The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-06-29
"rAE wlrou or rNpoR.n
a "rent hmuoment Event ut Martins
Ferry by Homo TnICut,


Tho burning Of rcd fro in different
parta OF Martins Forty lnst night an.
nounced tho opening performance Of
tho witch Of Endor." Foot prints AFRO
seen all ovOr town leading toward tho
opera house.
Tho entertainment, which 10 Tor tho
benefit Of tho FRO department, Is by far
tho largest and best over giyon In Mar.
tlnH Ferry by homo talent aud tho dia-
play OF acOnety 10 tho finest eYcr Wit
messed In this noighborhood.
There waa fair siLod audience prca-
ont at tho opening last night aud oYory-
thing passed oil like clock work, not
withstanding that II was tho frat night
and many woro so vol ploasod that
they will 80 again tonight or tomorrow
night.
Tho scenery begins with tho creation
OF tho world, showing tho globe floating
In space and all tho principal events up
TO tho ascension Of Christ. Tho scenery
aIono Is mn excellent exhibition In It.
sell. In 1t ato 10000 yards oil screen
shifting scOnory, 100000 feet OF bat.
ting, 200 gross OF acrows, 500 pounds OF
Gluo, ton barrels OF whiting, ono ton OF
paint, 1000 foot Of rope atrctchcd to
hang this with, in all l52 pieces Of scon-
cry, ranging In sizO from lSx24 foot to
4iS0S feot. Seven men worked thrco
months at painting and mounting tho
scenery, ana it will require two 53.foot
cars to transport this. In addition TO
tho characters and the scenery 1t takes
thirty men TO handle tho aCcues, and
although they arc not seen by tho audi
cnco thoir work shows the rapidity
with which tho changes arc made.
Each scenO 10 beautiful aud correct and
illustrates to good advantage n great
many passages in the biblical history
whose description Is rather complicat-
cd. Tho work stamps II. c. Temple not
only as thorough artist but as q mas
tor Of his subject.
All oil the music for this ercat musical
and sCcnic production was specially
written by Prof. AlbGn 10 Roy, and it
Ia very pretty. About ono hundred and
fifty porsons take part who have boon
practicing Tor three or four weeks and
all Go well. Ono hundred ladies and
children tako part in tho minuet
marches and drills, twenty.four men in
ono drill and fifty persons in the
chorus.
+ In the scCno OF Solomon's Palace "a
seen magnificent revels OF tho most
splendid partl Of tho Bible.
Twenty-four young ladies dressed in
Grecinn costumes made o! delicate pink
satin with white tarloton scarfs appear
in tho scarf minuet, and in this Is scon
tho graceful minuet characteristics OF the
east. They appears ior tho fiat tImo
in tho first ecenc, and in this samo
Hcenc Is tambourine dance by twenty.
four young ladies in pale buff costumes
with tGmbourines. This movement 10
purely in keeping with tho time and
place it depicts.
Tho stately march Of twenty.four
young ladies in long white robes with
pale green maniles, is exceedingly
pretty. Each carrie O golden wand.
The movement Is very difficult and in
tricato and ia characteristic OF the pas
times Of the great king.
The fourth in this sceno ia flower
drill by twenty-lour littIo girls whose
graceful movements are in general koep-
ing with the harmony and beauty Of
the scene. They wear white and car
~ flowers.
a chorus Of City Welcomes the king
and the entry of his body guards 1n-
ishcs the scene.
Tho remainder OF tho entertainment
consists o. the various scenes before
mentioned and grand drill By Roman
soldiers, numbering twenty.iour and
just preceding tho picture representing
the delivery OF Christ TO the Jows by
plato. The costumes worn by these
aoldiers are historically correct in every
detail. They consist Of helmets, Roman
toGas and sandals and the soldiers arc
armed with spears, shiolds and the in.
ev.Qble sword. Tho mon who take
parsin this drill range In height from
five feet ten inches TO six feet four
inches, and tho movements arc very i'm
posing.
Miss Mary Davidson takes tho part
OF tho Witch OF Endor and W. II. Coss
King Saul, the two principal characters.
Tho dialogue Of tho King Is short, but
ably portrayed. Tho Witch OF Endor
is an exception TO amateur performers.
She occupies tho stage during tho entire
performance, except during tho scene
OF Solomon'a Palace. She explains the
meaning OF each setting Of scenery to
tho King, who has fallon entirely be-
noath her spoil. Thia makes the set
tings comprehensive to tho audience.
The part is heavy one, and portrayed
in highly satisfactory mannor. The
spectators fail to realize that they know
Miss Davidson, and arc led to believe
that they arc in the actual presence OF
this historical witch. Tho story OF the
Witch Of Endor Ia founded upon tho
memorable visit Of Saul to this person
age, and 10 supposed TO have transpired
previous TO tho visit mentioned in l
Samuel xviii 7-25.
Tho entertainment Is entirely differ.
ent from any in tho history OF the Ohio
Valley, and tho house should be packed
tonight and tomorrow night Many
Wheeling people will attend.
Tho Coming Bnrn Dance.
Ill., ,lopop who hovn honn or.