The San Francisco call., 1898-04-03

A fI. ffIEDER1Ch U. w HIINE1
 A once took a show composed of MI cowboys, Indians, Mexican va 1I1 queros and American sharp
 shooters through India, China, Japan and the Malay Peninsula. He was speaking yesterday of some of the queer places he showed in during his tour in those far-away countries.
 T found," he said, that the Parsees, the fire worshipers, who are the real natives of India, gave opera in crude form in India over one thousand years ago, and to my surprise I had to show against a strong, well equipped organ iaauoE known. as the Parsee Victoria Company, which travels about Lower India, giving seasons of opera in the native language, with scenery, cos- tunes and properties manufactured en- tirely by native artists and mechanics, and presenting operas by native com poSers.
 Tn the hill towns and the coast cities l found fairly well constructed, com forta ble theaters, but in the small towns of the outlying districts we had to give our entertainments in huge bamboo walled and plantain leaf thatched edifces, constructed express ly fer their native opera season. These great halls, often large enough to seat one thousand people, are lighted with lamps and candles, and the effect of a thea trical entertainment given under conditions which necessarily exist can be more easily imagined than described.
 "On the Malay Peninsula there were number of enclosures devoted to dra-' matic entertainments, where only the actors are protected by roof. There were no seats for the audience, exceut a few benches on each side of the stage, ad hn or m tives, but for which no extra charge Is made. My audiences squatted on tho ground, and in the event of a shower either relied upon umbrellas for pro- lection or dispersed. The stage and dressing rooms for the actors were at one end of the enclosure and covered with a thatch. For lights, bamboo poles were driven in the ground at reg ular intervals, and on them were SuS- pended cranes containing fire, which were regularly fed with combustibe wood and tar. The walls were made of bamboo poles driven into the ground and braced from the inside. A money taker and money changer sat on each side of the single doorway and collected the entrance fee.
 Tn upper Burmah I found dramatic entertainments and pantomime given by native companies on platforms at the foot of gradually sloping hills, portions of which are enclosed and used for the audience. In nearly all hot countries the dry season is the only theatrical season. as it is impossible to give open air entertainments during the mon- soonS.
 Tn Japan saw an entertainment given in the dry bed of river that runs through tn, city of Hiogo. The sloping banks on each side were crowd ed with spectators, and over 200 geishas marched in bridal procession given during the performance. No admission to the entertainment was asked. the ac- tors and singers being paid by public subscription raised by the merchants when arrangements were made for the annual tea fair, which is conducted in a manner somewhat similar to our coun- ty or agricultural State fairs in this country.
 The hunming of telegraph wires Is a phenomenon which has not yet been satisfactorily explained It is not caused by wind, for it is heard during perfect calms It has been conjectured that changes of temperature. which tighten or loosen the wires, probably produce the sound.