. The Pacific tourist : Williams' illustrated trans-continental guide of travel, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean : containing full descriptions of railroad routes ... A complete traveler's guide of the Union and Central Pacific railroads ... . atsabout 6UU 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 th
. The Pacific tourist : Williams' illustrated trans-continental guide of travel, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean : containing full descriptions of railroad routes ... A complete traveler's guide of the Union and Central Pacific railroads ... . atsabout 6UU 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/our bits, but the Celestials find opendoors to the front or best seats, for two ten oclock, the Melican man can secure anentrance for two bits, and anyone going at tliishour 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,!S!() is charged. Theie are no stage-curtains, no flies, or shift-incj- scenes, no decorations of any kind, simply aplatform, at the rear of whicli the orchestra sits,and on eitlier side of the nnisicians, is a door for 322 TME ^^€IWm TQ¥§ INTERIOK OF CHINESE THEATRE. iiifjress or exit. As the deception is perfectlyapparent, when one falls in war oi- passion, andis not carried off the staije, nor hidden behindthe drop, bnt 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 Havan
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectcentralpacificrailro
