The city, following the example of its neighbours, has just had for the first time its modern theatre.
The students of the Middle School decided to give amateur dramatic performances in aid of famine funds, Nothing of the kind had ever been seen here, and some of the youthful performers themselves had never previously even heard of such diversions, but needless to say, the latent histrionic talents developed as if by magic, Almoet instantly, a dozen committees were at work dealing—with every detail from scenery painting to ticket printing and various modern Chinese plays were staged with great success and to the evident satisfaction of the performers themselves as well as_ that section of the audience intelligent enough to understand. The programme included items exemplifying the patriotism of Marquis Tto, the downfall of Yuan Shih-kai, a modern girls' school comedy. a romantic wedding of a ricsha man, and so forth.
The Shansi business ability was shown in the shrewd. way the finances were managed. Paying for admission to a theatre being practically an unknown innovation, and popular tastes tending to old styles rather than new, the management saw that $1 and 50 cent, tickets would probably find few purchasers and the famine fund gain nothing. They therefore sent deputations to -call'on all well known people in the district, explaining the whole scheme and inviting patronage. Later on, tickets were sent to all respectable residents, apportioned according to their reputed ability to contribute to the funds. No money was taken at the door, but later on all used tickets will have to be paid for, and as loss of face would be involve ed by non-payment, it is confidently expected that $2,000 or $3,000 will be netted and a society formed for annually raising] benevolent funds.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.