Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-02-19
Exposition Notes.



At the Exposition Grounds, re-
tween the two great bnildinas which
are about one eighth of a mile apart,
is u semi-circular artificial lake bor-
dered on the outer CT! Gle at night by
beautiful colored lights resting upon
the ground, near the waters edge.
Back Of these, about three rods, are
st veral rows of seats conforming to
the shape of the lake, each rising
above the other; the whole seating
about three thousand people. On
the opposite side of the tiny lake,
which is no more than 100 feet
across, and 3OO feet long, is semi
circular frame work forty feet high,
with its inner circle facing the lake,
covered by canvas, representing in
the farther back ound a magnifi
cent rugged mountain range, the
foreground mersiL. into compare
tive level stretches upon which ar,
represented fields, yardeus, villas,
and other suburban residences, com.
blniny in the view with vtritaLie
structures, Of temples, public build
inss, the mphitheatre, forum ano
thtr repr. sentative features of al
ancient city; the whole representing
the famous doomed city of Pompeii
B-t een the lake and the structure.
is an open lawn of irregular shape Of
30 yards or more across. Here, OF
certain evenings of each week il
enacted Pains spectacle of the
Last Days Of Pomreii," a specta
Gle worth ones while to travel 9
long distance to see.
In the mountain range stands q
prominent peak towering above the
others, representing old Vesuvius
and which reminds me of Mt. Hood
and resembles that mountain Sc
much, that L feel sometimes us if
WAS Ill Ieality looking at our greal
Ga cade range, and one Of the Crane
l'cahs rising up into the clouds.
B"folo the representation Of the
destruction takes place, and while
the pantomime play, performed by
$50 actors, is going on, q reddisl
mantle like heavy cloud creeps NJ
and trembles upon the mountain
The gladiator dies, the sacrifice i.
made, the brilliant lights becom,
dimmed, the mountain shows sign,
of eruption and finally fiercely
bursts forth upon the city, scatter
ing fire and ruin everywhere. Build
ings totter and fall before our eyes
tireSbreaks out in numberless place.
in the city; the mountain vomit
forth fire and smoke, the former fall
ing promiscuously over the inh. hi
tants, the latter settling upon tn,
city and obscuring the view. Con
sterna,lon rei9ns supreme anon;
the people, and 10 add terror to til,
scene the lake is fairly covered will
kissing Cheek fire. and rockets whiz
eng in their zig-zng course, some
times in mid-air, sometimes IN III,
water and sometimes Swimming tn,
surface in their fiery course. Mean
time, rockets burst overhead il
quick succession, scattering fire o
various colOrs that always draw
from all parts of the audience tina
word of wonder and admiration
Chow" that has from its univer
sal use now become q by-word ant
stale joke.
1 have heard no dissenting yoic
but that this is one of the grandes
spectacles to DO seen in America.
declare, each time l see it leads m
on to see it again; each time Their
is feeling of reality about it tina
makes it hard for one to believe tina
he does not actually see the verita
bic totteriug city, the confused POP
ulace, the awful sacrifice of life a
told by the silent three thousan,
witnesses already unearthed from
the ruins of the fated city.
have just come from the enact
ment of this scene: the air wa
warm and balmy, although it wa
s o'clock at night. A brillian
throng crowded tue seats and opel
space back of them; not breath O
wind stirred to flicker light or dis
turb the waters of the lake; hun
dred yards away a band of musi
discoursed splendid music in til
open air, their leader guided by al
electric bell, changing the strain a
directed by the mind that governed
the actors; the echoes of the must
resounded against the great Expos
ton buildings. giving US in cer.ai
positions the benefit as of two bands
the whole presenting scene neve
to be forgotten.
This fairy-like panorama of ancien
times is enacted twice or thrice
week and when the weather is pro
pitious always draws crowds of PEG
pie; always draws unstinted praise
with never a dissenting voice. TIL,
study of ancient history is here com
L:nol IA, tLok .,f ,>1noo,,o o3 80.