davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-20
Old Nasty Particular. .
BY GEORGE B. BURGlN,
Author of " The Judge of The Four Corners"
-. Copyright W Syndicate
'opyright, lss6. BY the Bacheller Syndicate.

Attention! Rear-rank man. dress
up" Said old Captain Doubleday. rap
ping severely on the gravel with his
stick.
BE you a meaning me. master, or
t'other MANI" inquired Gubbins, as he
permitted his spade to drop on the
ground and descended from he majestic
stiffness from military bearing to an ag-
ricultural attitude more expressive OF
everyday life.
"How often am to tell you?" snapped
the captain. 1T is soldiers duty to
obey, not to ask questions"
'Well, I hain't blommin' soldier
grimly .snorted Gubbins. My names
Gubbins. A plain, blunt, self-made
man am"
"And very badly put together, too
cried the captain, with a chuckle. your
remarks. Gubbins, are totally subver-
sive of dicirline. When W: entered my
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-20

Ana that night. a. Biil Jones looked
longingiy up At the window Of the room
where he knew his fair one was con-
fined. he bitterly reproached himself for
his foolishness In thinking that q single
wheel could get away from q tandem.
and he swore softly to himself that
when next he tried to take the maid
away he would have q sextuplet. fully
manned. and with an auxiliary gas en-
Sine attachment.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-20

which nearly proved fatal. Even Miss
Priscilla faced his advance with eQua-
nimlty and ''s-ss-shed' and drove him
back In disgrace to his own domain.
Having overcome Gen. Cook. the cap
tain's next foe was the faithless serpent
he had cherished in his own heart, to
wit, Gubbins.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

ing. OF the three, one was selected
by the Government, and after a care
full inspection, it was decided that the
walls were in sound condition, and
could be bnilt upon with perfect safe
ty. Fhe rear wall, which had fallen
down. was rebuilt, and the contract
for the theater was placed in the hands
of George w. Lincoln. On February
18th Of this year the work began.
In order that there would not be a
doubt as to the walls being strong
enough to bear the weight of the heavy
gallery, the supporting Orders on the
roof were made five times as heavy
as would have been used in new
building, and stronger, in the opinion
of the architect, than is necessary in
this case. Running through these grid
ers to the hanging gallery are three
heavy wrought-iron bars, which sup
port the gallery in perfect safety.
Around the foyer, as an additional sup
port, are five heavy iron posts, but in
positions where they do not obstruct
the view.
The floor of the auditorium slopes
gradually from the foyer to the stage,
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

The opening of the New Hawaiian
Opera House tonight begins another
epoch in the history of Honolulu and
the public finds that through the mu-
nificent action of William G. Irwin of
this city and John d. and Adolph
Spreckels, of San Francisco, it has a
theater equal to the leading places of
amusement in the United States.
1t is we'll known 20 the residents Of
Honolulu that a theatre here is no
better investment to the owner than a
patented machine that has never been
put in use. The old theatre was an
expense; the new one will be a still
greater one to the owners but this was
not considered an obstacle to a man Of
such broad handed liberality as Mr..
Irwin is known to be. The ruined
walls Of the burned building were not
long cold before he began to evolve
plans for a new one and the beautiful
theatre which the public will have an
opportunity of viewing tonight is the
result. It stands a monument to Mr..
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

