The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-06
BIOGRApn PICTURES.
Miss Mildred Irving Makes a Dis
CoyaTy Concerning Them.
Most Realistic She Finds When Viewed
From The Realm Of the Gods.

L made discovery the other day.
found. by actual experience. that
not one in a hundred people see thc
Biosraph motion pictures at their best.
and probably, as i'm my own case be-
cause they don't know how.
"A good many times. l have turned
my head while sitting i'm a comfortable
orchestra, even at the risk OF hearing
that offensive word suggestive Of
stretching qualities, and looked up into
the second balcony at Keith's: and the
other day j made up my mind just 10
see now al would seem 10 see the enter
talnment from that lofty vantage point
With some little hesitation. 1 confess.
for no woman likes 10 have anybody
thlnk there Is anything cheap about
her, 4 bought my lD-Cent ticket and
tripped lightly up the marble stairs,
looking back once or twice To see IL any
acquaintance saw me. l escaped that
ordeal and quickly founc myself i'm the
region long assigned 10 the gods
IL wasn't the first time 1 had ever
invaded their sacred precincts, for
there have been times in my past--yes.
every woman has a past, even If she
doesn't confess it-when between the
pressure OF high prices and an un-
quenchable desire to see some special
attraction, ! nave scared 10 such
heights; but IT was some time ago.
And what a revolution has been
wrought since that time. Comfortably
cushioned seats, decorations as artist
ically beautiful as anywhere in the
beautiful playhouse, ladies' parlor
furnished exquisitcly in modern art
furnishings and with every comfort,
convenience and luxury provided for
"a 81 ffsft laNfY kxrfth " asff
and courteous matron, everywhere the
same scrupulous neatness and imma-
culate cleanliness that characterize the
lower rc2iOns"-all were there. just
the same as If IL cost dollar, instead
OF only 10 cents 10 pass the turnstilc.
There was gentlemen's room, too,
which ] assume corresponded with that
for the ladies': and the high ceiling. the
excellent lighting facilities the admir-
able ventila ion and the general quiet
ness that prevailed made 1t difficult TO
believe, had L not looked toward the
stage. that ! was actually up in the
second balcony, where generally one
expects To find vitiatcd atmosphere. n
noisy rabble. hard uncomfortable
benches and everything quite the re-
verse OF comfort. To say nothing Of even
a suggestion OF luxury or attempt at
And then looked over the audience
in tho second balcony. There were
number OF men who were evidently
from walks i'm life in which the differ
ence between Il cents and 80 cents IS
a consideration. but who were clean
and respectable in appearance There
were perhaps 40 of 80 boys of various
ages all clean faces and well-combed
hair. intently gazing at the stage: and
perhaps twice as many women,t to whose
credit be IL said that their faces bore
no traces of artificial complexion. styl-
ishly. but not gaudlly, dressed. un-
respectable and many OF
them doubtless tired mothers who |
sought little relaxation and recreation
after the trying burdens of home cares.
the aud 'cnce. with the eX- |
ception OF part OF eight young girls, |
perhaps half way through their teens |
ana of whose good home training and |
character there could b. no question.
l stood at the back few moments I
making these mental observations and |
then. without the slightest hesitation. /
went down and took a seat i'm the front |
row. for there was no reason whatever
why | should be ashamed To sit among /
those who were evidently Just as good |
as |, even If from one reason or an /
)ther. they saw 1T to limit their ex-
lenditure for an afternoons enjoyment |
20 10 cents. And right off / noted the
'act that the occupants of the second
)alconv We're the most appreciatiye
part OF the entire audience--at least
hey gave the most demonstrative evil
lences Of their enjoyment. though never
n boisterous or otherwise unseemly |
manner | noted the fact. too that |
hey were discriminating i'm their be-
towal Of apDrobation-quite as much
10 as those down stairs. and that the
,est art and the highest skill were
4.
4 beyond their comprehension. Indeed
thought that if | We're on the stage. I
would value their manifestations ~
abstraction ana approval fully as much
IS | would those of the occupants of |
he orchestra seats. They realized that
hey got twenty times their moneys
rOrth: and they were generous enough |
u confess IL openly which Is more than
an usually he said from n down
tairs' Providence audience In any the
tire i'm the city.
But | started out TO explain my dis
overy
When the house was darkened for
he Biograph, / wondered how the |
motion-p pictures would look
y there; and the first picture had not
luch more than come into view when
experienced a most peculiar sensation.
nd realized that never before had I
lily appreciated this wonderful invcn-
on. Instead OF seeming far Off the
,ene presented seemed actually 10 be
ght under my eyes; and. instead OF
'eming to be "A picture. IL appeared 90
2 reality. When that picture rep
'senting panoramic view Of Battery
ark. New York. was shown. realized
nat nowhere else in the house does the
respective effect Of the Biograph pic
Ire stand out so clearly and SO real
ideally | could look way across the
ark To the big buildings over ON
roadway. whore the same picture. as
had seen it previously down stairs.
'tuallY look fiat by comparison. And
ow | am telling all my friends that if
lcy want really 90 enjoy tho notion
ctures and il they want to gain am
Iequatc idea OF this 18th century
ondcr, they should see II ~ once AT
asst from the second balcony. where
1c sees no ilickering. no unsteadiness.
nd the picture is actually restful 10