The record-union., 1896-01-01

lumbia appears enthroned in republi-
can state and attended by her court of
representative characters standing for
free institutions. Columbia and her
attendants take up the music lead at
that point, and by invocation Justice,
Charity and other characters appear.
Then begin series of novelties in the
way of marches, dances and the like,
with the introduction of topical SUBJ
jects. One of the novelties is the whip
drill dance, another the dudes drill
dance, and these and others will pre-
sent to some extent business and local
interests in an amusing and wholly in
offensive way. One of the features is
the funeral march at night, another is
the rainbow drill and dance, a storm.
the appearance of Cupid, and military
scene presented by one of our local
companies with accompanying music.
There will be statuary, posing and liv-
ing pictures and other novelties, the
whole closing with the spectacular
scene Peace" with Columbia pre-
siding over a people happy in peaceful
and useful pursuits. Of course this is
but an outline Of the features of the en-
tertainment, not all parts and novelties
Of which have been named.
There was a large audience in the
Clunie Opera-house last night to wit
ness the beautiful spectacle of 1.-The
Crystal Slipper" The applause that
greeted the rich Transformation scene
was as sincere as it was continuous
during the five changes of the act.
Nothing richer, handsomer or more
chaste has been given here in any scenic
spectacle. There were some changes
in the cast of the play last night but
nothing that affected the smooth and
| satisfactory production of the piece.
Miss Powers is now the Fairy Queen,
and a handsome one. In such charac-
ters she IS notably successful. The
Phoite-Pinauds, the whirlwind aero
bats and graceful pantomimists, were
applauded to the echo, and surprised
and greatly pleased the spectators.
Eldridge in his speciality act was re-
called again and again. This is the last
week of the play seats are taken al
ready well in advance, and the promise
is for full houses the remaining nights.
1t will be deserved. The Eldridge- Hal
lett management had three hard weeks
preceding Christmas, along with all
theatrical companies in the State, and
that the holiday spectacle will enable
them to recover losses and continue the
season is a matter that will crafty
amusement lovers, who desire that at
least one theater shall remain open the
winter through.
Four members of the Eldridge- Hal
lett Company quit yesterday because of
some arrearages in salaries, for from
two to one and half weeks. Their
places were at once supplied, and the
troupe suffered no harm from the small
strike. 1t was ill-advised, inasmuch as
Manager Todd certifies that the Messrs
Eldridge and Hallett have paid up ar
rearages as closely as was possible
They have had prior to Christmas
week, as everyone knows three or four
dull weeks when, as is true of many
other troupes, arrearages accumulate,
a common matter in the lottery of the
atricals. But he adds, these gentlemen
have acted honorably throughout, and
paid far heavier arrears to these very
people, who had, therefore, no reason to
complain or to attempt to cripple the
management at a time when it is recov-
ering from duh season, and is paying
every cent to its people rapidly. The
places of the retiring four have been
filled acceptably, and the result of the
ripple is to reflect credit upon the ladies
and gentlemen Of the troupe who stood
by Eldridge and Hallett and enable
them to make the holiday spectacle the
success it has proved to be.