The Washington times., 1902-10-07
BATTLE OF PEMN IN FIRE
Immense Crowd Witnesses
Mimic Destruction.
A SPLENDID PRESENTATION
In Honor of the Grand Army Prof. Pain
Gave Last Night First Exhibition
of Pekin's Fall.

! Aerial balls of many colors broke and
faded over the peak of the Washington
Monument last night: the battle of Pc
| kin was represented on a stage built
on the White lot grounds few feet
south OF the Mall; there were 5000
people present, and the celebration the
first night in honor of the veterans OF
the Grand Army was a success.
| In front of the scenery extending 1000
| feet from Fifteenth Street to Sixteenth
Street, there were row of boxes.
Mrs. Roosevelt Present.
The center boz. the Presidents box.
was occupied by Mrs. Roosevelt and a
small party consisting of Attorney Gen.
eral Knox, Mrs. Knox and their little
! son, Postmaster General Payne and Mrs.
Papne, Colonel and Mrs. Bingham, and
Assistant Secretary William Loeb. jr.,
and Mrs. Loeb.
Miss Isabel Hagner, Secretary to Mrs.
Roosevelt, invited these guests in the
forenoon. when the party was arranged.
An American flag Was draped and twisted
around the rails of the box. Several
wreaths of flowers had been sent there
for Mrs. Roosevelt. She wore a black
velvet coat, and sat in the right-ha
corner facing the stage. White House
carriages escorted by three mounted po
licemen came for the party at $3.50
o'clock, and Mrs. Roosevelt was driven
back to the temporary White House in
Jackson Place.
Immense Space Provided.
Two acres of ground were roped off in
front of the Monument, and an amphi-
theater capable of seating 10000 people
had been provided for the presentation
OF Pains "Pekin."
There will be performances tonight
and tomorrow night at s o'clock.
Produced Especially for G. A. R.
"Pelsin" was produced especially for
the Grand Army celebration in Wash
ington. 1t not having been presented on
any ether stage.
With Haley's Band playing national
airs the performance opened with
scene representing dancing girls at the
imperial palace in Pekin, entertaining
the Emperor. of China. AS the green
and pink rays of light were cast on the
dancers the halls of the imperial city
were shown with good effect. Under the
arc lights which Illuminated the amphi
~ ba ai.,t
low top Chinese houses and the narrow
streets were displayed attractively.
Two acrobats. the Decourcey brothers.
well known for their tumbling and
twisting stunts. appeared next on the
platform in front of the imitation pal
ace Their tumbling and tossing and
wriggling through each others arms
inisr, rell have pleased an emperor.
Then "Alfreno,' the man who walks
like he wore winged slippers, slid over
wire stretching 200 feet from poles
high in the air. Afterward he emerged
from darkness, his presence only being
discovered by the small torch he car
ried. He used this torch TO set ablaze
the powder sacks fastened TO the frame
across tho center of the wire. All
lights on the grounds were put out, and
purple mist hung over the scene. Af
ter a double swing with his torch the
whole White Lot grounds were illumi
mated by sizzling sparks. rising in the
air and flowing TO the ground like
water from fountain.
Young "Alfreno," little boy five ON
six years old, took long bar in his
hand and walked a tightrope almost
with the skill OF his father. His little
frame won the sympathy Of. the audi
ence that sounded applause as he bowed
off the stage.
Again the arc lights were lowered. and
six ballet girls managed to represent
hall gloves of glass placed over a
shimmering bed OF Goals With weird
gestures they posed and danced a
'-spooliy" dance Until they looked like
devils working in heated region. BY a
smooth change they Initiated angels. and