WEST SHOKE.
GRAND OPERA HOUSE AT SPOKANE FALLS.
X the rebuilding of the burned city of Spokane
Fulls, much attention is being paid to beauty of
architecture, and the progress already made bIiows
what a beautiful city, architecturally, the metropolis
of the Inland Empire will soon become. One of the
greatest needs of western cities has been good theatres,
but this is now being supplied everywhere. Portland,
Tacoma, Seattlo and Spokane are all building splen
did opera houses, such as any city could well take
pride in. The finest of these is the magnificent tem
ple of Thespis now nearly completed in Spokane
Falls. This handsomo structure will cost f')00,0()0,
ami is being erected by J. J. Browne and A. M. Can
non, two of SjHtkano's oldest and moBt enterprising
citizens.
The building has a frontage of l"iO feet on Post
street ami 1(K) on Muin street. From it a most beau
tiful landscape may be seen, including the city, the
gorge through which rush the foaming waters of Spo
kane river and tho great plain in which the city lies.
The opera house is patterned ofter Broadway theater
in Xew York, and none in tho Tinted States is more
complete in its npM)intments or elegant in its furnish
ings. Tho hall, eighty feet long and twenty wide, is
entered through a high stone archway. The corri
dors are provided with niches in which handsome
statues are placed. Tho walls aro hung with beautiful
paintings, and tho ceilings frescoed in the highest
style of art. This passage leadH to the foyer. On tho
opHsite side of the entrance, and a little to tho right,
is the ticket ollico. It has a circular front, and a
brass railing is placed at a convenient distance there
from, insi.lo of which all must pass to reach the ticket
window. On tho left of tho foyer is the manager's
room, and on the right the ladies' and gentlemen's
toilets, while opposite tho ticket ollice a stairway ten
feet wide leads up to tho balcony lloor and on up to
the gallery. On tho balcony lloor, or properly the
smmd story, there is another ollice, where tickets for
tho balcony and gallery are purchased, those sold in
tho foyer ollice Wing only for tho parquet and dress
circle in tho auditorium. On each side of tho main
ticket ollice there is a wide entrance to the auditorium,
hung with rich tapestry curtains. Tho auditorium is
TOxlN) fwt, containing S(K) plush upholstered opera
chairs of tho latest design. Theso chairs are provid
ed with coat and hat racks. Four handsome prosce
nium lxues occupy their proper place. The orchestra
is lowered so as not to interfere with tho view from
any part of tho panjuet or dress circle. The stage is
10x70 feet in i, with proscenium openings thirty
six feet wide and forty-five feet high; there areftur
exits off tho stage. Tho stage has all the latest im-
provements, such as traps and every mechanical con
trivance necessary for mounting any play, spectacular
or otherwise, that can be rendered. The scenery ig
. what is known as vertical flats, made to disappear
above when not needed. The drop curtain s of as
bestos, which is absolutely fireproof. Electricity and
gas are used for lighting the building, and it is heated
with steam. Sixteen dressing rooms are provided;
real water effects can be produced. The entrance to
the stage is of sufficient size to admit fire engines,
wagons and horses, which can be driven on or off the
stage if necessary. From floor to ceiling of the thea
ter proper is sixty feet, with a cupola of stained glass
and sun burner on top. This is also arranged to act
as a ventilator. The main auditorium has ten exits
to be used in case of fire, while outside iron stairways
are provided for fire escapes from tho balcony and
gallery. By these means the building can be emptied
in two minutes. All around the exterior of the opera
house proper is an alley or court twenty-five feet wide,
except at the point where the corridor crosses it.
This elegant place of amusement will be thrown
open to the public about the first of March next, and
will be under the management of Harry Hayward, a
gentleman of much successful experience in managing
first-class theatres. When this house is opened, Spo
kane will soon become known to managers of star at
tractions as one of tho beet "show towns" in the
United States, and will be visited by the best combina
tions on the road.
OREGON FORESTS AND FOLIAGE.
k f EW EXGLAND forests, for variety of folingo beau
1 1 ty especially during the autumn months-have
' generally been conceded to bo without a rival.
While this, perhaps, is true, in the main, yet
other sections of the Union present claims that cannot
be ignored, or even overlooked. For diversity, beauty
and brilliancy the forests of the Xew England states
aro undoubtedly unsurpassed. Sharp, nipping frosts,
the chilly night, and the clear, transparent atmosphere
of that famous, historical region of tho American con
tinent, have much to do in imparting so many glowing
tints to tho foliage, and in investing it with so much
of dreamy and romantic charms. In the southern
states an almost entirely different type of forest lieauty
is met. Spring, summer, autumn and even winter cast
each its peculiar influence over, and impart masterly
touches of beauty to woods and shrubs. Brilliant hues
of nearly every conceivable shade and tint are pnintcd
by nature's brush," while the glowing heavens and
soft semi-tropical air lend a del icious sense of languor
to tho pylvan scenes.
Xo less does ono find the peculiar characterictios of