352 
Flan for an Improved Theatre . 
fore, the roof is so curved, as to commence its reflection 
at that point, as maybe traced by following the progress 
of the pulses of sound emitted by the actor at A. One 
half the roof, as far as C> is allowed to give the sound it 
receives over this portion of the pit, and the three tiers of 
boxes. The remaining half of the roof is employed in 
throwing its sound upon the upper gallery, increasing the 
density of its reflection as the distance from the stage in- 
creases. Although this gallery receives the influence of 
half the ceiling, yet from the oblique position of it, it will 
not catch more than half as much sound as the other por- 
tion, which is fully required by the distance of the hind 
part of the gallery, the direct sound being there twenty- 
five times less dense than in the quarter of the pit next the 
stage ; whereas by the reflection this disproportion will be 
reduced to about ten times only, and of course it will be 
as distinctly heard as in the third quarter of the pit. 
The ratio of sound in the three front boxes compared 
with that of the first quarter of the pit, is as one sixteenth 
to one ; this, by the reflection of half the roof will be re- 
duced to about one seventh, hence these parts will hear 
nearly as well as the centre of the pit. In addition to 
this, the back of each tier of b.oxes should be covered so 
as to give a focus of sound either to the front, middle, or 
last benches, as thought best, this shown at 1, &, 3. The 
two latter were altered from the former by dotted coves. 
The fronts to the boxes should present reflecting 
curves, tc throw their sound within the fourth region of 
the pit. 
Fig. 3 is a hind view, showing the proper curve of the 
roof in this position, where the only object is to keep the 
diverging rays of sound parallel after reflection, and clear 
of the sides of the boxes. 
I think it would not be particularly expensive to have 
the whole beam and pillar work of the theatre of cast 