The seating capacity of the New Ha-
waiian is about 900, but the seats are
placed so far apart, in order to make ii
more comfortable for the patrons, that
if it were necessary, two or three hun
dred more chairs could be placed in the
auditorium without crowding In the
rear of the orchestra are two Ioges,
each containing six chairs. The seats
are of the latest pattern, and were Sc
Iected in San Francisco by w. NJ. Gift
ford for Mr.. Irwin. Though made en-
tirely of wood, free from upholstery
of any kind, they are very comforta-
BILE. The drapings over the private
boxes are from Sloane of San Fran
cisco, and were selected by Mrs. Irwin.
When the interior of the house was
ready for the painters, Mrs. Twins
taste was again called upon, and E.
G. Rowe, the well-known master OF
that trade was called into consultation,
and in order that there would be no
mistakes he painted different sections
of the walls and ceiling in different
combinations of colors. Mrs. Irwin
decided upon pale blue and white for
the ceiling, and pink shrimp for the
walls, and these, by the way, are re-
ligiously plain. The front of the ball
cony, which, like the ceiling, is of en-
bossed steel, is a bronze color, tipped
with gold, the contrast making won
derfully rich appearance.
The aisles and foyer are covered
with thick Turkish carpets, which will
prevent any sound from persons walk
ing while play is in progress, at the
same time adding to the attractiveness
of the building.
Quoting Messrs. Porter and Abrams
and Melville T. Marx, gentlemen who
have had more experience in theaters
than the average HOnOluluite, the
theater, both as to stage, scenery
and auditorium, the equal of any the
alter in the United States. Everything
necessary about building of this kind
has been provided, both for the play.
ers and patrons. The ladies' waiting
room is a beautiful bit in itself, and
will be found very convenient for those
who wish to wear hats and wraps while
going to the theater, but who are salts.
fed to adopt the prevailing, and at the
same time sensible, fashion of sitting
hatless during the performance
Much of Mr.. Twins time has been
spent abroad since the building was
D0Suh III FeDIu dry last, ana during
his absence he has been ably repre-
sented by w. M. Giffard. On Mr. r.
wins return from Europe, Mr.. Giffard
went to California to select certain fit.
tings for the theater, and while there
he arranged to bring the famous Fraw..
ley Company here and play an en-.
gagement of several weeks, and that
company will be the first professionals
to tread the boards of the New Ha-.
waiian Opera House.
Mr.. Irwin has remarked, now that
the theater is ready to be opened, that
is only regret is that his co-partners,
the Messrs. J. D. and Adolph Spreck..
els, who have aided in so many ways
in providing the theater, are not here
to enjoy the pleasures of the first
night.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

immense cliffs while in the back ground
are the tall mountain peaks; falling
from the various peaks and far back
into magnificent distance are num-
berless water falls intensely realistic
AS finish to the scene there are two
rows of set rocks, one ground row and
one tail row. without doubt this is
one of the finest pieces OF scenery ever
placed on a stage.
There are two streets, one ancient.
the other modern and these are the
most difficult of all the scenery vet
painted for the reason that the wings
and nat, though painted separate, are
IN exact perspective. The set pieces
consist of two houses, two cottages.
balustrade, garden walls and trees.
Then there are foliage borders, rustics
panels and full set each of straight
and arched sky borders The frame to
the stage is made up of grand and
straight draperies and tormentor
wings. A handsome corridor scene will
be used in the second entrance when
changes are necessary during an act.
as in days of modern stage arrange
ments, the old-fashioned wings in an
interior scene, behind which a per-
former makes his entrance or exit. is
done away with and TO the audience
chamber in the palace will appear
as of three solid and natural walls in
a room.
Mr.. Porter, in an interview with an
Advertiser reporter six months ago,
remarked that this is the thirty-ninth
place of amusement he has fitted up
since he entered the profession with
Harry sherwood, in the old Bowery
Theater nearly half century ago, and
he has no hesitation in saying that he
never did better work than now. He
assured the reporteF yesterday that for
completeness Of detail as TO arrange
ment of the stage and number of sets
of scenery, the New Hawaiian Opera
House compares. favorably with any
theater in the United States. To quote
his exact words: Amy play that can
be produced in theater in the United
States may be given with the same
effect here, and the people OF Honolulu
owe Mr.. Irwin a debt Of gratitude Tor
providing them with such an elegant
temple of amusement, and the debt
grows the larger when one considers
that there is no regular theatrical sea-
son here, and the visits of foreign COM
panies are spasmodic. He has left
nothing undone that money would buy,
and the people should be proud of him
and the handsome Opera House he
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

