Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-08-25
Large Attendance at Opening of
Pain Engagement'At Base.
ball Park.
FIREWORKS DISPLAY MAGNIFICENT
Performances Moves Along Smoothly
the Story OF the
Play.

whom seemed greatly pleased.
For first night affair, and consid-
ering that but single day was al
lowed to get the scenery and fire
works sets in place at the park, the
presentation was all that could be
reasonably expected.
The crowd was handled in fine fash
ion, the Retail Merchants association,
under whose auspices the production
is appearing here, cooperating in the
work of seating the people. Bleuer's
band, stationed in front of Nero's
temple, furnished the music inciden-
tai to the performance.
The lighting arrangement in the
park is splendid, thousands of mean
descent lamps skirting the inclosure.
The acrobatic and terpsichorean feat
ures were of a high order The fire
works were last, and included a like
ness of Col s. +. Blunt, commandment
at Rock Island arsenal, quite demon
stratioH of applause following the
showing of the fire portrait of the
popular army officer
Burning of tho City.
The burning of the ancient city is
realistic bit of stage mechanism, and
the wonder is to those in the audience
how any of the scenic effects are
saved. The walls crumble and fall
and huge sheets of fierce looking
flames shoot up in all directions, at
tended by a deafening accompaniment
of bomb explosions.
The fireworks display was in itself
worth the price of admission, many
were heard to say. Its equal was new
er before witnessed in this section.
The scene of the spectacle opens
with II general view of imperial Rome.
i'll about the tenth year of Nero's
reign, and Just previous to its being
destroyed by fire. There is a view of
he streets and squares, crowded with
the populace, made up of freedmen
and slaves, captives, gladiators and
soldiery. Crowds of idle people are to
be seen on all sides. assembled among
the columns. telling and listening to
the gossip of the day.
While this busy scene * in progress.
the sound of voices is heard off the
scene. 1t seems to be one of Incrri-
ment, rcvelry or riot. The attention
of those present is attracted to it.
They turn in he direction from which
the voices come. In wild. noisy. drum
ken debauch, Il party of gaily dress
ed young men. fancifully decorated as
if masqueradiug. dash on the scene.
\ troop of Roman soldiers. under the
command of n centurion, moves
quickly toward them as if to put a
stop to their riot. As they approach,
one of the rioters more fearless. APP
parentlY, than the rest approaches
the centurion, and raises his hand.
The officer halts his men. Then an
other of the jewellers approaches the
centurion, and pointing to his com
panion in the center. asks If he knows
not i'm whose presence he is-if he was
not aware he stood before great Gaze
sar. The centurion is amazed, falls
back and dropping on his knees, cries
out ave Caesar" ave Caesar" in
which cry he is Joined by his guard
and the populace. IL was customary
with Nero i'm the early years of his
reign to indulge i'm sorteS of this kind,
in which he was assisted by the dis
soIute companions, and favorites i'm
his corrupt court. In these adNcn-
lures. Nero was at times accompanied
a cherished friend at one time of the
emperor.
Insult to POpuIace.
As soon as the salutations of the
soldiers and the people subsidized, Nero
bursts out laughing, in which he is
joined by his companions. He then
moves down towards the people, and
he and his associates amuse them
selves by Offering all kinds of ihdigni-
ties to those he meets-insulting the
old men by pulling. their boards, tear
ing the clothes from others, throwing
their arms about the women, and
again. scattering coin among the
crowd, so that they may enjoy the
confusion, struggles and scrambles of
the crowd to get possession of the
scattered gold. The christians in the
scene are the special objects of their
drunken attentions, and in this they
are aided by the soldiers.
The scene changes and preparations
are being made as if for the celebra-
ton of Roman holiday. The sound
of music is heard in the distance. II
| increases in volume. The stage be-
comes flooded with light. Nero,
gorgeously dressed, is seen reclining
on IA magnificent couch arranged for
him. On similar arrangement is
seated Poppea, his wife, luXuriously
dressed, and decorated with many
| Jewels. In position close to Nero,
stands Petronius, and then the mobiles
in proximity, according to the degrees
of favoritism, by which they are re
garded by Nero.
Parade Through Street.
The procession through the
streets of Rome then begins.
First comes the lictors. carrying the
rods and clearing the way. Then fol
lows contingent of the Praetorian
guard; after them the vestal virgins
followed by children scattering flow
ers in the pathway of Nero
When. Nero becomes seated, Pc