The times., 1898-04-11

screen, made to resemble the outlook at
sea. The lighthouse in the picture is on
this. too
Just before Mr.. Shea opens the window
that shows this scene the New Orleans
is placed In the right end of the first
groove. One man is required 10 move
the two ships forward and backward in
this groove, and TO give the required mo-
tion to the picture. Here. behind the
boat, is a charcoal stove about the size
of an alarm clock This is connected
with each OF the cannon. and also has a
blowpipe that is held in the mouth of one
of the operators. In each is contained
q package filed with about half tea
spoon of gunpowder. These, in turl
are connected with wires from small
battery. and buttons on the side of the
groove. When a shot is fred the pow
der is exploded, the pipe leading to the
charcoal stove blown, and an effect OF
flash and smoke that would do justice to
any Of our ships is given OF course,
the noise comes from a drum behind
the scenes.
Each of the masts and spars 20 be
wrecked is fixed upon a hinge or ball
bearing apparatus, and tied with Il
thread. These are held by a third man.
and ~ riesiag is thus demolished at
will ~ the FL Scorpion IS a pan OF red
fire. which IS also connected with this
battery. It is touched off when the ship
catches fire. and q moment later an ex-
plosion is produced with a kettle-dTum
and another small sack of powder. The
boat dovetaiIs in the middle ike chiId's
puzzle. and when it is pulled apart with
the red glow Of the fire still hanging
over it. the effect is most realistic The
sinking is. of course, very simple. a hole
in the groove being utilized for this.
The smoke from the tunnels of our navy
comes from a second stove in which tar
is burned The hundred other details
are also simple, and, though easy 70 IN
derstand. are not quickly put up. and
aid in no small degree in producing for
our audiences a corI>@t naval battle
Il don't want you to think from my de-
scription that The Man-o Wars Man il
all fire and smoke Ii is Mir. Harkin's
very best play and is filed with bright
lines and forceful situations. Mr.. Shea
has ample opportunity for excellent work
but you viii find that out next week
The Strangest thing about this play
OF ours is that. although written long be-
fore the present trouble was thought Of
it was meant as prophecy and is gradu-
ally coming true. When Mr.. Shea
bought the drama the villain was English,
but he changed all that and, being una
BILE to fit the love story TO anything that
has occurred in history he simply looked
ahead a few years and invented some. II
is remarkable how every incident and de-
tails suggested has come true The troub-
le over the Nicaragua Canal the
Cuban struggle for independence and the
Intervention of the United States was ac-
curateIy foretold- Every detail. but one.
of our plot has come true, even to the
purchase of warshIp TO be called the
New Orleans.
1T is wonderful the effect that such a
play has NJ this time. The enthusiasm
it creates and the patriotism it brings 10
light are almost beyond belief. II is no
unusual thing TO see an entire audience
stand during that battle and cheer vO-
ciferously. The feeling provoked could
not be greater if the events were real.
Our bold bad villain. who is really
| Spaniard by birth though not in sympa-
/ thies. was threatened so in Chicago that
/ he resigned during the run and was only
/ persuaded To return by Mr.. Shea's visit
/ ing the mayor and asking for police pro-
/ lection. He was assaulted outside of
/ theater in Pittsburg less than ten days
/ ago and a patriotic tough with a gun
nearly scared the life out of him in Chi
cago The Feeling everywhere is intense
and poor Testa gets the fun benefit of
/ it. We all have excellent opportunity 10
/ observe how wild is the enthusiasm, and
war is about the only thing we can see
! ahead just now.