The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-04
THE HEATHER CHINEE.
How He is Amused in the Theaters of San
Francisco-An Interesting Letter.
For The Constitution


For The Constitution
"Are we going into the cellar?
us it an underground theater?"
No" the guide replied to the last anxious
question; ''but we are not allowed to go in at
the front entrance, nor to sit i'll the audience"
We followed, wondering, through 1abyrn-
thine mazes of narrow halls and rickety stairs
and winding ways IS dark as the catacombs
passing now a tailor's shop, and now shoe
makers; now q sort OF butchers stall, where
two men are industriously grinding WHAT
into sausage meat-and now kitchen
where the problematical what is
being subjected to the crucial
test of the boiling pot, whose eliminated
fragrance joins the host of other odors pervad-
ing this celestial cosmos. These odors, not
those of "Araby the best" are 10 the heather
Chinee, pecular After climbing three or
four stories, to our amazement we find our
selves piloted Though the green room" of the
theater. Actors, male and female, rather the
males who personate females-no women being
allowed to appear-continue their toilets in
the most nonchalant manner. We pass from
the rear. through doors which remain open
during the entire performance. on TO the stage
where the play is in progress, and we are ranged
on either side, facing each other. Another
party OF S ght-SeerS coming III, the lines are
doubled, and some of the spectators mount
upon a long table and overlook the scene like
the gallery gods"
The orchestra occupies the canter of the
small stage at the back and keeps dp the most
unearthly accompaniment on unnusical in
struments to which it has ever been our bad
fortune to listen. The rhythmical discord was
a combination of the sounds of katydids and
parrots, of creaking doors and grating files, of
bagpipeS and tin pans, OF sad-voiced cats and
garrulous guineas and strident peacocks This
hideous medley might be concord to sweet
sound" TO ears Chinese 1T might have" charms
n
of music! Apollo .and Polymna! defend us
from the like again! The lower floor of the
auditorium is packed with men, sitting with
hats on. The gallery on the left is occupied
exclusively by women-almond-eyed, bland
faced dreamy looCing-weariug their hair
stretched plainly from their faces, with none
of the hairpin adornments INDUCED in by the
japanese; the gallery on the right by men,
who, Judging by dress and general appearance,
seem to belong to o higher class. How Won
derfully alike in contour and expression when
seen in the mass those yellow faces are! You
cannot help wishing for a pair of scissors and
a sheet of paper folded many times that you
may cut out a long line of them, as you used
when a child TO cut a regiment of soldiers
all joining hands What admirable subjects
for clay modelling in the California
kindergartens! These kindergartens are, by
the way, the pride and glory of the public
school system of California But no time now
to photograph these kaleidoscope mental pic
lures. Look at the stage; the play is on. The
actors march to the center The visitors
crowd them on the side, as though they were
taking part III this queer drama. Prominent
On She left stands handsome, portly Baptist
minister, with a lord high chamberlain air
as if his duty were to wave the actors
off and on. At q little distance,
from him, seated, is Methodist clergyman,
whose polished brow and snowy beard and
critical, scholarly air lil1en him to the censor
of q Greek play. On the right is Presby-
terrain divine, apparently posing as statue OF
astonishment The Episcopal clergyman?
Well, he was there the next night These
ministers attended the Chinese theater for the
same reason that parents attend the circus,
viz; 'to take care of the children"
But we never saw the clergy "on the
boards before. Nothing seems TO interrupt
the performance. One after another speaks
his little piece and retires. The "star" per-
sonates first a fashionable belle and then
blind orphan girl. In the midst of the singing
OF the latter, accompanied by whining, dole
full instrument, the delighted absurdity of the
situation, clergy and laity, America and
China, shayen head and pigtail, white and
yellow lningling together on the stage, burst
upon us with such force that we Laughed right
out i'll meeting" The sight of women weeping
in the gallery over the deeply tragic song, and
mildly repIoachful glance from
the cymbal playerin the orches-
tra-WhO alternately divided his
attention between his bare feet and his GYM
bals-brought us back to the proprieties. Fear
ing to offend again. and gasping for a breath
Of pure air, we bow ourself off the stage, pass
through the green room, hung with many
colored garments and queer weaponsan ''old
curiosity shop''-doWn the rickety stairs,
past smoking dens and eating rooms, and
cels-li,a sleeping quarters-around and
around, out into the brilliant night and the
closely thronged streets again. Such unique
experience Europe cannot offer the traveller
Theatrical managers in Frisco and the flow-
cry kingdom only possess the patent right to
plays where amateurs make their appearance
on the stage with trained actors, without the
drilling of a single rehearsal.
Mrs. BAYLOR STEWART.