The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-12
nEMVICT DR.. A. E. BUCHANAN
UU1V 11N1 sz.53 When Building
AMUSEMENTS.

The programme of magic offered by the
Herrnanns is said to be entirely new. Not
one of the illusions. it is claimed, has ever
been done in this city. The "elixir vitae
maid of the moon" artists dream and
wonderful clock trick are expected to as
tonish Indianapolis. Leon Herrmann's skill
is said to be marvellous and his sleight-of-
hand work is one of the great features.
The begin their engagement to-
morrow night at the Grand. A popular
priced matinee will be given Saturday. Ade-
laide Herrmann's spectacular dances are
also new to this city. She will give four of
them at each performance, the most gor-
geous being known as THE Lily of the
Orient
The only production of 1.-THE Geisha"
west of New York this year will be at
English's Thursday matinee and night. For
two years at the Savoy. in London, and Da-
ly's, in New York, this Japanese musical
novelty was the greatest of the seasons
successes. So great has been the demand
in New York that when Mr.. Daily sent his
production on a tour of the country he
organized another company and the New
YORK business contlnued as large as De.
comic opera has been successfully COM
bined with pure comedy, the performance
partaking OF the character of both. The
singing and dancing of the Geisha girls
have made the piece a rage in this country.
The costumes are japanese, the scenery
Is Oriental and the music is described as
being unique in that it carries the comedy
effect into the score. Some of the songs
are called for time and again. The story of
THE Geisha'' gives the public the first
stage representation of the happenings in a
japanese teahouSe, where beautiful and ac-
compliShed Japanese maidens spend their
lives in furnishing entertainment for the
guests.
Leon Hermann, who will be at the Grand
tomorrow night. has Travelled in all quar-
ters of the globe, not only to play his tricks
and TO please, but to be pleased. Very little
that Is curious. romantic or entertaining es-
capes him.. Among the stories which he
tells is one which he AYERS is true concern
Ing one of the barbaric customs of Persia.
1t appears that the late lamented Shah, who
was, not long ago, unceremoniously sent to
heaven by a loving subject, had an extreme
~ unique method of getting rid of his frac-
tious S%ultanas. when one reaches Tehe-
ran" says Mr.. Hermann, she goes centu-
ries back into the barbarism of the East,
despite the fact that the capital of the Shah
is the most progressive in his kingdom.
Teheran is surrounded by a high wall and
a moat. The ditch is dry and a fall from
the top of the wall to the ground would
be fatal. In these days OF notorious domes-
tic difficulties and rapid divorces, 1t is easy
to imagine the difficulties which a wealthy
Persian must frequently find in the man.
agement of his populous harem. Not hav-
ing the advantages or an American divorce
court at his disposal, he is Obliged to find
some other way out of his trouble. The
Persian peasant is a thrifty person and a
beautiful woman there, as ia all Moslem
countries, has a great commercial value.
and 1t soon came to be lamented that the
king of kings should allow so much good
property go TO waste. The ingenious coun-
tryman, therefore, spread a thick cushion
of hay upon the bottom OF the ditch and
awaited developments. The next time a
condemned beauty was pitched over she
landed safely. The attendants on the wall
darkness, and when they were gone the
peasants hiding below picked up the aston
ished Sultana, whom, suppoSing she must
be dead, fancied they We're attendants in
deceived, but although she might nave had
a pretty temper and exercise II freely as a
Shah's wife, there is nothing like a fall from
q high wall TO bring an unruly woman 70
terms. Under her new circumstances the
poor lady had nothing else To do but to ac-
cept the situation with a good grace and
look amiable. During the reign of the Shah,
IL is said, so many wives of the Shah came
over the wall that two peasants rose from
poverty to affiuence and were able 10 buy
titles of nobility.
The advance sale of Francis Wilson'S en-
gagement at the Grand the first half of
next week will open tomorrow morning at
the Pembroke Arcade. Half a King" his
great success of last year. will be one Of
the seasons bright events. This production
Is the best Mr.. Wilson has ever presented
IN Indianapolis. and his company remains
the same~as last year. Miss Lulu CHASER is.
of course, with him, and other faVorites
are In the cast. The chorus numbers fifty.
The beautiful and attractive actress. Eu-
genie Blair. will be seen in this city as a