The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-15

though it be but city of canvas and
lumber and iron and painted scenery.
AS soon as the material arrived at the
grounds workmen began putting up the
powder tents, the poles for the electric
arc lights for lighting the show grounds,
and the poles for supporting the big
side walls of canvas that will prevens
all those who are not on the inside from
seeing the big spectacle.
Today the picture of Governor w. E.
Stanley is being made on a block 20x40
feet in size, and tonight the picture will
be shown in fire while the governor and
party occupy one of the boxes.
When the doors are thrown open to
the public tonight the first thing that
will attract attention will be the big
mountain that forms the background
mountain that splits forth fire to de-
stroy the mimic citv that lies nestled
at its base is so feet above the ground.
The city is composed of reproductions
of the palaces and princely halls and
buildings of the ancient Roman city.
In front of all is the stage where the
elaborate drills and ballots. the ancient
Roman sports and exhibitions that are
to be changed nightly are to be given
A company of nearly so players is car
ried by the show and several hundred
supernumeraries are trained in each
city where the show is given
The lawn in the center of Keith park
took on a fantastic aspect last night
Dancing in and out among the numer-
GUS arc lights could be seen hundreds of
1.-THE figures in fantastic poses and
grouped in picturesque order They
would gather and scatter march and
march and countermarch. dance and
run, fall in attitudes Of prayer and sup
plication, and again rise with threat
ening cries and rush madly across the
twilight fields shrieking. Their move
ments are so ordained and responded
invariably to q silvery whistle.
1t was the final rehearsal of the sup
ernumeraTy forces for Pains Last
Days of Pompefi,'' which opens at
ership of Stage Manager Frank Cakes
Rose, these 200 or more were being Civ
| en- the last instructions preparatory to
( the big spectacle In addition to over
200 people in the company Mr.. Pain en-
ployes some 200 people to act as popu-
| the glare of so arc lights the Roman
pleasure loving population Of Cicero's
| favor1te city were rehearsed in the art
| of looking like Romans and how and
| what to do as the Romans did it.
| The production of Pains Last Days OF
! Pompeif' is brought to Topeka by the en-
| tertainment committee of the Commercial
a progressive City like Topeka No No such
| spectacle has ever been witnessed in this
people from Topeka went to Kansas City
| to witness the destruction of Pompefi
| The present production is five times as
l
| and modern electrical appliances have
| added greatly to the entertainment. It
requires nine car loads of machinery and
parapherna1fa to make up the show and
nearly 800 people in the cast Some oi
| the bombs can be heard ten miles under
| favorable conditions The audience car
easily realize why the few Christians ir
| Pompeff exclaimed the END is Come .
| when they looked toward Vesuvius and
beheld the awful spectacle SO wildly por-
| trayed by Pliny and Lord Lytton
There are 5000 seats at so cents and g
| few hundred reserved seats at 20 cents
and a few boxes at one dollar. Children
| under years, Is cents. The people of To-
| peka ought to appreciate the enterprise oil
the entertainment committee and helf
them to replenish the entertainment fund
! which can be used to such good advantage
in securing conventions and large gather
| ings for our city. 1t will be the event Of
lifetime and no one can afford to miss
the thrilling spectacle when the prices
are SO reasonable. Some people do not
know where the Keith tract is. Take Yves
Sixth avenue car to the old ball grount
! at Potwin station
The greatest anxiety Of the management
has been in the matter of car service an6
| this is promised by the street railway com
| pany. After the show. cars win be il
readiness to take the audience home di
rect without delay. 1t is calculated that 81
| least 10000 people will be present tonight