The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-07
CHINESE IHllR.
ussEnsAunEsT oavEH ne
vrpsrsG 1xACnEns.


:s.suSox oaersd By the Natf0nd -
l.=s<'-.s9 Aae0efstion entertainment -
s.ss5ssss - a exceedinsiy unique g. NJ
8 1...sSSs- 600. Ii cpnSssted 0f = Chinese
- n,suu ~ Hazards pasuo0, 1of
z 35s.n S6Rv@nye 81 the most eminent actors
SszssS-S chtnss4 stage IN Ames1cA were
e. .Sss~1 frum Portland and Gan Fran
1888 seonnf1ney With the most gorgeous
:<ss1.l6a properttes and acesssoftes % b
= ~ country.
Es nee hat two CAfnene women on tne
n sss sSs - ms country. and enc ~ theoe
1 = 1850 u the company. Chs wae
! II e4,s1D ID China. . figure which
- - euasantee 81 unusual merit. 0be
& fSs ~ feet and used thsm in way
49, 10 surprise those who thought
VI - uust neceessyiIy ho6ble on that
& II = rnnoI fpe men 10 impessonate female
81 1efaes a the Chinese stage. and we
fnsuGs1 wffh two stars IN this iins.
h 7T A0w "a kwaI FAh Hon. They wefN
Do 161oltsly accurate IN points Of dress.
- shfffl voice ard affected little
8 oetGns cf the Chinese WeanAn that
- UG5eult 70 believe that they were
szs2S - ~ s'nnaunsr'' born. They, Ike
nefers Of prUmjneuce on the Mcnko-
60 e1nee. draw IaYse sa1af1es. but they
8 Z q the sxp<nss Of social and political
40 No man with position 10 Ioee
Il nonnowiedge the salutafion II an actor
b Dot1lu. and neither an actor nor hts sons
mnaAeous can hold any official position
s - But social outeasfs ~ they are
- nniu4Atn distinct professional rank.
D 1k1sf sectors impersonattng kings and
8 49, only, while the lesser lights play
3 nr Of military leaders and 30 ON.
i 1Sobnhiy It b partly owing % this social
L 16etnm thaf actors are accustomed 10
- r.
- - the subtefrnneAn cells beneath
q 6n6tenc1 room. they manage to exist
q 80 81 vils air. iistle Light and crowd
a 6la6l&ipns Here they eat and sleep:
G = hey marry and here they die. They
q ~ teaye the buiidtnR. except for exsr-
d Doubtlesn their long hours also part
aceeunt for this habit An actor holds
II nlnecure who plays seven times . week
5 .6sed neither does an audience that
{ - fQs fraction OF that time.
y = Glass they are tmpfovtdent 70 the
Uteot of reckiesspess 1t - said that the
o. 10 Inc ftot that the pressure of
- Nd become unbearable and danger
80 at hnbe.
lsny o. the plays are very long. II
80 osvefei days 20 present some Of the
es1cal ones; on the other hand. the
eentAtion Of others requires but an
~. speeches are not committed 70 menu
~. hut the actors make themselves Ia
llax With the chief scenes and events Of
- tlay and supply dialogues when need
~ They become apt At this.
would seem that even the Oriental
~ would become eatiated with history
r 5lttine out one Of tho more extended
rema.n through the performances A
namAn ran buy a ticket for the last
IN or the last two hours Should he pay
II ~ privileges Of the evening. he may
sss for rest s, 4 .ny t ss sss s e
~ Aeiights within.
8 3 10 has been = considerable decline OF
~ Chinese drama from Its early arsstp-
seess. Easvnexiy there .srs no pro-
- q aSb d s.rsh. But about IL years
- N emperor OF hcus..alent intent
0pl6ht 10 elevate the morals Of his people
- arouse their ambition by having TN
1(1e1 before them dramas Of lofty senti-
01e4 Accordingly q beautiful theatsr VAS
LoCee4 and \ permanent troupe drilled.
o. plAye were selected In which viflziny
- cogtAin to he suitably punished and
Ntue Was always literally rewarded. In
tqr4ue Of time tho spirit OF the fheafer
beenne degraded and aebaslnR with the
auM Of social and political cstracism Of
~ sectors
~ play presented here Il called .'The
3 Vnsscd kingdams-. II = founded up
~ period OF severni thousand years. re-
(utTtng stx performances to complete. An
tseaing b likely to end. after the manner
q ethsF serials. at the critical point OF
Mttle Or during a love scene. but what
Ydu faa TO get today you are bound to
Aeaf tomorrow, II You 20,
~ Wpald ~ FIRST xssm that the necessity
81 taking up periods several hundred years
sps!s g eonassuilvs acts would mar the
euppo@s a. rntire change IN the dramafis
eefnpaAs. but any chtnAmAn finds close
coseecsior between the different scenes;
q sH ths American spectator. he doesn't
9now very well what II II all about any
~. And - neither costume. scenery nor
loengf OF acting change IN thr leAst. he
49, himseif quite unable TO dfstsnxnish
xvsea the defunct actors OF the last
eeene md the living ones now before him,
dessn't matter to him. either.
IN eefiy part Of the play WAS supposed
eent heavenly scenes and had TO co
- neesftsi beings osaly Later the ac-
~ transferred to earth, change 30
mat II was necessary 60 announce
10 shsnxe was made IN costume that
Ws1 sse. nor even IN the positions OF
~ SEVERAL chairs ana table that eonsts-
ssscn Med 10 and a favored few took up
~ pQsi'tnns upon the backs of the chass>
Sna shtir feet upcn the seats. the chief
nnk taking the central place. which
Wnch higher than the rest
IA hack Of scenery greatly dim nlshess
~ eneesssvness az the Chinese dramatic
ssoemance, and gives rise to q rumh<r OF
.sang iittir devices 60 render the acton
sseha1h,e, Sometimes an actor frankly
enunc~< that he has now reached his
.ShAt on. or that he In the midst OF
oetp forest. II he wishes 20 convey tho
1peesssssn Of passing Through a doorway
Ned cf the head suissrrss should he care
- considered upon horseback a pecu-
- Htsie leap shows that he has mounted.
II he desires 90 bs very realistic N,
sftnss rides stick with a bunch af
- . wooden hesf 8pan the end. These
- become understood BY Chsnasnan
49, ftsauenss the theatev bat vast
.e~nt % explanation ~ required by ar
kan- Fortunately. means OF Obtain
Ktermssion ws. provided Rescye eaeh
~ irssrpreter. Chan kue sting explain
Mnsf Ws- 80 follow NJ also answered
a!ncs es questions with rocd~nasured
Iwrs were ,wenty-nve musicians each
paving INDEPENDENTLY. vigorously and
sssmaess'y. Would there had hsen few
hAeh Instrument ts said TO Ne tnsssaf
s~sxdance with sasne natarsi sound.
- ~ the human voice. bird notes or
NHnx water. hut 20 the GnAccussassssa
.setn ear they seens 20 acSsafsi with TIE
~ - ~ tbs STteket AMI the kstyAs3, many
me instruments being rsrtli and ssrks-
49, W tire extreme. The music re-
-nHA ore et that heard a, the Midway bat
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.