The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-09
NOW A PLACE
OF BEAUTY.
CONTINUED from Page Eighty

Inc Walls OF the tuttfioI VI thc ho1o~
from floor TO ceiling are covered with
canvas of rich crimson. decorated
with gold designs. which serves TO en-
hance the beauty OF the delicate tints
used In general decoration.
Flanking the upper boxes are pilas-
ters representing female figures In ivory
and gold, which. while representing no
especial SUBJECTS are of sufflcient di-
mepslons to add greatly TO the beauty
of the decorations OF the house. In
fact, the whole effect OF the Interior Is
such that the more one looks upon II
the more the artistic decoration and the
general manifestation OF good taste In
the decoration of the theatre becomes
apparent This is particularly dis
played i'm the ladies' foyer, which leads
from the main foyer and also from the
rear OF the parquet floor. and which Is
indeed a thing of beauty. This foyer
is made of green paper OF lace design
furniture of the Louis XVI. style,
Wilton carpet of a design in keeping
with the general decorations, and ar
ticles of bric-a -brac. such as tend TO
give a homelike and cheerful appear
ance TO any apartment.
THE LADIES' ROOM.
on the balcony floor there is also
ladies' room furnished and equipped in
excellent taste. and the seats have all
been newly upholstered, making them
under the gallery floor Is decorated with
frescoes of fruit and flowers. while
innumerable incandescent lamps shed
soft light over the whole. On the bal
cony floor level Is located the gentle
mems smoking room, and this has been
made particularly attractive, the deco
rations being entirely in the Turkish
style throughout. as regards curtains
and upholstering of the green wicker
settees, while the walls are adorned
with number Of excellent pictures.
So much for what is technically
spoken of as the front OF the house.
but all this. beautiful as II is. and
which will be easily seen by the patrons
of the house. Is but a portion OF what
has been accomplished by Manager
Wendelschaefer in his determination to
have everything on n first class basis.
whether visible to the public or not.
Great improvements have been made
in the stage and it's adjuncts. one of
which is the Introduction Of new as
bestos. and consequently freproof cur
tain. which will take the place of the
old style "red" curtain. This curtain,
which is the work OF Gates & Morange
of New York represents the apotheosis
of music. and is a very artistic piece OF
work The new act drop is by Percy
Cotter of Boston. who. II may he mem
toned. has painted o number of entire
ly sets of scenery for the house. and
represents 1.-The Judgment Of Paris
LIGHTING OF THE STAGE.
The lighting of the stage has been
most thoroughly provided for In every
particular, and the new electrical
switchboard, placed at the right lower
entrance by Electrician Harry Wright
Of the house staff. who has had charge
of the introduction OF all the electrical
apparatus, Is most beautiful and in
tricate piece of mechanism. The whole
combination of lights Is controlled by
two master switches. but there are ~
switches on the board. which Will be
used for the operation Of the several
lights during the performance. The
footlights so-called, consist Of 121 in
candescent lamps. each of Is candle
power which practically make one
continuous blaze of light. The bord er
lights. of which there arc five rows.
each consist OF 75 lights. while the fly
galleries are also brilliantly illumin-
ated.
NEW FLOORS LAID.
The flooring of the stage Is all new
and of double thickness: the traps have
all been reconstructed. while rev
floor has been laid I'm the fly gallerirs
On the right Of the stage there Is new
property room and a new. comfortable
office for the stage manager. All over
the stage. dressing rooms. fly galleries.
sprinklers, while in the front of the
house are two lines Of hose on reels.
which connect with the chemical fire
extinguishing apparatus In the base ~
the theatre. The companies that will
occupy the opera house on and after
Monday night will find the most per-
feet arrangements In regard TO dressing
rooms. and II is doubtful If facilities
are surpassed in any theatre In the
country Each dressing room is neatly
carpeted. equipped with steam heat, set
bowls, gas. and each room. which Is
quite spacious, is decorated with wall
paper of different designs.
Great attention has been paid to the
system of plumbing and heating. the
old apparatus having been torn out en-
tirely and a new one, upon the most
improved principles, having been sub
stituted in it's place; so that. the pat
rons of the house may rest thoroughly
assured that they will experience no
discomfort during the coming season.
In fact IL may be said In a word that
Manager wendelschaefer has left noth-
ing undone to give the people or Provi-
dence a first class playhouse, modelled
upon the most improved modern meth
ods of hygiene, general comfort, and
artistic beauty
The decorative work for the house
was done by Haberstroch q Son OF Bos-
ton: all the new scenery by Percy Cot
ter of Boston: the centre electrolier by
the Archer. Pancoast company. New
York: electrical fixtures by Shirley 4
Sons. Providence: upholsterings and
draperies by Shepard & Co.; carpets by
Boston store: furniture by Anthony,
Cowell & Co.: relief work by Charles
Emmel Of Boston: curtains and act
drop by Gates e. Morange. New York.
The general contracting work on the
building by Horton q Hemingway,
while the whole was under the superin-
tendence of Messrs. Martin a Hall, ar
chitects.
After the practically new and beauti-
full theatre had been thoroughly In
spected last evening. Manager Wendell
schaefer invited his guests and the
members OF his staff to partake Of
most excellent collation., with all that
usually accompanies such affairs. the
we'll furnished table having been set In
the centre OF the stage. Mr.. Wendell
schaefer very gracefully proposed
toast to the Providence press. to which
an equally graceful and fitting response
was made by Mr.. Charles III. Rowland.
editor of the Providence News. who. in
behalf Of the Providence newspaper
man exfeuded To Mr.. Wendelschaefer