Show it A MAR O T TOw Ow W boils PRAM fROM ACI S SF f THE THEATER HEAT STAGE Sl I save never witnessed a marl mari f you yon have missed one onet t it pleasing of childhood day dayh h he first performance of ot this YI I witnessed was more than ago The performer had but buts s but it was a great show in Talk about Punch and andy y they were not in it t. t first performance I have wit wit- It- It ore than similar perform perform- closely watched the little wood- wood alas atas as they went through their my n a eth th time as I Ih have J sat In the theof theoff i of off l t the e house I have wished e that behind the scenes and see lEe justs Just s done see soe just lust how the dancer dUhe juggler juggled niggled and how f figures res were made to go t through rough ts I ought sought an interview lard aid Berner BarnEll called tho the king of 1 tea s. s sj a a. title by bv the way that Is nomer who vho is appearing at the MB the dressing dressing room loom we went aIwas a Iwas literally a n. work shop for forkes forkes ekes kes everything that he us uses in inace innee mance nee ace from doll shoes and hats scenery iry and stage Bernar is alb a 8 lb birth 42 years ears old and small t wi lIe speaks five languages I French German Gennan Russian and 1 him to tell leU me something about marionette marionettes t ears Old Bord ord marionette he said dates elthan ithan years tears to the time t Venetians began using wooden their religious processions inI in- in girls girls as was as the custom I I They were then called but the word has been twist twist- I Is now called ailed i marionette r Jas we know w the ancient Greeks to U use marionettes and I they are e eU often f found n id e lying I bes be- be bones In childrens s graves at theus and Rome All through gages ages the marionettes pla played ed tant t t. t part in the amusement of were they always s seen in s of corned comedy In England itei gave ga tragedies and later sang hey grand opera with great In Milan Italy Ital the marionettes ht to the highest state of per- per 1 5 indeed is the inot in- in f some of ot their performances At Atwells wells a marionette theater with of 2000 where perform perform- capacity fJ iJ given the year j. j round ire e e have haie i not improved a v er the ancient methods of ig the marionettes We e still 1 pull the wires as of ot old ola from a Platform I nl in the rear of the scene The little people peo- peo pie that i T I I use In I m my act apt are not made mA en en- m of wood as some ome might ima imagine ne Their heads are of r mache a and capable oare of f f iee Rapier Ingo the slightest slightest touch and provided with ith a hinged lower jaw jaw to imitate the movement of talk talk- ing The m bod and thighs are ot wood o II the ar arms s legs van anand and d J n neck ck are aro loaded d do o BO 80 BOA as A I to readily obey the laws of gravity ra All AU of the strings that move the arms and legs are united Inside the bod body and by them the marionette is moved about the miniature stage I have been following the business for three thirty-three years vears and I Have e grown to love Jove the little figures s As he talked he worked hI he was engaged engaged en en- In making a a new set of figures for fora iora a new act First American Visit I aim never to give the same performance perform perform- anc ance on on my second visit to a city This is m my mv first visit to this country When hen i came I was signed slimed up for twelve weeks now ow I Iam am signed up for three years ears Soon I shall send for In my wife and family to come to this country countr and live Jive until my ml m engagement is ended In ht Munich Prince has built a theater which winch is used b bv by this king of ot marionettes marionettes' whenever h he visits that countr coun coun- try tr- During his long life as a public en entertainer entertainer en- en Bernar has appeared before many notables He lie showed sho me a medal studded with seven eighty fine rubies rubles that was a gift from the Sultan of Turkey before before be be- fore whom he lie gave three performances He can imitate almost perfectly the voice olce of a canary a horse a cat a dog a rooster rooster rooster roos roos- ter and several others Bernar shouted the tho call aU boy bov at the head of the stairs and this quick energetic ener ener- getic man was as down two st steps ps at a time I First he saw aw that everything was In readiness read read- iness Then placing a chair to the rig right t tot of ot the little stage he said to me You can see best from here Next he appeared before the curtain and Introduced his marionettes which I operate entirely by self myself said he Back to to the platform in the rear of the miniature stage and to work I do not think that I ever eer saw a person work at atthe atthe atthe the same rate of speed for fifteen minutes as this man Bernar At times his head teeth hands and feet teet are in action at the same time The little show contains forti two tort two figures each earh capable of being moved by the more than 1000 strings that are attached to them and Bernar moves them all moves them so rapidly and accurately accurately ac ac- I that one can easily imagine agine that they are alive one easily W. W J. J S. S |