special department in theatrical bust
ness dates back to 1866, when he was
foreman for Jarratt & Jalmer in stag
ing the famous spectacular drama,
''The Black Crook" Two years later
he staged the white Fawn'' at the
Globe Theater in Boston. He has had
experience in the South and West, set
thing in California nearly twenty years
ago. He had charge of the Grand
Opera House for two years-from 1876
to 187S-and since then he has been
with the California, Baldwin and Nc
Donough's of Oakland. He made all
the scenery frames for the old Music
Hall and sent them down here, so they
were ready when Artist Porter came
here to paint the scenes.
John Marshall, the assistant stage
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

only in pantomimes, where the Harle-
quln comes from below in slap bang
fashion. This Is made like the re-
Versed points of a star; that is, the
points meet at the center and work up
wards. This trap is of delicate
mechanism and must be geometrically
correct. The great bulk of the car
penter's work on the stage has been
in making frames for the scenery, for
every piece has a separate frame, and
IN the wood scenes many of the
branches and leaves have to be cut out
to add to the realism. This part of
the work will be seen to advantage
in the first act of I'll Trovatore'
Robert Abrams experience in his
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07
Opened November z, 1896.

and varigated paint containers.
Mr.. Porter's hours for work are from
$50 in the morning until 5 at night;
then he dons his street clothes and
goes from labor to refreshments and he
enjoys his meal because he eats moth
ing during the day and consequently
works harder. During his sojourn in
Honolulu, Mr.. Porter has done the best
work of his entire professional career
and has taken unusual pains in the
finish of his work, realizing that this
scenery is to remain the same for
many years, while in theaters in the
States, with constantly changing COM
panies and frequent demand for new
settings the scenes are sometimes
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07
OF THE STAGE,
Valuable Assistance Rendered by
Bob Abrams and 7. Marshall.

HASoASIaISS NSlOSTSO Dy
Bob Abrams and J. Marshall.
The arrangement of the stage, a
most important feature in any the
alter, has been under the direction OF
genial Bob" Abrams, for years con-
nected with the Baldwin of San
Francisco, ably assisted by John Mar
shall.
In point of size the stage at the New
Hawaiian Opera House is equal to the
California Theater and McDonough's
Of Oakland
1t has the latest devices for holding
scenery as substitute for the old way
of having grooves on the right and
left of the stage. Under the old order
OF stage arrangements it was almost
impossible to have what is known as
a box scene without a great deal OF
difficulty and loss of time. This stage
is as free from irregularities as the
floor of house; each part of a scene is
fastened to its place by means of an
oak rod with a hook on one end,
which fastens into an eye on the scene
and a screw-eye on the other, which is
fastened to the floor This arrange
ment applies principally to side pieces,
or what are generally known as
wings" The backgrounds, or drops,
are worked by means of ropes from
above, on what is known as the grid
iron"
Aside from building the stage, Mr.
Abrams has built the traps, of which
there are four: One, a bridge trap,
which extends across the back part OF
the stage at the rear, and used I'm
scenes where rocky pass is set, and
the performer is supposed to go down
hill, out of sight of the audience. An
other is known as the Hamlet" in the
center Of the stage, and takes It's name
from the grave scene in that play.
Another is known as the Vampire,
and is of careful construction. It
opens from two sides, in the front, cen
ter and below is an elevator; as the
performer comes up on this, the sides
are drawn back, and the performer
makes his appearance. The fourth is
known as the Star" trap, and is used
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

carpenter, is the son of the Oldest
''gas man. and stage electrician in Cal
ifornia, and speaking literally, was
raised on the stage. His work here as
carpenter is but a reflex of the elegant
work done in San Francisco. He was
electrician at the Baldwin Theater for
many years before coming here with
Mr.. Abrams last April, and he has been
engaged for that position in the New
Opera House by Mr.. Irwin. The won
derful light effects tonight will be eff
fected through Mr.. MarshalPs knowl-
edge of and ability in this branch OF
the business
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

