The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-31 00:00:00

THE B' Ll7-KEE PER -V LV CE.

Not so much on account of the amount extorted
as the annoyance accompanying the demand is this
grievance at our theatres, justly complained of in a
letter from a correspondent in a late issue. At the
same time, we must point out that if civility is to be
an article of price, it is manifest he or she who pays
the higher will obtain the greater quantity. For
instance : if A gives sixpence, he will not only not
receive the same attention as B, who gives a shilling,
but not anything approaching that accorded to C,
who gives half-a-crown, the extent of a box-
keeper's extortion, and seldom parted from except-
ing for lack of smaller change. Now, we are going
to say that no fees should be allowed on any pre-
tence whatever, and we hope to succeed in their
abolition with the assistance of the play-going
public. But if they are to be perpetuated by any
self-willed manager, at least the sum expected
should be distinctly prescribed, and change be
always ready in the hand of the box-keeper to be
offered, not asked for. The cabby dodge of never
having change ought neither to be permitted by
the management nor put up with by the public. A
very good plan for limitation of an abuse of this
description has been adopted at the new opera-house,
Langham-place, where a printed notice—" Sixpence
charged for custody of coats, &c."—is placed at the
entrance. Such a plan in the box lobby would
insure equal civility to all where " the tyrant cus-
tom " is persisted in, and prevent the vulgar knaves
who do the "date oblatum" from imposing on—if not
insulting—ladies who visit places of amusement with
their daughters, unattended by a gentleman, which
is too often the case where the fee is not to their
liking or, inevitably, where one is refused altogether.
Now, can such abuses as these be tolerated longer,
or will they be persisted in by managers ? The
answer to the second question is easy :—Yes, if it is
their interest, and it manifestly is, if they make
money out of it by letting the box-lobbies at so
much per week. But what if the attraction be equal
at two houses, and the extortion system be ptac-
tised at one and gratuitous civility be the order of
the night at the other? Will not the manager of the
second find it his interest to adopt the latter plan
if the public support be larger ? Certainly; and as
certainly it would be. But the difficulty is to con-
vince all parties concerned.

The enlightened policy pursued by Mr. Webster
at the Adelphi " strikes fiery off indeed " in con-
trast with that of other managers, and the quiet,
unobtrusive attention of his female staff in front of
the house is a model to be imitated and extolled.
Since the abolition of crinoline women can (and
should) be employed, with advantage, in many ca-
pacities instead of men: first, at less wages; second
(as a rule) with more reliance; third, insuring more
civility. There are not so many occupations
open to females that one of such should be allotted
to men ; and we commend, therefore, female box-
keepers to all the managers in the metropolis and
provinces, both those who do, and those who do
not, intend to abolish the "hateful system of ex-
tortion." The change will be of the greatest
advantage alike to the management and the
public—

"The drama's laws the drama's patrons give."—
Therefore, the public have the redress of all such
grievances as these in their own hands. Let them
resolutely refuse all gratuities in places of public
amusement, whether they be to box-keepers or
coat-tenders—and two annoyances will be done
away with that mar their pleasure and spoil their
temper. The coat-keeper nuisance is little less
tolerable than the box-keeper, inasmuch as the
visitor is almost denuded merely to find an excuse
that a fee may be paid to the assiduous lynx at the
stall, who ejaculates, " Leave your coat, sir !"
" Leave your shawl, marm !! ;" " You can't go in
with that hat, sir !! !" " Not admitted in bonnets,
Miss ! ! ! !" to his or her utter disgust and discomfi-
ture, if at all a nervous or retiring individual. We
say, " reform it altogether," and let the acceptance
of a fee in a theatre be a cause of instant dismissal.
Let a proper polite "Arbiter Elegantiarum " be
posted at the lobby entrance of the boxes. Let him
supervise and direct the movements of the box-
keepers, as well as judge the hue of costume ad-
missible, and the occupant of the boxes will be
subject to no more persecution than " the meaner
sort -of people who frequent the pit," or " the
groundlings" as Shlkspeare designates them—
who are not pestered and mulcted because they know
how to protect themselves, and will not permit it.—
Racing Times and Amateur Dramatic Chronicle.

MARETTS--(This Day.)

COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PRODUCE.

SUGAR—Refined sugars are firm, witl;;;;Treiate in-
quiry. Dutch crushed is quoted rather stiffer, at 29s 10id
to 30s for B, and H No. 1. Deliveries of raw sugar con-
tinue very good, and have further reduced the stock to
52,400 tons against 65,400 tons last year. The market on
the spot is steady, with only moderate supplies offering.
COFFEE.—The advances are well kept up, and an increase
of last year's at this time, but recent heavy imports have
increased the stock to 15,250 tons, being 6,400 tons more
than was held at this time in 1867. Tho market is firm,
with a fair demand fur both colonial and foreign coffees.
TEA.—Small public sales have opened this morning,
with good competition at previous rates.
RlCE.—There is not much passing, but rates are main-
tained. At auction, of 703 bags Bengal, only one lot sold,
at 13s 6d for good middling.
RUM.—The late advance is well maintained, but the
activity in the market has subsided. The clearances are
largo, but are exceeded by the imports, and the stock is
increased to 22,840 pus. against 25,750 pns. last year.
SALTPETRE.—The quantity warehousing is about equal
to the deliveries, and stock remains without any material
alteration.

JUTE meets a steady inquiry at firm rates.
HEMP.—The market for Manilla is firm but quiet; 2,000
bales come to auction to-morrow; Clear St. Petersburg is
quoted .£3B per ton.

OIL.—For all descriptions the market is quiet with very
little change in prices. Linseed offered at 36 Gd on the
spot. English and foreign brown rape, 36s ; pale, 38s to
398 ; cocoa nut, Ceylon, 49s to 49s 6d ; Cochin, Ms 6d to
558.