The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-23
THEagM.
Inspected by President and Officers Sat
urday.

As sort of prologue to the formal
opening Of the Gem theatre at Peaks Isl
and, which has been fixed for June o. MT
y. ". L. Cooling, manager OF the ea'oo
Bay Steam boat company invited ths pio,
sident and directors of the COMPANY az
p number of friends to visit the isiaAu
Ind the new amusement RESORT.
The Pilgrim, which, by the way, int'ae
her first trip Saturday, was placed az 'iie
DISPOSAL of the invited guests anu ap (. oo
O'Clock in the afternoon the party assoNi
hled at the rooms of the company, mum
bering something ike 10y persons, ino aar.l
49,. Hon. Seth L. Larrabee, Henry r.
fsox Ammi Whitney, DR.. s. g. Gordon,
So1 Tbos. P. Shaw, Col. Osgood, w. f.
NiIi;ken. Col. Fred N. Dow, A. r.
WRIGHT. Fred E. Allen, DIR. Smith, e. A.
Newman, W. R. Wood, II. II. Furnish,
Harry Higgins, DR.. E. 3. Holt, Geo. ".
York, Albion Little, Henry +. Merrill,
Col. +. E. Boothby, Robert Williams, Wal
Ter Drew, L. G. Whelden, John G, Small,
Ira Croker, Mr.. Phillips, nearly all OF
whom are members of tho Country club
and were accompanied by ladies.
The Pilgrim lost no time in reaching
che landing and on arrival the party was
escorted to the theatre and passing
through the imposing portico, genuine
surprise awaited them, for it is fact, al
though descriptions of this theatre have
from time to time heen given. that no
one save by personal inspection can
realize the wonderful transformation
which during the past year has overtaken
the old skating rink.
On every side were heard words OF the
warlnest praise of the general appoint
ments of the new structure ana the ap-
propriateness OF the designs was specially
dwelt upon.
On each box, for instance, is the in
sigma of some officer of the U. S. navy,
from admiral to ensign on to INCLUDE ap-
prentices and they are forty in number.
All around the predominant color is
nautical, light green and cream, and the
effect at night with the aid OF electric
lights can be but beautiful
A striking feature is the large anchor,
which is placed at the rear of the audi
forum which is to be lighted BY electrici-
ty, and the waiting rooms of the foyer
deserve special mention.
On the right, is the gentlemen room,
with it's ceiling finished in plain gold
Calcutta cloth with boutonniere in rope
and a flower made of shells, over the en-
trance is seine net with oars, boat hook,
etc. On the left is the ladies' room with
q large steering wheel, the spokes OF
which are made of green and rod electric
lights, and this Is backed by q seine with
hobs and sinkers, and at each corner of
the net is port and starboard light.
Everywhere are suggestions OF the sea
like those just described. and to complete
them there have been used 300 fathoms
of rope, 1890 yards of yard-wide goods
and over 400 tassels.
1t is hardly necessary to particularize
further as the formal opening of this new
resort is so near at hand and the surprise
to the general public will doubtless be
quite as great as that which came Satur-
day to Mr.. Goding's specially invited
guests who viewed for the first time
this new theatre, which by its artistic in
terror finish is made to rank as work of
art.
The inspection of the tteatr. over, the
party returned to the city after pleasant
detour, taking in the fortitioations on the
lower end of Great Diamond island.