The Blackpool Herald. — 1883-07-13 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

RAIKES HALL GARDENS.  Now that we are at last in the middle of July, the management at Raikes Hall are getting everything into good swing. What with the skill of the head gardener, and the sunshine after rain, the grounds are charming just now. The programme for the season shows increasing enterprise on the part of the directorate. Since Whit-week Mr. Lloyd Clarence's company has been drawing good houses to witness that most entertaining of enter! tainments, " Alladin and his wonderful lamp." The libretto, the ballet, and all the accessories combine to produce a good spectacle. The Pavilion in which the performances take place has been so raetamorphised, so well re-arranged, and so altogether vastly improved, that visitors of last seas( n will scarcely know it again. To-morrow night, the first mimic representation in Raikes Hall of the Bombardment of Alexandria will come off. Mr. Firth, well known as the scenic painter at Belle Vue Gardens, Manchester, for 'above 30 years, has been engaged several months past in producing a picture of Alexandria at the time of the recent bombardment. The result is charming and astonishing. The structure is of considerable dimensions. The lower portion represents the blue waters of the Mediterranean, on which the war ships that comprised the British Fleet engaged in the bombardment, ride majestically—the Alexandra, Sultan, Helicon, Superb, Temeraire, Inflexible, Penelope, In vincible, Monarch, Beacon, Bittern, Decoy, Condor, and Cygnet. In the background are Forts Pharos, Ada, Napoleon, Marsa-al-Kanat and Marabout, the Grand Square, and the Ras•el-tin Palace. When the signal is given at Raikes Hall, the band strikes up, and a host of Egyptians, some carrying water in Eastern fashion and offering it for sale, others leading their donkeys from the fortresses, others selling wares—appear on the scene. Among the crowd are whirling and howling dervishes, British tars and other Europeans, the whole forming a kind of Mohammedan fair. A State barge, filled with natives of both sexes and various ages, attired in Oriental costumes, attracts attention. A disturbance takes place between Egyptians and Europeans. The Europeans, out-numbered, bolt, and though fired upon by the native soldiery succeed in reaching their ships by means of a boat. The signal is given, the bombardment commences, and the ships of war pour forth their deadly volleys.  The forts make but feeble reply. Sulieman Sarre with a band of native ruffians, commence their acts of incendiariam and devastation. Terror and a general stampede is the result. Men, women, and children are observe i escaping with valuables and merchandise at hand, when they are met by Bedouins, who rob and murder them. By this time the forts have been silenced, and a boat has landed some plucky Blue Jackets, who take possession of the town, and then, after severa! Bedouins have been mercilessly thrown into the water from the towers and forts, order is restored. More sailors are landed, and the town taken possession of by Admiral Seymour, the brass bind plays the "Old Brigade," and the men join in. The spe2tacle con. chides with a brilliant pyrotechnical device of an Egyptian Temple. In the centre is a transparency of Lord Alcester and Acabi Pasha, with the inscrip. tion at the base of the temple, "The Army and Navy." The above sketch will give some idea of what the public may expect to see ea:l night for the remainder of the season at Raikes -Hall. The picture is a gigantic work of art in itself. The getting of it up has cost a lot of money The pyrotechnic effects are good. The little host of Blackpool 3 outh who take part in the spectacle as Egyptiaus and Europeans, soldiers and sailors, &c. have been in harness for some time past, and now have their lesson well off. Visitors to Raikes Hall in past years have a pleasant and lively idea of the splendid manner in which our Blackpool youth acquit themselves when they come to mimic the art of war. There is no question but that crowds will be present tomorrow night to witness the first representation. During the season several first-class operatic and dramatic companies will occupy the Pavilion stage, and a capital circus company will perform in the large and commodious circus.  T. H. SMITH, JOINER, BUILDER, AND CCNTRAC COB, CORONATION STREET,  (Adjoining the General Post u:rice.) •