Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-18

death scene. wriggling all over the
stage, to the great delight Of the audi
ence, who do not seem to perceive
any incongruity when he gets up, after
he is thoroughly dead, even to the last
little shiver. and calmly walks off.
There are no actresses, men assum-
ing every part. When they make up for
women they wear wigs and put blocks
of wood under their feet to counterfeit
the proper walk of ladies' swaying
along on their Golden Lilies" as the
Chinese admiringly style the dreadful
little hoof-like feet Chinese woman
spends years Of torture in obtaining.
There are numerous travelling
theatrical companies In China, and
these generally pitch their tents in the
temple courts, thus affording the peo-
pie opportunity to kill two birds with
one stone and combine amusement
with religion.
II one can endure Chinese theater
until the end of the performance, the
deafening orchestra, and the falsetto
voices, he will find that two ushers
come to the front of the stage and an.
nounce that the play is finished. Chi
nese plays never end in any culminat-
ing climax, Indicating to the people
that all is ended, so this announce
ment Is really necessary.
The plays generally abound in pre-
posterous heroes and characters.
though occasionally scene Of home
life will be represented. giving for.
eigner an insight into customs, abso-
lutely unattainable in any other way.
But with their faces painted out OF
all human semblance. their exaggerat-
ed and unnatural voices. walk aud
manner, together with constant jun.
BILE Of properties and stage hands.
with their feeble make-believes, com
bine in producing most amusing
| and absurd ensemble.
We were not altogether sorry that
we had endured unto the end, though
the boredom was beyond anything I
can remember. We kept our seats.
mentally CHASING ourselves with the
caller who, with winning smile, said
to the little girl who occupied the
study while her father, an eminent lit
erary man, was at dinner:
II suppose, my dear. that you assist
your papa by entertaining the bores?"
Yes, sir" replied the little girl,
| gravely, please be seated"
Here they use weapons of pattern
| as ancient as the first Crusaders,
spears with triple points and battle
axes on long poles A row of soldiers
armed with these antique curios stand
behind row squatting on their heels
and armed with rifles Of the vintage
Of the American civil war. In front Of
| these a third row of men lie fiat like
sharpshooters, also armed with the
same venerable firearms.
| When the word of command is
given they make ready" and take
aim," but at the word "fre!"- not q
trigger is pulled, each man says
"boom!" with that sublime indiffer-
ence to the ridiculous and childlike
faith in make-believe that distin-
cuisines the theaters.
When an officer was asked why
such a performance was allowed he
said it kept the men busy and under
discipline and didn't waste powder.
To see whole company Of men go
through this absurd performance
again and again as soberly and con-
scientifically as If really shooting is
the most overwhelmingly funny thing
to be seen In China. compared to
which the theater is poor second.