. The Pacific tourist . , 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, barbarians are charged/our bits, but the Celestials find opendoois to the front or best seats, for two ten oclock, the Melican man can secure anentrance for two bits, and anyone going at thishour
. The Pacific tourist . , 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, barbarians are charged/our bits, but the Celestials find opendoois to the front or best seats, for two 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,r2-50 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 TMM ^m€IFi€ TWWmmW. 289. INTERIOR OF CHINESE THEATRE. ingress or exit. As the deception is perfectlyapparent, when one falls in war oi- passion, andis not carried off the stag-e, nor hidden behindthe drop, bnt rises and trots away, there is adecided feeling that the whole thing is toothill 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 convuKed 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 th^^ 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 chai-acter,—rebels plotting for pos-session of the government, .sometimes seated onthe tin-one ; messe
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Keywords: ., bookauthorshearerf, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookyear1876
