The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-17

twenty-five times. Of the pieces played,
fourteen were of Norwegian literature;
German and French, nine each; Danish,
six; Swedish and Belgian, two each;
English and italian, one each. -
Tickets have been sold to the amount
of 81, SOB kroner. The average Ere-
ceipts have thus been 1858 .kr. The
been Ais kr, and the smallest was
263 kr. The taxes paid by the theater
amounted to lO,157 kr.
From financial point Of view the
season was poor one, as the expendi-
lures exceeded the income by 1927 kr.
The receipts for tickets have been
about $4,000 Xxx kroner nno less than for the
have been about 10000 kroner less
than the previous year. The pension
fund of the theater now amounts to
about 33,70O kroner. The pension fund
Of the orchestra is II, Jas kroner.
Such financial result would certain
lly not be pleasing to the average Amer
lean theater manager. But then, the
chief aim Of the National theater is
not money-making, but to offer the best
1t costs deal Of money to stage some
Of the dramas of Ibsen and Bjornson,
and it must be admitted that every
thing given by the National theater is,
as rule, presented in first-class man
ner, both as regards the acting and the
scenic investiture. The hard times pre-
vailing since 1899 are, no doubt, the
chief cause Of the falling off in the
receipts. AS matters now stand in this
renounce the pleasure that regular at
tendance to the National theater would
afford. And again, in a city of Chris
tiania g size, it is hardly to be expected
that enough persons with taste devel-
oped to such degree that the roper
tory of the National theater is just
what they want, will be found. The aim
most other parts of the world, is to get
some fun for his money, and he can gen.
orally get better value, according to
his idea, at the smaller theaters, and so
he goes there. Thus the biggest sue
cess ever known in Norwegian theat:
rical history is the play cola LA
| Intentional in former journal let
ter), at the Central theater, which has
now been played more. than sixty
I should not care to see it again, but it
is what the "people' want, and hence
the red light is out every night.
! At present Biornson s elaborate dra.
ma, tfMaria Stuart is played at the
National theater, and judging from the
results obtained so far, it will be a
success in every respect: Bjoern
Bjoernson, son OF the famous author
is the director Of the theater, and Mrs
Johanne Dybwad is the leading actress
i A New Lifeboat.
4 Since the Norge disaster, the lifeboat
Question has been actively discussed. A
number of new inventions have been in
troduced. The one attracting most at
!; tention has been on exhibition here. II
lis called the Engelhardt Non-sinkine
Collapsible Lifeboat. The novelty
:. about the invention is the use of plant
stuff called ''kapokD that grows il
Java. It is a white and woolly stuff
having such lifting capacity that 81
water it is able to carry thirty to thir
ty-fve times it's own weight. The bot
tom of the boat is made from this stuff
For the sides, canvas is used, and thes
3 are collapsible. When the sides ar.
raised, and to do this takes but sec
I ond, the whole outfit looks much like al
; ordinary lifeboat.
But the unique feature is that TIL
) bottom alone carries the whole weight
I and even when the sides are laid down
: and the bottom looks like an ordinar.
3 float, it will carry more persons tina,
I there can possibly find standingroom O.
it. The upper surface OF the potter
never touches the water line. If waite
therefore gets into the boat, it is ru
!, out thru holes in the sides above tn
bottom. If the water does not run on
I. Eduickly enough, the holes may be mad
= larger by cutting the canvas with
!; knife. To make holes in an ordinar
= llifeboat would help it sinking.
. The boat exhibited here was twent,
: one feet long. In the center Of the bo