The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-25

basket. They followed their trainer about the
stage. responding quickly TO 2, crack of bis
at the base OF the rope. AZ q signal they started
to climb up, and made the laboriuhs ascent to
ceivo them. " was a curious sight. and not a
pleasant one, Some toiled, slowly up, while
matte fat, black fellow only reached the top
after the greatest effort He sstarted first,
p Tpbt t a1iGInSSilbnss rs sps ps'sy %I,b h' another En- 'n nentr TSy.
tiOn from one OF tho cats. who assembled the
rope and took his place In the bnsket VI n para
chute with rs much .composure ms one Of the
Vaidis sisters. Then he desc ended in the para
chute and aliRhted without the least perturba.
not DO carried to any higher sEiil than Mr.. Or.
lnnsky has done. but tho sight is not agreeable.
hall now with a repetition OF the dances given
by her sister. and she has her share of the family
talent and energy.
The romance Of 1.-THE Heart Of Maryland"
was cleared away yesterday afternoon for the
benefit Of a small audience which was allowed
to view It's actual realities. The occasion Of
this exceptional performance was a test in
scene shifting. and the familiar localities In
which tho story " the play is told were rapidly
moved about in competitive haste. The efforts
of the Theatrical Mechanics Association to In
crease the efficiency ot their members was one
reason for the trial. and II Ii proposed that the
stage hands OF other local theatres shall make
similar tests to determine their dexterity in
handling the scenery OF the plays In the produce
ton OF which they are engaged. So the secrets
OF tho theatre are likely to be revealed to a
privileged few who are. however, not supposed
to possess any Illusions OH the subject. But
even II they did. doubtless for the sake of the
public, who are to be benefited by the decrease
in the time Of intermissions between acts which
the greater efficiency OF the stage hands will
bring pbout, they would he willing to sacrifice
them. The thirty-flve stage hands OF the Herald
SQunrc Theatre. under the gaze OF experts from
other theatres and the direction OF Alfred Will
liams, the master mechanic, commenced work
is is a country house. With foliage about Il. and
the elements of II, including electric appliances.
scenery and properties; numbered sixty-hve
pieces, The word was given. and the men ap-
peared in their shirt sleeves to work
just as they do every. night when the curtain
conceals them hom the view Of the audience,
They uprooteh trees. demolished fences and
houses. com pletcly dissipated n. stretch of
t Mhery' in,erior rAna Of tho ana Talve HHa h "mts al
within four minutes and forty-tive seconds. and
the separate pieces in this picture aggregated
timekeeper. and the quoted figures are his. The
Confederate headquarters gave way to the ex-
matter of two mimi. es and thirty seconds. The
change to the vestry OF the church was accom-
scene was transformed into the belfry within
fifty seconds. Then it took only a little more
than three minutes to build UP again the Cal
vert house.
The spectators and the participants seemed
satisfied with the result. and there, was ,ex-
pressed the unsellsh desire that the public
might enjoy some of the fruits OF this improved
skill and have less time to wait between acts.
II would have been n fine object lesson to Sarah
Bernhardt. who Keeps her. audience waiting for
half an hour when there Is no change at all to
be made. But there was one night when 1t
seemed impossible that even she would keep
"Magda.". She had not appeared in the first
rest. But between the first and second acts of
the play there was an interval OF forty minutes.