow his first kiss, waen
Princess disappears, etc, etc.
Then there was another full stage flooded
With electrical illumination. The scenery
represented tho portiCos Of a palace con
strueted entirely of musical instruments.
The great staircase consisted Of piano. key
boards. In came the instruments-huge
drums, from which the wearers head pro
truded, bass yinls, Immense silver horns,
with the face looking out of a window, slen-
der flutes guitars, cymbals, bag'pipes, ac'
cordions, hand organs, etc. Fifty boys with
tiny drums came running in, and seated
themselves on the keyboard steps. Then
6fty girls with bright metal saucers around
their waists, representative OF table bells
Then City more girls with dresses like
church bells and clappers on their shoulders:
Then fifty more with tambouri ne hats and
dress ornaments. Then an immense ami
mated harp, the supports of which were two
fair maidens, whose dresses we're formed By
the gilt scroll work of the work-anj so on.
There were melodious little suatches Of
orchestral and vocal music attending thead
vent of each class ofinstruments and finally
a grand pandemonium of singing, dancing
bell-ringing, tambourine rapping, ETC., as
the curtain went down.
The final apotheosis was preceded by an
exercise extended at once to give an idea OF
the uses TO which stage floor may be put
and to give time for the preparation OF the
last tableau. Elves and satyrs in green
tights appeared and disappeared in every
possible way. There seemed to be not on:
inch of floor that was not made to swallow
a performer or pop one high in the air. The
performers dived out Of sight, rolled out o.!
sight, doubled up and went hips foremost
through circular openings scarcely a foot in
diameter, and even somersaulted out OF
sight. Then they practiced on the walls.
They fastened themselves in some mysteri'
Gus way, and revolved clear around the
room close to the ceiling, without visible at
tachment to the wall. They glided up the
walls feet foremost (sure death in case OF
accident), and then the panel would reyolve,
taking them out OF sight. There were ad.
Unstable panels everywhere, some revolving
from right to left, some from left to right,
some up, some down, and some diagoually
The performers would disappear sometimes
in sea Of flame. Then, by means of in,
visible wires, thu elves would leap almost to
the very top of the proscenium arch; then
back again, describing all manner Of extra
ordinary figures.
After these gyrations the scenery folded
away, disclosing the final tableau, the "Par-
adise of Flowers" Of course, there were
the conventional opening roSebuds, parting
clouds, gliding cars and whistling windmiIls,
all animated by smiling faces or posing
children, with fountai9s iRpumerabIe,