Telegram-herald., 1889-09-20
PONPEUSLAST DAYS
GORGEOUS lsD Pleasing SPECTACLE
Az Immense Audience OF fufiy rive
thousand Pee pie n illness the txhtoa-
ti0n-1he S4iisnt Points Of tie ts-
tertsinsa<Dt

The chilly air doubtless kept away
many Who would otherwise have al
tended THE Last Days OF Pompeii'
last night, bat nevertheless Al least
5o00 people Witnessed the opening ex-
hib.tion OF the great spectacle, and n
tie shelter Of the h'gA enclosures and
surrounding trees enjoyed the sight u
comfort.
IL IS very difficult 70 give, IN print, an
adequate description OF the exhibition.
Il Is wholly unlike anything ever be-
fore gwen here. II was, however, en1
tirely satisfactory 10 the gentlemen
who paid in the guarantee fund, and
pleas q the immense audience.
AS the people entered the gates, they
saw in front Of them, in the fore
ground, a small lake, on winch We're a
number or ga.iy painted boats. Back
OF this seemed 10 stand an ancient clty,
with dwellings, stores and temples, and
IN the distance IN the rear old Nesu-
ylus lifted Us head high above the
roofs, and belched forth flames and
smoke.
The story as interpreted last night
differs from the scene n Bulwer DOok
which first suggested the spectacle.
Arbaces, Il wealthy citizen, glvesa great
feast IN honor Of being invited TO dedl-
cate the baths, and as the drama opens
the Senators, flower girls, priests and
citizens gather for the festivities. and
there i i grand march of the SOldlery.
Among those who come Is Alcides,
NOscer.an gladiator. He is met by
Arbaces, VINO invites him 70 the feast.
They enter a boat and are rOwed 10 the
house of Arbaces, which is at the right,
with marble steps leading down 10 the
water. They are met at the steps by
Mania. The festivities then begin.
First the Phanlon troupe of expert
bicycle riders give most interesting
exhibition. Then came the Roman
statues IN their gladiatOr.al act, boxers
and acrObats. These are all excellent.
Arbaces re-enters, followed by Alcides,
who presents him with a parchment,
informing HIM that there were Christians
IN the city. The high priest summons
the assembled multitude TO prayers to
find whether any of the Christians are
present. A procession of priests bear
ing the golden lamb marches from the
temple, and all worship except Mania.
A cry goes up from the pOpulace,
"A Christian, burn herl burn her"
There IS a struggle. Mania Is dragged
away TO the temple of Isis, and present
ly reappears, stripped of her holiday ap-
parel, and borne 10y the priests TO the
sacrifice. Alcides pleads for her
release, but IN VAIN. She Is tied 10 the
stake, the faggots are piled about
her feet, and the torch is applied. Al
cides, overcome with rage, attacks cne
hgl priest. and after a short and ter
riJlc struggle, strikes him down, tears
Mania from the burning pile, and
bears her from the scene. Hardly do
the pOpulace comprehend the situation
when the cartn tremEles, and the build
ings fall upon and aEOut tie m. The
flames and lava pour from tn burning
crater. Flames burst from the build
ings, and the terrified populace rush
hither and yOn in wild confusion until
overcome by the flames or crushed by
the falling buildings.
After the destruction of the city there
was an exhibition of fireworks. IL is
safe TO say that a Grand Rapids au-
diencc never saw us equal. The set
pieces were magnificent, some fOun-
talns which sprung from the lake being
perhaps the finest. The very water OF
The lake was fairly alive with Kissing.
fiery serpeuts gliding on the surface,
or piunging beneath the water to re-
appear further on. The show concluded
With a shower OF rockets.
An excellent orchestra and a good
chorus, under the direction of /. p.
Eddy. added 10 the enjoyment Especial
mention should be made of J. ". Hem
ming, the stage manager. who directed
the performance. and skillfully directed
Il without a hitch.
AllOgether''The Last Days of Pompeii"
may be SAID 10 be an unqualified sue
cess, and the future exhibitions viii
certainly draw immense crowds. There
VIII be a performance tonight, and an
other tomorrow night. The fireworks
are varied each evening.
The performance begins exactly at s
O'Clock. and all should be in their seats
before that time.