and is free from steps which are some
times put on the floor of a theater to
act as stumbling blocks for the crowd
to fall over after the play.
The family circle extends around
three sides of the theater, joining the
upper boxes at the ends; access to the
boxes is had from the circle. The
boxes of which there are four, two
stage and two procenium, are Of ORR
entail design and present handsome
appearance. The lower left-hand box
is reserved always for, and will be
known as Mr.. Twins. 1t is made
roomy and will accommodate about fif-
teen people comfortably. The one
above Mr.. Twins is also large, and
will seat quite as many people. Those
on the opposite side Of the stage are
smaller.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

painted over every few weeks. Every
scene in the new Hawaiian Opera
House is a painting of itself and will
last forever.
Through the kindness of Mr.. Porter,
the Advertiser is enabled this morning
to present to it's readers a list of the
scenery thus far completed and when
it is known that he has been practical
ly alone on the bridge the extent of the
work is something remarkable. The
sets include everything that will be
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

called for by any travelling company
that may stop in Honolulu for one
night or year.
French Chamber in delicate tints and
comprising fifteen separate pieces.
A Gothic Chamber. A handsome oak
chamber. A kitchen, prison and plain
chamber each made OF thirteen pieces
and magnificent palace set OF
twelve pieces
Then comes the exteriors which in
clude a cut wood, garden scene with
ten wood wings and four foliage bord-
ers. One light wood landscape and one
dark wood landscape. One horizon
with set waters and ground row and
four wings. A rocky pass, showing
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

first-class in every respect, it was ne
cessary that the stage settings should
be in keeping and suited to the plays
produced by the finest companies of
artists.
The scenery of the old opera house
had proven satisfactory and it was the
opinion of managers of theatres over
there, that although an army OF scenic
artists had evolved from paint boys
during the past decade. Mr.. Porter was
still at the head. Arrangements were
made with him and six months ago he
arrived in Honolulu and two days later
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07
THE SCENERY.
Work of the Veteran of the Paint
Bridge, William T. Porter.

When Mr.. Irwin was in the States
last summer the matter of scenery for
the theatre occupied his attention. AS
the interior Of the house was to be
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07

Twins philanthropy and as an object
lesson for the men who make their for
tunes in the islands and spend their
incomes elsewhere.
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07
THE BUILDING.
Carefully Planned and Built by
COmDetent Men.

Orders for plans for new theater
were placed in the hands Of c. B. Rip
ley early in January last, and sub
mitted to Mr. Irwin for his approval.
Early in December last year COM
mission was appointed to inquire into
the strength of the walls left stand
The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-11-07
TheINeW Hawaiian Opera House to be Opened to The Public This
Evening by Company Of Amateurs
WHAT w. c. IRWIN AND THE SPRECKELS HAVE DONE FOR HONOLULU
Most Modern Stage Machinery introduced by Robert
Abrams and John Marshall

Hawaiian
trio
w. T.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02

cred Fort Donaldson TO Gen.
Grant, and that he was one of
the bearers at Gen. Grants fun
eral, and that he contributed FIVE
thousand dollars when Gen.
Grant was financially embar-
etc, etc, but not a word
IN denunciation of his dislovalty
during the rebellion. EVERYTHING
is lovely just now. What would
have been the tone of the Repub-
lican press four years ago if there
had been a RebeIBrigadieron the
Democratic Ticket. l would like
also to ask where would Yer
mont stood today politically"
if the st. Louis Convention had
straddled, or declared for Free
Silver? You certainly cannot
deny but what there was danger
of the St. Louis Convention do.
ing either.
A Palmer & Buckner Democrat
Island Pond, Sept. %. 1896.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02

