Theatrical Burnings

From the year 1569, when the Teatro Della Carita, in Venice, was consumed by the flaines, on to the end of 1877, 523 theaters havo been completely destroyed by flre. Classic authors also chxonicle the destruction by fire of 11 Roman theaters. Astley's Amphitheter, London, has been bnrned down fonr times (1794, 1803, 1830, 1.841); Drnry Lañe, Covent Garden, and Her Majesty's, have each been eonsnmed three times; and of existing London theaters seven have before boen destroyed. No less than 31 fires in London theaters are chronicled, the next largest nuinber (29) being recorded in the cnee of Paris, while New York follows with 26. and modern San Francisco with the astounding number of 21. An old ehrenielo records thatthc Teatro Atarázanos, in Seville, was burnt down in 1C15 for the sixth time, that it was re-eroctod in 1631, and that it was consumed for the seventh time in 1675. Among the most disastrouo lires recorded :s that of the Theater of Capo d'Istria, in 1794, when about 1,000 porsons were bnrnt to deatb. Nearlv 800 were killed in the fire whioh broke out in Lehman's Theater and Circus at St. Petersburg, on Feb. 14, 1836. On May 25, 1845, at Cantón, a Chinese theater caught fire. As usual there, the structnre cousisted only of bamboo, mats, board, and light stuff, the wnole being surrounded by four walis, and only one exit being provided. Of the many spectators, only a few were able to save themselves. The Mandarín, in his official report, atated that 1,370 corpses had been found, and that there were no less than 2,000 pereons injured, of whom 300 expircd shortly after. Another dis astrous fire in China was that of Tien tsin, in May, 1872, when 600 peopleper ished.