The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-18
The Rights of Audiences.

Mr.. EDIToR:-It was gratifying to see in a
recent issue of your paper the suggestion that
more than enc of the outside doors at City Hall
be opened at the close of an entertainment, for
it showed that the horrible calamity in Brook
Ign had made little impression here, which
was disposed to work itself out in the direction
of a much-needed practical reform. 1 have re-
peatedly noticed that the door at the foot of the
rear staircase is kept fastened all through
performance, and that the Myrtle street door re-
mains locked even after the audience is dismiss
sed. Such an arrangement should no longer be
tolerated. We ought to be willing to profit by
the experience of others; ard it should at once
be made somebody's business to see that every
possible facility is afforded for rapidly and safe
ly emptying the halls and churches of the city
at the slightest notice. Small as the danger
may be in the case of City Hall, unless it is
most consclentiously guarded against, Portland
will some day take her turn at offering hoo-
caust on the altar of criminal neglect.
But it is not of this alone that I desire to
speak. In addition to the provisions for secu-
rty of life and limb, audiences have other
rights on which nobody should be allowed to
trespass-rights which, however, are habtually
and wilfully violated. There is probably no
general means of redress which can be enforc-
ed against the thoughtless and vicious practice
of vulgar people who insist upon intruding
their chatter on neighbors who want to listen to
the performers; but We can adopt plan by
which we can avoid the disturbance caused by
late Corners, early goers and the nine o'clock
bell.
1t is obviously inevitable that well-meaning
people will sometimes be tardy; for reasons
which are doubtless sufficient, many feel called
upon to leave just before the entertainment is
over; and the nine o'clock bell, a nuisance for
which no better excuse can be offered than its
antiquity, must, suppose, be endured until the
evaporation of a long-suffering community ex-
presses itself in the kidnapping or shooting
of the sexton. But, although we are powerless
to remove the causes of these troubles, we can
mitigate the severity of their infections; and,
to this end, 1 respectfully offer the following
suggestions, which the crowd of music lovers
at the Bull concert tonight will thank the man
ayers to put into practice. A few, whom fault
or misfortune have belated, will get a little less
music; but ninety-nine in every hundred will
be able TO enjoy to the fill certain pieces whose
beauty would otherwise be marred by the tramp
of dilatory feet.
First. Let the ushers be instructed to require
all who are late to remain outside the audience
room until the number then being performed is
com pleted.
Second. Let sufficient time be given after
each number for late corners to be seated
Third. just before the last number let five
minutes be allowed for the quiet withdrawal of
those who want to leave.
Fourth. Arrange that no piece be commence
ed at such time that its performance would
be interrupted by the nine o'clock bell.
Finally. to insure the permanency OF this ar
rangement if it is approved by the sense of the
public it would be well to have a notice en-
bodying the first and second suggestions posted
in the lobby of every hall used for concerts: to
have the third kept in type by every printer
who furnishes programmes, and to conspicu-
ously display the fourth in the waiting rooms
which are occupied by the performers G.