The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-06-10
A GREAT SPECTACLE
LAST DAYS OF PoMPEII" AT
 BALL GROUNDS.
Large Audience Witnessed Destruc- tisn of the Ancient City and Brilliant Pyrotechnic Display
 Produced by Pain.

The Last Days of Pompeii" at the baseball park last night was a grand spectacle which was witnessed by more than 1000 persons
 Historians and scientists, comparing the relative accomplishments of Mont Peiee of today and Mount Vesuvius of twenty centuries ago, are disposed to belittle the Pompeiian holocaust. The Martin ique terror is known to have taken more than 5000 lives. while the research Of antiquarians and the records of the younger Pliny leave no doubt that the lt of life from the Vesuvian eruption did not exceed 1000 and may not have been more than 1000 or 5000.
 Nevertheless, the destruction of Pom pei will always hold a foremost place in history and romance. The catastrophe was surrounded by such circumstances, or at least tradition has clothed it with such conditions. as to make it a tale to be repeated from generation to genera ton.
 Pompeii was destroyed last night in Montgomery, but the mansion of the an- cient seaside resort, its stately temples and porticos, will rise again to be de- stroyed once more and every night this week. The motif of this grand display is to reproduce something of the life at Pompeii and to suggest something of the horror of the volcanic eruption which buried the city beyond resurrection.
 The Pain pyrotechnic productions have been seen in Montgomery before, but not on the level with the new production They are always unique, however Such effects are not attempted by any other amusement caterers. The production this year is great. The business has been re- duced to science; the properties are prepared most skillfully: the figures are drilled very carefully; the specialties are appropriate: the destruction of the city IS carried out with satiating horror, and the fireworks with which the entertain ment concludes are more beautiful than ever
 The attendance at last nights perform ance was large. and the crowd was per rectly handled.It reminded one very much Of the management of a circus. The performance was begun at S:45 o'clock and simultaneously with the booming of the opening gun smoke began to issue rom the crater of the mountain. and gay ly dressed crowds of Romans f1ocked into the streets. They had been accustomed to often see smoke issue from the vol cano. and paid no attention to 1t, being busy with the affairs of the day It was a fete for Pompeii. Schoolboys issued forth in holiday garb. and ran about and shouted as schoolboys always do. Roman soldiers. with their ensigns and stand ards marched about the streets. Finally, Nydia, the blind girl was seen coming down the main thoroughfare, with basket of flowers on her arm, seeking to sell her sweet-scented wares. As she ap- preached the Temple with its brazen image in front, she knelt before It. A group of revelers approached her and rudely tore the basket from her hands, but the brave Glaucus then came for ward and resented the insult Then the procession comes on-a procession of Ro- man guards, priests, priestesses, flower girls bearing incense and flame, and fan bearers, and citizens carrying flags, ban ners, trophies, etc. This procession in the bright lights and the calcium effects makes a very brilliant spectacle Two elephants form part of the parade, and there are chariots and cages containing wild beasts. Picturesque gladiators, with their short swords. make a striking contrast to the glittering soldiery of Rome. Arbases. the wealthy and arrogant priest, arrives in a voluptuous litter and retires to his palace to witness the fes- tivities in his honor.
 These festivities take place in front of the Temple. They consist of dances by Greek slave girls, and feats of acrobats. |
 The acrobats are good in their line | Following the acrobats are trapeze per | formers, equillibrists, skirt dancers and | other entertainers.
 When the show on the temple stage is | over Arbases marches to the temple with | his priests and acolytes and begins the | ceremonies of worship. It is while he is attempting to make Glaucus. the Chris | tian, worship his heather god that the | eruption of the mountain occurs, Glaucus | refuses to offer worship and fight en- sues. The Christian escapes with lone and the blind girl, but the remainder of | struction.
 Terrific reports are heard from the | mountains. Accompanying the reports | flames of fire issue from the crater, and | in a short time the temples and the | houses are flaming with fire. It is real istic to see the population running to and | fro, endeavoring to escape, and to see | the walls of houses falling in and the pillars and the walls burning to the ground.
 After the destruction of the city Is com plete a gorgeous display of fireworks was given.
 During the remainder of this week sev- eral standing bombs will present like nesses of local persons. that of Governor Jelks being scheduled for tonight. The is presented by Jake Wells a Southern amusement purveyer of con- reputation.
 Good appetite and cheerfulness fol- lows the use of Prickly Ash Bitters. If Durifles the blood liver and howaIS apd