The record-union., 1899-09-25

''The Crime of Love-, and possibly
this was the sequel.
My ticket had cost 80 cents CMexi-
seat, but / got a preferable position
in small box situated at the rear Of
the middle aisle, raised about six inches
above the aisle and surrounded by a
railing draped with blue cotton stuff.
There We're three seats in the box, and
some pretty girls in a group near me
We're having lively, giggling time, at
tracing my attention so that l saw /
had something to do with it, but could
not tell what until one of them, evil
IDENTIFY on wager, came over and sat
in my box. She was eating roasted
ear of corn, and seemed to feel very
silly after she had come, and / allowed
her to depart after we had said a few
things to each other which neither un-
derstood, and all the time the rest of
her party kept up their giggle and
chatter.
An old gray-haired usher stood near
the door and directed people, while an
other-a fat, good -natured old fellow in
slippers, and whose cotton. trousers
tapped around his ankles-met them
in front of my box and escorted them
down the aisle. The band now came
in from outside, and, taking the usual
place, played waltzes while the seats
filled and everybody chatted and smok-
ed. till finally a ben on the stage set
up dreadful changing and the curtain
rose.
The dialogue was in Spanish and it
hoaey H. 4,
seated in a very stiff row. reciting in
most stilted manner. both of voice
and gesture, an Introductory story con-
corning the betrothal of Don Somebody
or Other to Donna Something Else
without their having anything to say
about it themselves. In course of time
the girl appeared and told her story in
high, squeaky voice. She was got up
in sort of Diana style of dress made
of green satin, covered with gilt en-
broidery and spangles, and with low
neck and short sleeves. while her aig-
rette was huge, and ] wondered why
she was wearing that rig in the wild
woods where she appeared.
Her fiance appearing opportunely
with father and a few other business
men, the young couple were betrothed,
and, walking toward each other she
stood very stiff1y and placed her left
hand about over his liver, and he put
his left hand behind her waist and his
rIght-oh, we'll I have no business dis
cussing woman's anatomy. I know
only that they were both as stiff as
possible and Diana did not look or act
happy over her betrothal. Each scene
ended with a sort of grand march, and
the half dozen people on the stage stood
and marked time till they caught it,
and then pranced in twos down to the
front, and, hating for two or three
steps, faced outward and marched to
the corners and thus around till they
disappeared at the back Every exit
was made in this manner, no matter ii
there was but one person concerned.
Curtains were raised and dropped for
the different scenes. and the stage set
ting was quite like our own, only very
simple; indeed, it was not typical as a
Filipino theater. but was quite Spanish
IN costumes, dialogue and plot. And,
true to report, the heroine had several
admirers on the string. Her fiance, to
use slang expression. was not in it.
and when the real article appeared on
the scene and announced himself you
could tell at once by his general get-up
that he had the confidence which must
carry him to success.
He talked a long time about it, all to
himself, and unused and raved, cowed
and prayed, shouted and hissed, and
when Diana appearead-I have forgot,