The Indianapolis journal., 1896-01-20
CHAMBERS OF DEATH
NEW YORK'S WEIRD, CHASTITY M
PORTATION FROM PARIS.
Place Where You May Die Just for
Fun, and Where Sport Is Made
of the Grim Terror.

NEW YORK, Jan. 19.-Reporters of the
local. press have been given private view of
Cabaret du Meant, lat the Casino Chambers.
Broadway ard Thirty-ninth street. From
the street the visitor was ushered into an
anteroom that was almost totally dark. and
after being held therein long enough to
acquaint his eyes with the lack of light
he passed into what was styled the First
chamber" Here the light was limited to a
feeble glow from one chandelier and to the
glmmer that came from numerous wax ta-
pers. The latter were of the sort that are
sold by grocers for lighting gas jets and
ranges, and were stuck in the tables that
were scattered about the room. Each Of
of these tables was of plain deal and in the
shape of coffin. The walls of the room
were draped with black; deaths heads and
crossbones showed on the drapery, and the
somberness was but little relieved by crude
paintings representing for the most part
pictures of gay scenes, but in colors of dim
ghastliness At one end of the room was
an aperture about q foot in diameter, over
which, in white letters was the mystic
legend, Remove your hat" Compliance
with this request enabled the curious Wis
itor 10 put his head Wei within the open
ing. Having done so, he looked in for a dis
tance of ten feet and saw. standing upright
In the recess, an open coffin, covered ex-
cept for small space at dts top In this
space, did he follow the injunction closely
enough, he saw his own face reflected in
a colorleSS likeness, though he were the
occupant OF the box of death. Outside,
where the Hghts were dinner, it could be
seen that the chandelier was composed of
human bones, each feeble jet supported by
a skeleton hand. After a sufficient time
n N = fQr far1 f.f
these details,a lecturer" in shiny silk nat
made himself heard. After a few words OF
comment on the pervading deathiiness, he
called attention to the paintings upon the
walls. oestoWing few words or description
10 each, and as ne spoke the paintings
proved themselves transparencies by the
way their ngureS changed. A depletion of
hilarious scene in noted French dance
house suddenly became a dance of fieshess
skeletons; picture of man serenading
the moon was altered to represent skel-
eton twanging his guitar in praises of a
heaven-it deaths head; and SO it went on
through the half dozen pictures. After the
list was exhausted the speaker invited all
those who desired to die to follow him.
He led the way to door draped in black,
but with a small. square opening that sug-
gested faro and like forbidden relaxations.
Sturdy knocks upon the door brought re-
sponses from the other side that indicated
reluctance in granting permission to enter,
|, but after few moments OF parley there
came the sounds of loosening bolts, and
the company passed on into the second
chamber" That, too was draped in black,
which was relieved only by a series of white
spots, which, by lettered sign, were ex-
planned to represent tears. On one wall
were lettered the words, "Requiescat in
Pace" Here the company was challenged
to die, and the volunteer of bravado was
introduced TO a cowled monk, who con-
Quoted him through parted black curtains
out of sight. In a moment the volunteer
reappeared, showing in a darkened recess
at the back of which an empty coffin was
set upright. In this he was placed, and a
white cloth was draped oyer him, leaving
his face exposed. In few seconds his
flesh lost it's glow of health, slowly dark
ened, and in a moment more a skeleton
showed where he had stood. These effects
which the waiting onlcokers were assured
in few moments by the mans reappear-
ance. Several volunteers made this essay,
one woman, who was escorted by NJ.
| Caron to her position in the coffin while
holding a bottle Of champagne in her hand
| AS the candidates offered themselves. music
| but as the natural flesh hues slowly dark
| ened in stimulation of modification the airs
| from the musician became livelier, and jig
| or a reel was the accompaniment for the
| display of lifeess bones. A third chamber
| was decorated as somberly as the other
| two, and recess similar to the former one
! was furnished with chair and table. Here
| the volunteer was invited TO order whatever
| he desired to eat o. drink, and cautioned
| that he was in the abode of phantoms. AT
| his commands refreshments were placed be-
| fore him, and these were visible to on
| lockers, but unseen by him, the effects be-
| ing produced by lights of the magic-lantern
| order. Skeletons clothed In white waited
| upon the sitter and disappeared at the COM
| nland of the loquacious lecturer and the
| viands and liquors were seemingly removed
| by the same unearthly hands. AS visitors
| passed from this room to the next and last
| black-edged cards of invitation bearing the
| imprint OF skull and crossbones were hand
| ed them. and in the final apartment they
| were invited to be seated and regale them
| selves. Here the surroundings were more
| cheerful. TO some tastes. consisting of a
/ selection from the properties of the repre-
| sentations of comic opera at the Casino in
| the past ten years. In future showings OF
| this newly imnorted Partisan delight it is
| planned TO serve refreshments in the first
| and fourth rooms OF the establishment. the
| intermediate two being reserved exclusively
| for undiluted ghastliness. Those who enjoy
| this sort OF display will find ii served up In
manner that is in. every way consistent
| with the growth Of goose1esh. The one
| lack, perhaps, to be noted in the whole en-
| terprise is the absence from the wine list
| or smelling salts Women visitors may neeC
| them.
Convicted of killing Strikers.
| WAPAKONETA. o., Jan. 19-The cele