New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
IN THE CROVDED THEATRES.
SOME OF THE PECULIAR PERSONS AND IN
CIDENTS THAT MAY BE NOTED

It is difficult to imagine petty annoyance more
exasperatng than the late arrival OF reserved seat
holders the theatres to those OF the audience already
on hand. A large number of people never succeed
In reaching theatre until the curtain has gone
and then they tramp down the aisle, and squeeze into
their seats regardless OF the grows and anahemas that
rise in every direction oantlooking man In
evening dress occupied orchestra seat near an aisle
tho other evening at one of the Broadway theatres
lie disposed of bis coat under the seat and laid his hat
a handsome black derby, carefully the floor beside
the coat He had scarcely settled himself, however,
to observe the play when tall man and a very stout
woman halted beside him evidently determined on
reaching a couple OF vacant seats distance down
the row. Tho man on the end politely arose, turned
up tho seat and after tho usual amount Of pushing
squeezing and scraping the belated couple reached
their places, and the of the and hat looked
around for his property. There seemed to have been
a disappearance as he hastily turned up the seat
again. and forgetul of the stage began cropping about
below.
Lost anythlng7" whispered sympathetic old man
who sat Just behind. No answer, only paving and
fnmbling below. BY this timo tho evening dress was
very near the floor In fact the was on his
hands and knees reaching far and wide.
"What s the trouble down there - asked the old
man. with greater interest.
Nothing nothing" said the other, reappearing, pur
pie from his exertIons and holding the battered
nant OF his hat "That female freshet which has
Just passed swept my hat dOwI into your left goosh
It's merely fatte out and The bpim gone. Sorry
have disturbed you. only wanted to be sure nothing
more serious had happened to it,
Tho curtain had Just gone up and tho actors werc
making tho preliminary statements wh'ch givo The
TO the play, when two hun ricdly down q side
aisle, preceded by usher. "One seat here" said
that worthy briefly looking at the checks "The other
is the aisle the further end Of the row."
IIow's this % said OF the mex Indignantly.
L" ! told these seats togcthcr.a
You how they are, sr.'
I'm 90 out to tho box office and about it, said
the seat holder, still more indignantly.
"No use, sir. Every seat is taken'
"Al right, interposcd tho other concerned.
No to make fuss now III take the inside
seat,' and he looked rather apprehensively at tho
row of angry faces between him and the chair
"No, you WON'T said his friend, emphatically
/" III go there myself
Then to the intense disgust Of the people round
about ensued a vigorous dispute rs to which should
sacrifice himself the undesirable seat The mat
the side Of the dispufants and tapping one Of them
the shoulder, he grow cd OUT Why In thunder can't
you keep quiet sit down anywhere sit on the door
SIT on your friends lap Only duck your head and
shut up
In the audience ut the Metropolitan Opera House
the other evening tall, nervous young man
who seemed unable to sit stil q moment. He wrtg-
ged about in his seat as II possessed of the demon
OF unrest, and Just when the people about him were
absorbed with some solo tsbieau the nervous young
man would get IN his work with rustling clothes
and bobbing head, and bring them back 90 realities
For time he quieted down somewhat and attention
was concentrated tho stage, but In the midst OF
glorious solo, the horror Of every In the neigh
borhood the wriggilng and bobbng began again Just
behind the nervous young man sat stout old lady,
who viewed his actions with increasing disapproval
Al length. unable TO stand tho constant annoyance
any longer, she leaned over and said In kindly nut
Indignant tones sorry TO interrupt your exet.
cises young man. but won't you please Keep quics
now and sQuirm between the actsr
This incident recalls an unfortunste occurrence
NJ Daly's a few evenings ago. Two ladies oecup'co
Mt seats In body Of the hopse ana someho"
one of them had tho misfortune to drop various sf
cles ON the floor critical moments Of the play Her
fam opera glass and vinagrette ciaitefed down
in rapid succession.
sPardop me, madam" said man shtin6 next hcr'
IL for not picking those things up They are ssfo
where they arc, and would rather not arm you for
tho next act
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