News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-03-29

| the largest streets, and though OF on
story in height, could accommodate
about 1000 persons. On entering
noticed that there was galley running
round three sides of the building, ant
that the curtain, which was of hgh
printed calico, was drawn across the
stage from left to right. There was no
a single chair in the place, but the whole
floor was divided up into little pits
about foot deep and three feet square
Into these pits the people, male and fe
male, old and young, began to pour in
and they packed themselves in as SNUG
as sardines. They squatted down OIL
the mats into compact groups, and a
once took out their pipes and food anG
made ready for enjoyment and CONVEX
! sation prior to the commencement o.
| the performance. The price of admis
sion to the natives was only few cents
| but they took care to charge foreigners
much more for the places we had, com,
manding q fine view of stage and audi
ence both.
Such ruddy faces, such white and
shining teeth, such smiling mouths, such
astonishing hair-dressing and gorgeous
silk costumes The women and chill.
dren we were pleased with, but the men
were really better looking, as rule.
Fine, honest faces they had, and such a
gentle look and tone about them that
one is drawn to them insensibly. No
ticeable it was that no disorder prevail
ed, only the most gentle of murmurings
of human voices, and no confusion OF
tongues; each one seemed to have his
own circle of friends, and all were
no Of hn
sion.
The plays are mostly historical and
usually take about three OF four days
for representation. The actors are spec
tally able men (no women ever act) and
can so arrange their dress and disguise
their voices as to pass for females on the
stage.
Down the middle of the arena or audi
forum extends bridge or platform,
directly dividing the people, and enabl-
ing the principal actors or ''stars" to
make their entrance to the stage amid
shouts of Hi Hi ! the only word of
applause which is ever used. The stage
is revolving platform, manipulated
from under the building by rude and
simple machinery, and is usually mount
ed with three scenes, completely fitted
up with furniture and belongings. The
actors themselves sit in their appropri-
ate places and are swung round with the
stage itself, into full view of the au di-
ence, at each change of scene. This is
a most surprising and pleasing exhibit
ton of the great ingenuity of this mar
vellous people, and never fails to bring
down q storm of Hi, His from the de-
lighted crowd.
Our party went at 10 p. m. and came
away at II. We saw only two scenes,
but the acting impressed Us as superb,
Notwithstanding we could not make out
a word of the spoken parts.
The play seemed to be something like
this: A blind beggar, who had amassed
considerable money, was in the habit of
crossing lonely moor daily, or nightly,
to his cave in the mountains, and was
also accustomed to carry his coin in a
red silk handkerchief strapped around
his waist. This fact came to the notice
of a man who kept a wayside inn, and
who, with his wife and twin brother,
was doing very comfortable trade with
travellers. The old blind beggar was a
constant passer-by, and often used to
get money as a guide, for he could cross
the hills or moor by night as well as by
day, and travellers made use of his ser
vices, and SO he prospered. A plot to
steal all his "pile'- was coneoeted, and
the night was fixed for his robbery; but
the twin brother of the innkeeper did
not agree to the crime, and threatened
to turn informer if they did it. This
caused the innkeeper's wife to assume a
penitent attitude, and she begged her
husband to desist. But when they were
again alone, and the twin brother was
out of hearing, they concocted q new
plan and proceeded at once to its execu-
ton. The first dark night, when the
blind man was to come by, the murder
Gus innkeeper posted himself in a con-
venient place, and, with drawn sword in
hand, awaited his victim, whom he most
mercilessly carved into pieces and de-
prived of his hoard of coin; then, hiding
the CHASTITY remains under bush near
by, he retreated.