Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-10-29
Especial Washington Letter.l

Especial Washington Lefter.l
Although the theatrical season opens
IN the national capitA early in the
autumn. the play houses are seldom
well patr0nized until congress has
assembled We are now having min
strels, light dramas, and still lighter
comedies The stellar lights of the first
magnitude seldom visit us until during.
or Immediately after, the Christmas
holidays Not until then can they hope
to have large and appreciative audiences;
and your superior actor plays for the
appreciation of his audience rather than
for the box receipts; albeit, the latter
constitute no inconsiderable stimulus to
every genius
tragedian of some merit, formerly
a member of the stock company of Old
Ford's theater here, recently informed
me that the orchestra chairs contain
less inspiration, less incentive to energy
of thought and action than the upper
gallery. He said: 1.-The people of the
old world attend the opera and the
theater, regularly. They can see and
hear all of the best performers and ar
fists, because the prices are within the
reach of all but the very poorest classes.
In this country the citizens cannot az
ford boxes or orchestra chairs, except
as occasional luxuries. The gods of the
galleries, however, are they who be-
lieve that the plays the thing and can
afford to take their places nightly
near the skylights- The occasional
play goers regard the galleries
as disreputable regions. fit only
for newsboys. bootlacks and the other
species of the poor. illiterate and I'M
clean. They consider it unbeccming
for responsibility to companion with
peanuts, chewing tobacco, cigarettes,
cat calls, whistling and shrin falsetto
yells. It is generally questioned
whether any good can come out of that
sui generis Nazareth. The wonder is
often expressed that managers permit
the existence of the galleries; for they
are regarded as nuisances- But to the
manager the galleries represent pecuni-
airy profits; and to the actors they rep
sent intelligent appreciation, well-timed
applause and merited disapprobation."
My friend also informed me that the
galleries of the Washington theaters
differ from all others in that the colored
people are more numerous here than
anywhere else in the cities of our coun-
try. Once upon a time the gallery was
denominated here, 1.-The niger heaven"
for the reason that there was a time
when the black men were chattles, and
the galleries alone were open for their
admission. Notwithstanding the fact
that the civil rights bill gave the colored
people right to select their places of
amusement and their seats in any part
of the house, they are still comparative
ly poor, and patronize the galleries.
Acting upon the advice and suggestion
of my friend invested a quarter in a
seat in the gallery of one of our leading
theaters one evening recently; and it
was interesting as we'll as instructive.
For an hour before the play COM
menced sat in front seat watching
the play in real life around and below.
1t was a struggle to get a front seat,
even when the doors were first opened,
for long line extended from the box
Office clear across the sidewalk and
everyone was rushing and pushing, in
a good-natured way, to get a good place
in the line. Many of the people be-
longed to that ancient and honorable
guild of clerks, they of the tape-line
and yard-sticks. They had been stand
ing on their feet all day, and now pro-
posed to sit and listen for couple of
hours, resting while being both in
structed and pleased. There were Ia