The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-05-12

less than eight and often more than twenty. These matters being settled. the editor and the agent make joint call on the towns chief dispenser of liquid in- spira,ion. Next the agent makes a con- trac; with an eSpressman to convey the companys baggage to and from the the atre or the hotel, and then he m akes contracts with the various hotel-keepers to take So many people at so much per day. All these contracts are duly written out and signed, for they have to be sent back to the business manager, who goes with the company in order that he may not be imposed upon in paying the bills. The advance agent has also to arrange for the opened few days before the company arrives. and for a dozen other matters of minor importsnce. From each town he sends back letter. inclosing all his con- tracts and giving the business manager . full account of his work. If that work has not been properly done. the city manager hears of it at once, and the ad- vance agent receives sudden waking up."
 Meanwhile, rehearsals in New York have been finished and the day of de- parure arrives. Possibly the first town upon which the glories of the new play are to dawn is New Haven. A notice has been posted in the theatre stating by what road and train the company is to go, and at what hour baggage mus, be ready At the appointed time the company as- sembles at the Grand Central station. one or two always making their appearance at the last moment. The business man ager purchases the tickets, the property man checks the baggage. and at last the entire company starts for it's tour :. on the road" On reaching the town the busi- ness manager takes his people to their hotels. registers their names, and sees that the ladies get the best rooms. always keeping an eye on his ow comfort. Then he rushes oil to see about the ticket sale. lfhe finds that il is large he goes back to the hotel happy man. if not, he immediately endeavors to arouse the town to due appreciation of the fact that his company is there. IL is curious fact that in many country towns very few tickets are sold until after the company arrives. The reason Is that so many en- tertainments are advertised which fail to take place. owing to the "bursting up" of the company before reaching the town. that the good people of provincial places are little shy of investing their money in advance purchases. The first thing the business manager does, therefore. Is to send his people out walking that they may be seen an! known of men. If he thinks the town needs something more he hastens to printing office and has few thousand '' dodgers struck of, read ing something like this {" Tonight. The great New York Third Avenue Theatre Company in Loggerheads. One hum dred nights in New York "" A horse and wagon, two or three small boys, and a bass drum serve to distribute and call attention to these exciting announce ments. Then the business manager re- turns to the hotel and spends the after noon in his favorite amusement--it may be billiards. or it may be making love to the leading lady. At night he stands by the ticket taker, if he does not take the tickets himself, and watches that official to see tha, he does not pocket few C .rds of admission in order to return them sur reptitiously to the box-offiee. where they may be sold second time. much to the benefit of the seller ard the door-keeper. About nine o'clock the business manager counts the tickets and settles up" with the proprietor of the theatre. After that he pays the bills of the anxious crowd of bill-posters, newspaper collectors, ct i'd omne genus. who are always on hand early in anticipation of financial weak ness. and who have wary eye on the company's baggage. The last duty of the business manager is to announce the time and place of departure on the next day and then he can escort the leading lady home. Thus he appears to have comparatively easy time but not so. There Is not a day when he does not have cozen applications from various members of the company for the loan of money in sums varying from ten cents to twenty dollars. He must enter these in a book kept for the purpose, and deduct them from the salaries at the end of the week. When the members of the com- pany are responsible for their own board. he pays all board bills and deducts them also. That feat is never accomplished without trouble. for actors have weak memories for the beer and the billiards which they have had charged in their ho.el bills; and unless the busi- ness manager can produce a separate bill of items for each member ofhis com pany. rcceipted by the clerk of each hotel visited. he is sure to experience some very cold weather during his trip on the road.