The Washington critic. (Washington City, D.C.) 1890-1890, 1890-02-20
WORLDS FAIR DRAMA.
GATHERING OF THE CLANS AND
DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE.
Senator sawyer Introduces BIZ for
the suppression of Lotteries--Ftue
and imprisonment for Sending or
Receiving Lottery Letters.

ana imprisonment Tor NenuiuI or
Receiving Lottery Letters.
I'M Specid lIire from tie Cdpito,.l
The widely advertised drama, the
Worlds Fair" gave first perform
ancc day in the Hall Of Represents
tives The Gilbortian and Sulivanian
air of mystery which has been thrown
about this play excited remarkable
amount Of interest in 1t. Even more
wonderful ard mystifying than all was
the fact that the managers of
this production had succeeded in freely
advertising it in the staid and solemn
Congressional RecOrd, which never before
had advertised anything more hilarious.
1t was not even known to what division
of the drama it would belong.
Would it be tragedy, comedy, COM
edy-drama, pastoral, melodrama, farce,
that latest monstrosity of the drama,
the farce comedy? These questions
were eagerly asked, but no one could
answer them. Plausible arguments in
favor of each class were advanced, and
as the day for the first performance
drew nigh the interest grew simply in
tense. Those in possession of the secret
assumed an air Of wisdom and said
nothing. II is remarkable how much
interest may be created by that simple
process.
The unusual length of the play, the
Worlds Fair" excited much com
ment. 1t was announced that the time
required for the performance would be
at least two days, and might even ex-
tend to double that time. 1t reminded
one of the Chinese plays, that run for
about three weeks.
Then, again, it was to be performed
in the daytime, as was the case with
the Elizabethan drama, when barns and
open tennis courts formed the theatres.
As in those times there was to be no
extensive stage, nor elaborate scenery.
In those times boards with This is q
CASTLE" "This is road" answered all
purposes. Except that the surround
inss of the new play were to be more
elegant and beautiful, they were of no
more theatrical value than the primitive
surroundings of the days of the Virgin
Queen.
Then the name, the Worlds Fair"
was of itself suggestive of mystery.
Would it be anything like the great
fairs of the middle ages? Would it be
modern representation Of Vanity
Fair" as described in Bunyans "Pil-
grim's Proeress?'' Would it, and here
society Rugged Itself, would it
be like those lovely fairs given
in aid OF the dear, delightful military?
Finally, there were some who hoped it
would resemble, in much modified
form, no doubt, that celebrated Gre
alton of Irish genius, "Donnybrook
Fair These were of the sterner sex,
such as delight in witnessing intel
lectual combats between such eminent
scientists as Professors Sullivan and
Kilrain.
Thus when the hour set for the be-
ginning of the performance arrived the
galleries overlooking the scene were
filed with throng Of people of all
classes and conditions thrilled with the
delight of anticipated pleasure. The pub
lie galleries were comfortably full with,
strange to say, the colored faces in a
minority. In the private and reserved
galleries the people came with the same
leisure which characterizes the holder
of reserved seat ticket at the theatre.
There were several large theatrical
parties here from distance, notably a
large one from Chicago. 1t was headed
by General George r, Davis, ex-Repre-
sentative; Hon. Adlai i. Stevenson, eX-
First Assistant Postmaster General
DR.. Rush, A. E. Hurt, eX- Congressman
NnK w ro,lsc1a GAl
Thatcher, and Messrs Dickinson. Tay.
lor, Cragin, Phelps. st Louis had q
much smaller party. 1t was composed
Governor Francis, Colonel j. X. Hickey
j. G. Trather, Governor Fletcher and
General John B. Clark.
New York sent no party, but was
represented by handsome, blue eyed
is said, though, that large box party
be here tomorrow. Washingtons Off
cial epresentatives-that is, those who
come in on stockholders tickets--ar(
Thomas j. Luttrell, Colonel M. M
Parker, and Professor King Of the
Geological Survey.
The galleries filed up slowly, but by
the time Mr.. Gambler began speaking
The prologue at p. m. they were well
filed, except the Diplomatic, which
contained not soul. The pr vate gal
leries contained well dres' I'd assem-
blage of ladies and gentlemen
many of them beins Wash
jngtoDians, who listened to the debat,
with interest. Most of those occupying
seats in these galleries were evidentl,
strangers who, being in the city, hat
concluded TO take in the new play. Ii
the executive gallery Secretary Rusk
daughter and three friends were atten
tive observers.