The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-05-11
The MacKaye Spectacular, "

Chicago.
The newspaper critics OF Chicago were
recently invited to view the workings of
"Thc Mackaye SpectatOrium' model
which has Just been completed by The
Columbian Celebration Company. With
a remarkable unanimity OF opinion these
men in their reports of what they saw
gave the enterprise their most hearty
and even enthusiastic commentator.
One of them Mr.. W. L. Hall, the Dra-
matte Critic of the Chicago Post, used the
following language in his description of
the model: Enthusiastic applause
from the little company greeted every
scene and every remarkable manipula-
ton OF the lights and, at the conclusion,
there were those present who predicted
that the Spectacular would rival the
Fair itself. Mr.. Mackaye was showered
with congratulations and voted q wonder
and there was not dissenting voice. 1t
is safe to say that it will attract more
attention here, during the Fair, than did
the Eiffel Tower in Paris No descrip-
ton can carry any idea even of the model
and what will the great and complete
whole be- Mr.. Halls opinion was
conceded ia by every person present. 1t
is perhaps possible to get faint idea of
what the grand production will be when
the workings of little model, in which
it was impossible to attempt the more
delicate minute, could stir trained
critics to such bursts of enthusiasm.
When the mere movement of mechanical
effects without the environment of peo-
pie, songs, action, music or dialogue,
can win such enconmiums what indeed will
the production be?
Tharp orn como n OrC which tro Il
the power of word picture and the
production in "The Mackaye Spectator
RUM is said to be of this class. How
can it be explained, at once, that %
immense stages, weighing 1900 tons,
can be so perfectly equipped that any
one set OF them can be moved from it's
point of cOncealment and brought into
public view, without cOmmotion and
without apparent exertion, in the space
of forty seconds; that the audience can
be, as it were, in an instant transported
from the palaces of Granada and the
Summer sun at MONDAY to the early
morning light and the little church at
PalOs: that in this institution is
machinery capable of producing over
300, 900 candle power of light, of mobil-
ling 600 tons over q space of 600 feet in
less than a minute and present a COM
plete change OF view. How can one con-
celve upon single stage the presenta-
ton of the grey dawn of the day, the
gradual rise of the sun to its meridian of
splendOr and its setting to its bed of re-
pose at eve, attended by all the glowing
light of tropical twilight; how can one
readily believe that exact fac-similes of
the three caravels can be made to pitch
and toss on a mimic ocean that contains
over four million gallons of water; how
can one imagine that this sea at the in
stance of the inventor, can be made to
ripple beneath the bows of the ships and
to toss them about as if they were mere
cookie shells how can one conceive OF a
wind-maker that shall cause the breezes
to sigh through the rigging of those
caravels, to die away into absolute
quietude or to blow with the terrific
force OF a tropical hurricane, all at the
word of one man. Yet these things were
accomplished in the model, say the press
critics, and will be surpassed in the grand
production.
Sweet SOrinptime'S 2unny DAYS GRO hora