St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-08-28
THE FALL OF POMPEII.

"A MaSH1uCenC SpcCCdCles WIZ
messed by 5000 People.
The spectacle of '"lhe Last Days of
Pompeii" in the evening was grand
success, enjoyed by over 5000 people.
The scenery was realistic in the ex
IRENE, and Bulwer's beautiful story was
told in pantomime in manner that
easily understood by those who have
read the work.
The show opens with burst of music,
presently a trumpet is heard, and at The same
time small flower-decked barges pass across
the ornamental lake, and the prows of the
galleys make their appearance. as from un-
der the triumphal arches group OF soldiers,
with standards and musical instruments.
emerge, and announce the coming OF Arba-
ces The soldiers are followed by dozen
negro slaves holding up inscriptions and
bannerets in honor of the powerful Egyp-
tan. Then come priests in white
robes, next number of dancing
Pompeii,'' with his attendants; next some
ladies. and lastly, guard of honor, TWO and
two, in front of Arbaces who, clad in purple
and gold walks under canopy. This pro-
cession crosses the stage and bows to the Of
fcials of the city who sit under canopy to
the right, in a building overlooking the
water. The procession then turns to the
left, and part of it, including Arbaces, passes
arrival of the galleys, which now enter in full
view They advance gradually, and from the
first alight soldiers and slaves, from the sec
ond lone and her afianced bridegroom. the
Greek Glaucus. Arbaces receives lone with
profound Obelsance, but barely condescends
to notice Glaucus. thereby indicating his
jealousy and dislike. The procession re-
forms, and the guests take positions under
the portico of Arbaces house. By this time
it is dark, and the beautiful city, with its
x,i1Ioc ND hrI
with divers kinds of lights and lamps. Music
strikes up, and, upon the signal of blast
of trumpets, the doors of the temple of
Isis are thrown open, and the temples
illuminated interior is discovered. The
priests in white garments. and the priestesses
in white and dark blue robes, issue Solemnly,
bearing alott the golden image of the Egypt
ian goddess, which they place in the center
then the dancing girls begin slow move.
ment, and NydIa, the blind girl, appears and
dances gracefully. Suddenly Arbaces cries
out. IF there be Christians present. and
known TO any of you. let them be denounced
and brought forward to adore the great god
dess, Isis" The people in return cry out:
"Glaucus ia Christian; let him worship the
goddess, or death be unto himi'
lone upon hearing these cries, and know
ing her atfianced husband to be secretly
Christian, rises in terror, but Glaucus boldly
descends, and, sword in hand, advances to-
ward the idol. which now appears to glow
with internal fire. Vesuvius also begins to
show signs of all approaching eruption.
Glaucus is about to strike the goddess when
the blind Nydia, guessing his intention, and
guided by his voice. prevents him, and rush
ing toward the goddess herself overthrows
the tripod which stands at the idols feet.
All rise in confusion, the earth quakes, the
dread mountain vomits forth flames and
clouds of smoke; the temple columns totter,
and the peol lie, forgetting Isis and her
priests, remember only their danger. CAUCUS
seizes lone, and with Nydia clinging to
them, they manage to enter boat, and are
seen, amid the flashes of lightning and the
glow from the torrents of flaming lava, es-
Gaping across the water from the doomed
city. Arbaces is killed by falling column,
while the people, screaming and shouting for
aid, rush in wild confusion in every direc-
| ton, realizing Lord Lytton's magnificent and
graphic description of the appalling catas-
| trophe.
Then comes the sudden illumination and
| burst of flame from Vesuvius, and is fol-
| lowed in rapid succession by the most elab
| crate display of fireworks ever seen in Min
| neapolis. Yhe set pieces were grand, many
| of them being twenty feet in height. The
| finest was a piece the center of which was a
| sickle and sheaf OF wheat, about which were
| the words, Prosperity to Minneapolis.
Throughout the performance were intro
duced teats of strength. boxing matches.
| tumblers. wrestling matches and many other
| trouble with the lights, but with lnsurmount-
able energy, the management managed to
| produce the spectacle in a. manner that
| called forth the warmest plaudits of the
crowd The part of the attractions has
| proved a tremendous success, and no doubt
| will fill the seating capacity at the rest of the
| performances. Certainly the splendid dis
play of fireworks and the grand production
| which takes 800 people to present it, is well
worth the patronage of the general public.