Enchanted Ladder

“If the Tycoon himself had arrived in this city and put himself on exhibition, he could not have attracted greater crowds than have the troupe of Japanese performers since their appearance at the Academy.  They gave their first performance on the 6th inst. To a densely packed audience, and every evening since, as well as Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, the Academy has been crowded.  Even the rainy nights did not deter the public from attending.  We noticed no change in their acts last week from their opening week. This week we are told the programme will be changed, when several acts never before seen in this country will be presented. Their engagement of the Academy is for one month, but if they continue to attract such audiences two weeks longer as they have the past two weeks, they are good for two months. The town is placarded with their large flaming pictorial bills, and in several places about the city some of the largest bill boards ever seen in the metropolis have been erected. Taken altogether they are wonderful performers in their specialties, and go where you will the current topic of conversation about the Japs?  Messrs. Risley and Maguire will make a big thing out of the engagement of their dark eyed subjects in this city.”