William J. Bryan, who can be
credited with more loose, fam
boyant, commonplace and sur
face-skimming speeches within a
shorter time than any other man
who ever ran for any office in
this country, is trying to make
capital out of the fact that he
makes a free show out of himself,
while Mckinley remains in Can
ton and addresses thousands of
admiring friends every day from
his own door steps.
Mr.. Bryan is entirely welcome
to all the capital he can make
out of material of that kind, for
he simply calls attention to the
fact that while the admirers of
the great Ohioan travel hundred
of miles to take him by the hand
and listen to his wise words OF
counsel and admonition, he, Mr..
Bryan, is compelled to travel
around the country and fling his
superhcialities at miscellaneous
crowds that meet according to
appointment.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02
Over Confidence,


The state election in this State
and Maine are significant point
ers, but they do not guarantee
success in the national contest.
We must do more than defeat
Bryan. We must not only win
a victory, but make it so sweep
ing as to exterminate the enemy.
We must make it, not a Chica-
manga, but an Appomattox.
The enemy is fighting with the
desperation of despair. Ever
since the Chicago convention,
the free silver cause has been on
the down grade. Bryan's inva-
sion Of 1.-THE enemy's country"
was confidently expected to "set
the East on fire" for free silver.
1t failed utterly and completely.
The people are not tools, and
they took the measure of Mr..
Bryan accurately. They saw
through the fallacies of his plea
for free coinage, and they deter
mined to defeat both him and
his cause.
While it is true that the expec-
tation of the Popocrats that the
silver insanity would spread in
the East as it long ago did in
the West, has not been rea liked
the fact remains that the West
and South are strongly tinctured
with the heresy, and it will re.
quire the best efforts which car
be put forth between now and
November 3 to achieve a victory
which will be a death-blow to
the 16 to l fallacy.
We do not want to have this
same old fight coming up again
next year, and the year after
that, in the Congressional cleo.
tons, and so on until the Presi
Dental election of 1900. The
threat of reputation and the
silver standard ruins business
every time. Trade is stagnant,
industry inactive, all over the
Union this year because Of it,
Let us deal it a blow that will
remove it from the arena Of poll
tics forever. Nothing but a
sweeping, decisive victory in
November will do it.
Make it an Appomattox!
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02

When Benjamin Harrison, in
1888, made speeches to visiting
delegations day after day with
out saying anything that a
watchful and INSCRIPTIONS politi-
cal enemy could twist into a
different meaning, the country
said Mr.. Harrison had accom-
plished great political and ora
torical feat.
Major Mckinley is outdoing
not only Mr.. Harrison, but he is
accomplishing more than any
man who has ever been a candi-
date for Presidential honors.
Every day he receives from three
to adozen delegations andmakes
an appropriate speech to each.
One may be a delegation offarm-
ers, another of iron workers, an
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02

other of railroad men, and of the
dozen different delegations which
may call in a single day there
may not be two whose members
follow the same line of trade.
Major Mckinley addresses each
delegation. and his words are
taken down as he speaks them
and are sent all over the country,
and yet not a blunder has been
made, not a sentence uttered
which can be twisted into a con-
trary meaning. The campaign
Major Mckinley is conducting
from his home stands without a
parallel in the political annals of
the country.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02

Ruffianism of the kind exhibit
ted by the Yale students in the
presence of w. ]. Bryan merits
the quick condemnation of every
lover ofjustice and fair play in
the country. 1t was far more
hurtful to Republicanism and the
cause of honest money than a
dozen of Bryan's speeches. The
man is unconsciously providing
for his own defeat and should be
permitted to complete his work
without molestation from any
source.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-02

The wisdom and virtue" of
Vermont will assemble next week
at the State House, and ii is to
he hoped that there will be a
determination on the part of the
members to go to work promptly
and earnestly. There is no rea-
son why they should not. There
are many important matters to
be dealt with, and some of these
will excite considerable discus
sion and interest. We shall en-
deavor from week to week dur
ing the session to keep our read
ers well posted on legislative
affairs.