Evening journal., 1903-08-28

! Appeals
the sympaihies of an audience, by rea-
son of stirring incidents which are clev-
erly woven into a story Of love and adj
venture.
"a Ragged Hero" which is the attrac-
tion announced for the Lyceum Theatre
September :. s and 3. is the type of
mel1drama to which a man may take his
family and feel sure that he will neither
see nor hear anything that will offend the
eye or ear and leaye THE theatre well sat
isfied with his evenings entertainment.
The plot is laid in New England and the
usual. characters which figure in New
England plays are very much in evidence.
The next and greatest holiday of the
year for the masses of the people will
be the date of the exhibitions of PAINS
gorgeous pyrotechnic spectacle, the
Last Days of Pompeii," beginning
September Sd to 5th inclusive. This
most stupendous, splendid and success
full historic spectacle, the eruption of
Vesuvius or the Destruction of Pom
peii, will be brought to Wilmington di-'
rect from Manhattan Beach, New York,
and presents an outlay of $4,000 worth
Of radiant costumes, trappings, armor
and special realistic scenery. Three
hundred actors, singers, dancers, pam
tomimists, athletes, gymnasts and other
characters, take part in this magnif-
cent pyrotechnic spectacle of over
whelming displays, marches, ballets and
historic scenes. The story which
threads the plot together is told in pan
tomime, but the incidents are so forci-
oil
matte motive that has been supplied.
Changes of scenery are so dexterously
contrived that the illusion is never de-
stroyed and we seem to be living in
the classic age of the barbaric festivals
of the ancient Romans. Scene upon
scene and marvel succeeds marvel so
that one is lost in admiration of the
masterful generalship, the enormous
labor and the infinite care bestowed
upon details, whereby the Kaleidoscope
spectacle revolves itself. changing ev-
cry moment, and the absence of tawdri-
ness, even i'm the smallest incidents. is
apparent, and no armor could be
brighter, no equipments more smart
no silks. satins and velvet more genu-
inc than the dresses of these splendid
groups.
1t is the finest outdoor production Of
the kind that has ever been seen in
America, and the beautiful effect pro-
duced by the hundreds OF lavshly
dressed people who take part in the ac-
ton Of the spectacle and the festival
dances, the nightly gorgeous fireworks
display and the tremendous, awe-in-
spring eruption Of Vesuvius and the to-
tai destruction of the city is indescrib-
able.
Messrs. Pain e Sons are by no means
strangers to Americans, as they have
always given us the newest and most
elaborate pyrotechnical displays that
we have ever had in the line of out
door spectacular productions, and now
they return after an absence Of several
years with a spectacle vastly superior
to anything that they have ever yet
produced. II is most noteworthy that
no other amusement enterprises of any
kind have ever received or deserved
such illustrious recognition as has been
accorded to those produced by Messrs.
Pain & Sons, both in Europe and Amer
lea and which carries with il all the
weight of a final decision from the
worlds highest tribunals. The Presi-
dents of the United States. generals of
the army, senators, foreigners, ambas-
SduOISs members OF the CaDlnet repre-
sentatives in Congress, leading states
men,, jurists, the reverend clergy, col
lege professors, journalists, scientists.
teachers, and all the first families in
America, not by word of mouth alone
but emphatically in writing, unreserv-
.. edly indorse Messrs. Pain & Sons his
toric, pyrotechnic spectacular produc-
tions as a voluntary unsolicited tribute
to their pre-eminence in grandeur, ed
ucational value and high artistic stand
, ard, and in Europe they are equally
honored and applauded by royalty
princes, dukes, earls. lords, bishops
state officials. members of Parliament
judges diplomats, editors and the
brightest and best men and women
from the aristocracy of inheritance tc
the grand democracy Of the masses.
George r. sprague, the great emotiona
! actor, will be seen at the Grand Oper,
! House September l. in the leading role o
! the nroaf fl1ra1 drapaa stTrt,l, ttr.