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220 On interviewing Vandalia about the matter, she was willing to go, but would not be ready for some little time. So I promised to wait, and in the meantime went for a ride in the neighbourhood. When I returned, she was waiting, so we rode together to the "Pondropell."

On arriving in front of a very massive building, we handed the animals to one of the lads in attendance, who took them away to an enclosure reserved for their use.

"Where shall we sit?" I inquired.

"Anywhere," was the quick response. "There will be a number of vacant seats."

We paid with a coin after passing through the wide doorway—tickets not being used,—then mounted about a dozen steps, and found ourselves on another floor, with a large screen or portable door in front. On -this were some excellent paintings of celebrated artists and scenery. There was a wide opening on either side, and we passed to the left into the main building. The front, with its pillars and porticos, was indeed grand, and I considered that it probably formed an index to the interior, so that I expected to see something beyond what I had been accustomed in the way of theatres, but I certainly never anticipated such a