Morning journal and courier., 1891-04-24
AN INCIDENT OF THE MATINEE. The Experience of Two Young Wom-
 on Tn Changing Seats.
From the Chicago Tribune.


 Two very well dressed young ladies came to the box office of one of the down-tow theatres and purchased two orchestra seats. They were lettered and numbered A 1 and 8. They passed in and took possession of them. There was the usual large crowd at the matinee, and every seat in the house was being rapidly filled. A few moments later the same two young women left their seats and came into the lobby.
 "We don't like these; they are too far front and are on the side. Can't some one manage to exchange them for us!'
 An employe of the theater, wishing to oblige them, took their checks and went to the box office, where he exchanged them for two others located about two-thirds of the way back and on the same aisle. The original checks were sold to the next com CT at the box office who desired seats in the front row. The ladies took possession of the last two checks and went to their new seats Scarcely had they ensconsed them selves when one remarked to the other: ''These seats are too far back. think l like the other ones best Let's go and take them;' and, ,suiting the action to the word, they proceeded to do so.
 They reached the seats in the front TOW a few steps ahead of the usher, who was es- corting the gentleman who had just bought them to the same seats. The ushers sur prise was painful to witness when he saw that the seats were already occupied, for no | such thing should occur in a well regula- ted theater. Ladies'" he said, "I have the checks for these seats and you must give them up." ''Have youF responded one of the occupants sweetly. The usher was only a boy and unused to the wiles of | the wicked world. So he relinquished the | checks to the dainty gloved hand that was | stretched out to recieve them. Then the lady's face assumed an expression of the most virtuous indignation. "I bought these seats," she said severely; '1 hold the checks in my hand and defy you or any one else to put me out of them" ''But you have just exchanged them, 'said the usher. s'That does not make any difference" was the reply, only wanted to see if I could get better ones did not succeed. I think I will keep these"
 The gentlemen in the mean time, stood in the aisle, pictures of absolute discontent, looking as only man can look when he is thoroughly embarrassed and feels that there are several hundred pairs of femi nine eyes enjoying his predicament. First | they stood on one foot and then on the other. They tried to appear at ease while the usher made explanations to which they would not listen. Their efforts were mis erable failure, and every woman in the house knew it. Finally they proceeded to the box office and stated their cause of complaint. It was regarded as just, and the result was that the ladies were forced to give up the seats that they had taken and were relegated to the comparative ob scurity of their own.
 They could not stand this long because the 400 pairs of feminine eyes were al turned on them after the gentleman had triumphantly taken possession of theil coveted front row seats. So the ladies left They sniffed dcontemptuously as they walked up the aisle and cast whitening glsnces al around them. Even the handsome door keeper was disregarded as they made theil exit. They reduced the chief usher to state of coma with look as they passed him. When they reached the lobby the, had their innings. It didn't last long bu was quite exciting. Then they walked ou on Randolph street with the tragic and of fended air of a pair of beaten uueens