ppets on the
stage at once, operated by eight manipulators, four on each side. This
could not be done with the life-sized marionettes in Catania, which were
all operated from behind, and never came forward. At Trapani the stage
was much deeper in proportion, and the flies from which the scenery
descended were high above the heads of the operators, so that the figures
could walk about backwards and forwards all over the stage. The
footlights were in the usual place in front of the curtain, and during
the performance boys got up from their seats in the front row and lighted
their cigarettes at them.

I had not nearly completed my investigations; but, fearing we might be in
the way, we returned to the front and inquired about play-bills. There
was only one in the house, posted up near the box-office; we went and
inspected it--

TEATRO DI MARIONETTE.

Per questa sera dara 2 recite
la prima alle 5.5 la seconda alle 8
Pugna fra Sacripante e il Duca d'Avilla--
Ferrau uccide Medoro e acquista Angelica--
Morte di Sacripante per mani di Ferrau--
Morte di Angelica.

MARIONETTE THEATRE.

This evening two performances will be given
The first at 5.30, the second at 8
Fight between Sacripante and the Duke of Avilla--
Ferrau kills Medoro and gains possession of Angelica--
Death of Sacripante at the hands of Ferrau--
Death of Angelica.

There was a pleasant-looking, retiring young man in the box-office, who
was pointed out to me as "Lui che parla"--the one who speaks. They said
he was a native of Mount Eryx and a shoemaker by trade.

We returned to our places and sat talking, smoking, eating American
pea-nuts and waiting. The audience, which consisted of men of the class
of life to which Mario belonged, all knew one another; most of them met
there every evening. A subscription for one month costs three lire and
entitles the holder to one performance a day, the performance at 8 being
a repetition of that at 5.30.

The play now being performed is _The Paladins of France_; it was written
by Manzanares in Italian prose and is in three volumes. It does not
always agree with the other versions of the same story; but that is only
a