File:The Pacific tourist - Adams and Bishop's illustrated trans-continental guide of travel, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean - a complete traveler's guide of the Union and Central Pacific railroads (14574995807).jpg

Identifier: pacifictouristad00will (find matches)
Title: The Pacific tourist : Adams & Bishop's illustrated trans-continental guide of travel, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean ... : a complete traveler's guide of the Union and Central Pacific railroads ...
Year: 1881 (1880s)
Authors: Williams, Henry T Miller, Joaquin, 1837-1913. Great Plains and desert. 1881
Subjects: Union Pacific Railroad Company Central Pacific Railroad
Publisher: New York : Adams & Bishop
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
itorium has a parquette, that seatsabout 600 and a gallery for about 250; asmaller gallery for about 50 Chinese women,and two private boxes, void of all comfort fromcushions, curtains or cleanliness, but elevatedand roomy enough for six persons, near thestage and offering the only chances for securingreserved seats. The price of admission varies with time ofentrance. Early in the evening, barbariansare charged/ot/r bits, but the Celestials find opendoors to the front or best seats, for two bits.After ten oclock, the Melican man can secure anentrance for two bits, and anyone going at thishour can see all he desires before the end is an-nounced. The best parts of the play are seldomreached before 11 oclock, and the play kept upoften until 2 or 3 oclock. For a private box,^2.i)0 is charged. There are no stage-curtains, no flies, or shift-ing scenes, no decorations of any kind, simply aplatform, at the rear of which the orchestra sits,and on either side of the musicians, is a door for ;35
Text Appearing After Image:
INTERIOR OF CUINESE THEATRE. ingress or exit. As the deception is perfectlyapparent, when one falls in war or passion, andis not carried off the stage, nor hidden behindthe drop, but rises and trots away, there is adecided feeling that the whole thing is toothin for long enjoyment. The acting is as rude as all the surroundings,yet it is often true to Chinese life. Duringthe play of a comedy, the whole audience hasbeen convul^ed with laughter, over and overagain, almost without cessation, suddenly break-ing out in loud exclamations; but usually theirfaces are unmoved, except as they munch thepea-nuts, sugar-cane, etc., peddled throughoutthe room, or as they sink into dreamy contem-plation, under the satisfying influence of apure Havana of their own make. The costumes are a marvel of gaudiness, butdevoid of all elegance. The plays are nearly allof historic character,—rebels plotting for pos-session of the government, sometimes seated onthe throne ; messengers sent out to negotiate ;an

Note About Images