Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-07-28

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he was floating. By his side law the
lamp which must eventually dry up the
fountain of his life; the long, slender
pipe stem was gradually slipping from
his fingers We dropped the curtain
and passed on, leaving him to float
through his fowery kingdom on magic
wings. He was young fellow and nice
looking for Chinaman, but it will not
be long before he will gaze at the world
with hollow, haggard eyes, and grasp
the slender pipe stem with gaunt fingers
that tremble in their desperate eager
ness. In other rooms wefound smokers
of every type. Some of them were
young, but many more were old and
bore the impress in every lineament of
the grasp of the inexoIable tyrant
1t was like being in a grave, so still
were the sleepers, SO intense the
silence, and so gruesome the thoughts
that surged through our brains. The
busy life of the city above us was be-
yond our sight and hearing, and about
us were only the lowering walls, which
seemed trying to bury the sleepers from
view. There was no sound except the
labored breathing of the visitors, and
the mild sputtering of the opium pipes.
The smokers lie on wooden beds, cover
ed with mating, and each bed is fur
nished with an opium lamp. The votary
lies on bis side, curled up in a peculiar
position, and rests his feet on a pillow
which to me, looked like a small, oblong
wooden box, but which | was told, was
bamboo. The head also is slightly ele-
vatcd and then he is ready for his en-
gagement with the odd looking tray
before him.
On this tray is an opium lamp of cut
glass, the rim being on level with the
tip of the flame. There is a pipe, being
a polished stem OF carved bamboo often
mounted with silver, a ring of ivory at
the mouthpiece, and a round earthen-
ware, fat-faced bowl, with a tiny hole
in the center. There is box about the
size of a pill-box, made of buffalo horn
containing smoking opium, near which
lie a number of slender wire pokers, a
cup Of water and a sponge to wipe off
the bowl after being used.
We had stood the thing about as long
as we could, so fastened up stairs, into
the pure, free air of the night, thankful
to have escaped with our lives. From
the opium den to the
CHINESE THEATRE
was but minutes time, and soon we
found ourselves going through the
kitchen. Just here | will explain that
there are ninety actors connected with
this theatre, all of whom are males.
They do not allow their women to zap
pear in public on the STAGE" not, l
think, from any desire to shield them,
but simply because the men do not
think they are capable of entertaining
their august intellects. The theatre
had just opened that afternoon at 5
o'clock, with most gorgeous array of
new costumes. The play continues
without interruption sometimes for a
month, both actors and audience
changing as circumstances or pleasure
ordain. We visited the screen Room
and the copper colored actors seemed
not at all disturbed at our presence.
The painting of faces and doffing and
donning of rich garments went on as
calmly as though we had been wooden
men. Those people know how to make
exquisite robes, and how to ornament
them richly, but they will have to be
excused on the cosmetic question. |
honestly think they use house paint
and lay it on with whitewash brush.
When we reached the theatre
proper we were given seats i'll a box
Just over the stage, and there was
spread before us at last something
absolutely new. do not presume to
say that there are not many things in
this world of ours, of which | have
never dreamed, but this is The only
thing of the sort that / have as yet
discovered. Always, there is something
to lead up to and prepare one for a new
sight or a new sensation. But this
came to us something as a shock would
come. There is no drop curtain and
absolutely no scenery. The theatre is
furnished with benches, upon which
thousands of Chinaneu, all wearing
hats, were closely packed. In the
galleries above sat the women and
children. On the Stage, two rough
stools did duty as furniture, and the
actors, who were evidently in the
midst of love scene: kept up rapid
conversation on the crescendo order.
The orchestra | never saw one of the
| instruments before, and hope | never
may againl kept up its remarkable
whanging and twanging all through the
performance. The costumes of the
actors were of richest material and stiff
with the weight of jewels and embroid-
cry, and they were evidently very
proud of themselves. The audience
changes constantly, some coming in and
some going out, but always the house is
full, and always the music keeps on
with its horrible jangle. Actors may
come and audience nay 90, but the
twanging keeps on forever.
After standing it as long as we could
we shook the dust cf the place from
our feet and started On our homeward