New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29

Starvelinc MI Wiks
W w Kelly the business manager for Grace liaw-
thorne al the Prlnce.ss Theatre London. is here on
brief visit. and does not give brilliant account OF
the general prosperity Of London managers. Fogs
and riots have seriously interfered With business.
But one Of the chief difficulties that London managers
have to contend with Is. Mr.. Kelly SAYS, 10 get pays
The older dramatss seem be written out ana there
are few younger ones Of any promise. Lohnoh man
ayers are beginning to watch American productions
almost as eagerly as the English ones need to be
watched here. At the Princcss's this week VIII DO
brought ont q new sensational melodrama The Mys-
tory NJ Hanson Cab founded an Australian
novel
arew places afford so good an opportunity OF
studying the diospcrasics and pecuarites OF great
number of people as tho window OF Do4.omco'
This Is the opinion of Mr.. Buncc, who has had many
a hard and wearing struggle in endcavoring 10 sat
isfy the demands Of patrons OF tho Lyceum Ihea,ro
aIf the majority Of persons,' he continued, "only
knew what they wanted ticket-seers would not have
en- much trouble But they don't. The only clear
Idea Of great many is to get something it IS I'M
possible to have. Let me give you an instance
Two ladies came here yesterday wanting sears LOT
next week I offered them two In the sixth row on
the centre aisle. ooh dearr said the purse bearer
OF tho couple, haven't you anything elser YES,
Madam said in des pair, as | placed the diagram
in front OF her. Kindly point out where you woulo
like to have them This seemed to puzzle them
They looked at the diagram from the top, tho DOT
tom and each side, and after whispered eonsuta-
ton the one who had first spoken said, 'Wcl, don't
know: those you offered are pretty good, aren't
they1 assured her that thought them the best
in the house. 'very WE'LL, she remarked with
weary and dissatisfied air. If you haven't anything
better will take those
"Now that IS not at all an uncommon case. III
some people were told that they could have the
~ ba hons
fact is they haven't enough strength OF minu 10
have ideas Of their 1t IS only when they learn
that another person has thought seats desirable, that
they want the thing The poorer the business
and the more seats one has to SELL the moro dhcuit
It IS to satisfy purchasers. II the play Is doing
rushing business and there are only few not very
desirable seats left these will be cheerfully taken.
There are some patrons OF this house who VIII sit In
only certain seats. II they cannot get them for ono
night they will wait TIL they can. They would not
feel comfortable in any others, even I'm tho same row.
Theatre parties give great deal OF trouble Tho givers
don't know whether It will be better to sit In row or
rows or In sections four six deep They almost al
ways want to 90 up in the auditorium, and SIT In all
the seats and have good long think about IT, inc
person who Is going to have theatre party OF ten or
twelve IS apt believe that that party comprises tho
nights audience. One thing is very noticeable about
theatre parties this season, and that IS they no longer
buy boxes but ain st Invariably sit in the parquete
In fact not nearly much In demand as they
were, even for groups OF three or four
1.-TWO men, strangers to each other, were at the win
dow together the other day. The first asked for seat
almost at the back gave II him In the last row but
one, and he was perfectly satisfied. While he $1,000
putting away his change, No Q said he wanted seat
way down In 'front.' gave him one In the first row.
G. .h.sA had heard what the other had asked
for and their tastes evidently so dineent
they couldn't help smiling. why did the one want
seat far backP ! am sure can't tell Perhaps
he was modest ami waited to escape observation.
Possibly needed fresh between each act AMI '.i
want to make his movements too public Or he may
have been jealous lover or husband DESTROYS OF watch
ing some one wbo vas to be IN the audience. Let me
tell you there a great many more dramas played
before than behind the curtain Occasionally though
not very often, hears Of disturbance between WIS.,
iOIs to theatre and 1t Isn't Dy among the fashion,
able people, either. Don't you remember case n the
gallery of West Side theatre which got into all tho
papers few weeks ago, OF Jealous husband finding
his wife there and raising rowi
r loOis not opened til! quarter of eight and
this 10 surprise many country people who come here
They often msca uae their time and arrive here about
an hour before the performance begins. Some employ
the spare time by going out to look at the sights and
lose themselves In the mazes Of Madison Square. BY
the way, have you ever Noticed that the pains 10 the
Square ngenously constructed to lead 10 no
where In direct line Others Of the early arrivals
sit about In the lobby in the ladies' room or In the
smoking room. There number Of sketches in the
latter cut from written to the late A. Sothern
by Watts Phillips, and George Augustus Sala The
inquiries about these are endless. Here 10 specimen
Vistor-Did Mr.. sothern make those pictures
Myself-No, sir. 1t is said on them that they were
sent TO him and by whom.
vistor-Mr. sothren's playing here, amt hei
Myself--No He has been dead some years
Vistor--1hen what do you want to advertise him
fort
Mysef-IIs has played here and Will do so again
In the spring. The drawings his, and exhibited
because they are thought to be of interest.
Vistor-Those scratchy things interesting Well,
you city folks mighty curious Pears to you
shouldn't keep up tho advertisements Of who amt
playing
"Thcn the composite photograph Of members OF tho
company IS a source OF extreme wonder. There is an
explanation OF 1t underneath but am forever being
called upon for explanation OF how they was all
tooked together ! can generally tell country pur-
chasers by the way they ask for seats. They seldom
remember to mention the night they want them for,
and there Is vagueness and crcumlocution about their
inquiries On the other hand, the smart New Yorker
says, where can you give mo two seats for Wednes-
day nght7' II he doesn't like wha. have he asks
what night can give him good seats. II he has not
bought his seats beforehand he comes only minute
or two before the curtain is going up lie knows that
sometimes seats returned from the hotelaeepcies
aid he waits for chance at those. often have Gus
toners who ask to have these seats II any como
In. The New Yorker hasn't much tine to waste hang
ing about Hobbies. lie likes 10 get in at the last moment
and he will occasionally ask how long the overture Is
for he doesn't want TO be in his hear that
lie doesn't how late the performance begins and
every additional fifteen minutes means little more
comfortable lingering over his coffee and smoke. But
the countryman thinks that rs Is nearing proper
bed and he IS promo to grumble at the pated
ways Of metropolitansm
Owe have fun sometimes with the man who brings
his sweetheart here and wants cheap at seventy
five cents or 81 II he leaves her standing In the lobby
and comes to the window alone he gets what no wants
and probably goes back and tells her II Is the best left
in the house But II she goes into the line with him he
is a .goner' Nothing but the best seats will do and
the balance that he fondy hoped would tho fee
cream or oyster contingency, Is slipped reluctantly
over the glass and goes to swell the nights receptsb
The vlcssltudes Of actors life. and the pecunlary
recldessness NJ which of the profession aro