Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-02-12
TICKET sPECULATORs.

| We are fast becoming a nation of gam.
blers. The mania for speculation has diff.
| fused itself in nearly all the avocations OF
| life. The bulls and the bears that daily
howl at each other on Wall street have had
| deIeterious effect upon the whole country.
Honest men doing a safe, legitimate business
see that these gamblers make immense for
tunes by single days speeulations, and are
thus allured into the vortex and made bank
rupts. There is an old story about two shrewd
Yankees making fortune by spending a
week in swapping their jack-knives with
each other, and when men are seized with
the mania for specula alton, they expect to
make fortune by expedients equally as alb
surd. One of the greatest evils of the day is
to be found in the speculation in theater
tickets. The people of Memphis are familiar
with this growing nuisance, which has ex-
tended itself into other cities. In comment
ing on the curbstone ticket spectators, the
Baltimore Gazette shows that it is their prac-
tice to lay in wait until the sale OF seats com.
mences, and as the first who apply for the
seats are the first served, they purchase
tickets for all the desirable seats and then
sell them for large advance on the price
paid. 1t frequently happens that in going to
the hox-ofice the applicant for seats is
informed that really there are no good ones
to be had, but as he is sadly turning away
from the door he is met by genial indi-
vidual, who politely informs him that he has
a few frst-rate secured places for sale at
mere trifle above the regular cost. In nine
cases out OF ten the disappointed man, par
icularly if he has a charming young lady |
IN his arm, promptly yields TO the willy |
empter and gladly pays the most exorbitant
price for his ticket rather than deprive |
himself and his fair companion of the bliss
# seeing the play. As we have observed,
ONE of the managers are trying
o break up this outrageous system.
low to do it, is the present problem in New
FORK and Philadelphia. Not referring, for
moment, 10 the horrible charge made
gainst some of the managers in question,
hat they are ain cahoot' with the curbstone
ormorants aforesaid we would gently sug-
est that the public have the breaking up of
he system entirely in their own hands. If
hey would resolutely refuse to purchase
ckets from the spectators, the latter would
BON be forced togo out of existence. As long
S they are parties to the business, and prefer
aging an exorbitant price for an evenings
rather than return to their
omes the custom undoubtedly will con-
nue.. 1t may be hard to practice self
email in such cases, but until the patrons of
ne drama are willing to do so, they have no
ight to complain. As to the managers
themselves, ii they are not, as they aver, in
with the ticket Spectators, they
re not losers by the operation, as tickets
I'D by the spectators, OF course, must lave
cen bought and paid for at the regular
rice at the box Office, and for them the man
gers must have received full price. Taking |
ne consideration with another we do not see
ow the public can expect to have the prac-
&c broken up if the public continue to keep
alive by furnishing it with the means of
Ibsisteuce.