J^OJ, ON' THE CONSTRUCTION Oi? THEATRES. 



n solid fire proof bottom. Then the boards T5^%e stage 

 might be liiid down and screwed to the spars; the same 

 principle acted upon through all the rooms, and all the 

 doors neatly made of iron, with pannels to ftill into the 

 mouldings neatly screwed in, which when painted wo.uld be 

 as handsome as mahogany. The stairs and stai leases all 

 cast and fitted together in the way recommended in your 

 Journal, No. 107, would be much more beautiful than it is 

 possible to make wood, without going to a very j^reat ex- 

 pense, and then not half so durable. They would be much 

 Little or no cheaper than stone also, in fact, I would introduce little 

 ■wood, but the or no wood at all, except the floors, and these I would lay 

 the floors and <lo"'" ^'^^ proof. — It would then be impossible for fire to be 

 these fireproof, communicated to the different parts of the house, was the 

 vilest incendiary to gain admission under cover of the night, 

 and fire the boards of the stage and scenery, there being 

 none, or but little admission of air from below, owing to 

 the fire proof bottom, it could make its way but very slowly, 

 and then only the boards and scenery could be burnt. All 

 communication being cut off with the adjoining rooms by 

 the iron doors, it could not consume their contents, and the 

 supporters of the floosings, being iron, could not coiidnct 

 the flame. The front pf the stage and orchestra should be 

 iron; the orchestra in particular would be extremely hand- 

 some, cast with beautiful festoons of flowers or trophies, 

 smd painted in character. The flooring of the pit laid on 

 arches could not be in danger, and the seats of the pit also 

 should be iron, the supporters of the seats cast light, and 

 the seats made in pannels from 3 to 6 feet, neatly cast to 

 fall into the mouldings vvith rouijd edges, so that when the 

 supporters were fixed, the framing laid down, and screwed 

 firm, then the pannels should be let into the mouldings, 

 and fastened with screws also. The seats made in this way 

 would be quite as neat, and all the objection I see is, that 

 iron would be colder than wood ; but when they are covered, 

 that objection in part would vanish — at all events, the sup- 

 porters of the seats might be iron, if the seats were wood. 

 The framing for the boxes might all be of iron, and the 

 seats iron also, for they are stuffed, therefore iron could be 

 no objection. Then the partitioi>s of the boxes might be 



very 



