They built pleasure palaces the likes of which had nver been seen. Alas, the building in that kingdom was the last of the great ones. It was in a style they called 'Art Deco', and when one entered, there was a vaulted shaft reflecting the multivaricolored lights in the glass on the front, and sported a magnificent chandelier.
Inside, there was a spacious reception area, and the theater room was huge, with another chandelier high up near the ceiling which was so enormous, the electric lights in it could only be changed if it were lowered on a winch and the breadth took up over a third of the auditorium... and took a full day to change all the bulbs at necessary intervals, and raise it again.
It was so modern, it had a series of vents beneath the seating in which, during the dog days of August, ice blocks could be placed. In the back below ground were two, one and a half story high fans, which, when activated, cirdulated through the vents and blowing over the ice, cooled it in summer. It was a marvel of modernity
There was organ playing for silent films, and a full stage that could accomodate live shows, dressing rooms upstairs in the back of the stage, everything one could wish for in elegance and efficiency for its' time.
Just a few days before it was to open in all its' splendor and magnificence, disaster struck. Stock speculations had become rampant, several bubbles burst and people who had believed in becoming richer and richer were suddenly left with nothing... all their money had magically disappeared into thin air... poof.
The results were, it plunged the kingdom into a depth of poverty no one had ever seen or imagined before. Certainly, some profited from the disaster, but no one ever spoke of that. The main concern was finding where one's next meal was to come from. Factories failed, people died.
The owner of the pleasure palace had invested a vast amount of money in his building, the crowning jewel in a chain of splendiferous edifices. And these developments left him in a terrible situation, as it would have to go under befoe it even opened... unless.... unless...
The owner gahtered all his people, and asked them to believe in his undertaking. He asked them to work for the first two weeks without salary, promising to include them in profit sharing, and benefits if they would help him.
And as there wasn't much of a choice, the staff agreed. The opening was magnificent, and after the two weeks, the business was solvent and more or less saved. The owner was very grateful, and treated his employess very well, gave them benefits that were generous, arranged yearly outings for them at his expense, and so it thrived.
Things a ren't that way today, but whaddaya want, it was long ago and in a far-away kingdom. So it survived.
To be continued....
