Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-10
TEE DINE IN THE SLOT.
The Trouble Young Man Had Over One NJ
the Theaopr.

the Thesssr.
A TTACHKD TO THE baeks Of every alter
"A nate psrques chair in some Of the theaters
here is . little peculiar shaped nickei-piated
box put there for the benefit Of the occupant
OF the seat behind the chair 10 which this is at
tached- Inscribed upon the box is the infcrma-
eon that BY placing . dime in the slot and
turning the thumbscrev TO the right pair Of
opera Slasses can be had for use during the
performsncs. One of these little boxes in one
OF the uptown theaters was the other evening
the innocent cause Of considerable. amusement
and the discontinue Of . very fresh young
American, who essayed to play . sharp trick on
the opera-glass scheme and lite schemer.
"Ah! / intended 10 engage Q pair Of glasses
Outside, don't ye' know, but IN lust sry . pair
OF these In the box; thsy say they are very
eood-excellent don't We know" said he. loud
enough 10 be head good distance around
MIN. The play had just begun and he was in
hurry. He stood M 10 take OF his oyercoat
TO the annoyance Of q dozen or so behind him.
instead OF having done 90 in the lobby. When
taking his seat he found il necessary 20 stand
up again to search in his trousers pocket for
the necessary dime. He found what he wanted,
ana, placing leftover piece carefully back in
the pocket. sat down and dropped the one he
had In hand in the slot
AND THEN THE TROUBLE BEGAN.
He turned the screw according 10 directions.
but the box failed to keep its part Of the con-
tract he tugged this way and that until he
succeeded in getting the wraps a on the door
ana the attention OF those around him called
to the dilemma into which he was getting him.
SELL He worked and squirmed and twisted
until his face grew red and large beads of
perspiration gathered on his plastic brow and
trickled down his burning cheeks-yet no
opera glasses. He next bent over and peeped
up under the box to ascertain il there Was not
q catch or hook or button which needed atten-
ton as part OF the opening process. but
neither catch. hook nor button were there 20
need attention. He CALCULATED something
about a "confounded nuisance" and yigor-
ousiy turned the screw backward and forward
and shook the box until it ratified like an old
bicycle lamp-and all without avail Then he
sat down and gave the short balance of the
first act q rest-which was more than his lady
friend did for him. She made q number Of
serlo-couaic remarks about the ingenuity of
siots and the open generosity Of some wealthy
people who gave away vast sums OF money for
charitable purposes without the least expecta-
tion OF reward in this world.
DURING THE NrKRxrssroS
He tackled the box again and picked at the slot
with blade OF his penknife with view Of COM
polling the boz to do what IL ought to with that
dime and let him have the use OF his giasses
Finally, after resorting to MANY unsuccessful
attempts to get it open, he began tapping the
box sharply with the head of his umbrella.
hoping to Jar the dime into its proper place.
but it was not the dime that got Jared The
occupant Of the chair to which the box was at
tached. gentleman with straight, strangelook-
ing hair and fierce mustache, turned and
asked the young man why he did not send for
q number OF government contractors and get
estimates on having the box removed and save
that dime from total loss" This sally had the
efect OF producing general snickering in that
locality, in which the lady he was escorting
joined, and just as the bell rang up the curtain
on the second act he drew the other piece of
money from his pocket, slipped it into the slot,
gave the screw twist and got the glasses with
out further trouble. The next morning there
was found in the box dime and three-cent
piece. Ii was the little insigniicant-looking
but proud and provoking three-center which
caused all the trouble and amusement by re-
fusing to perform the service of a common
everyday dime.