The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-09-18

thus furnished by twenty female box open
ers that certain person not so long ago
commenced his theatrical career as a
director.
Besides giving security these women
pay monthly sum for the privilege of
making as much noise as possible while
showing people to their places. The sum
thus paid varies according to the theater;
it runs from s. to $40, and it is not the
largest and most fashionable houses that
exact the most. Surely We manage our
theaters better in America than the French
do theirs.
How comes it, too, that the theaters dur
ing July and August. whether it is hot or
cold, whether II rains or halls, are all
closed? The managers have decided to
close them and the Partisan submits. This
il Ineligible for The people who go to the
country or the seaside, but what of those
remaining in Paris just when the streets
are dull and when a theater would make
an evening pass pleasantly The thea
tiers, which close July Is or on July flor
the one is as arbitrary as the other-re-
open, nobody knows why, on September
l. Then the actors return. the stars reap
pear, and the Partisan obeys the order to
attend Just as he has obeyed the order to
remain at home. At the opera Miss Nor
dica reappers in Juiiette, and the place is
crowded. At the Parte st. Martin Mlle
Granier plays lie Petit Faust" also be-
sings again at the Opera Comigue, and
there is not an empty seat. At the Gym
nase. Palais Royal, Foiies, Dramatiques,
Eden, Renaissance, Vaudeville, every
where. as have had the curiosity to as
certain, the people flock to the houses.
In the provinces also the play houses are
shut for the summer vacation, which
brings the country cousin to Paris. The
provincial comedian follows, in the hope
of an engagement through some of the
agencies which undertake To supply a
scratch troupe To the manager bent on a
starring tour. The comedian has his cafe
in Paris. The great man whose talent
awaits recognition on the Partisan boards
disdains the ''Chartreuse" on the Boule-
ward 81. Denis, where smaller dra-
matte fry were wont TO congregate;
he patronizes the Cafe DIES Varieties.
near the theater where Jeanne Granler and
Schneider in former years had so much
success, and where NJ koning, the man.
ager made an enormous fortune. The
splendor of this cafe has ruined the
s'Chartreuse where the clean-shaven
comedians. the walking gentleman, the
heavy father. the signing lover and the
villain of the play once met 10 quah the
glass of beer and smoke the calumet of
fraternity There, not long ago. YOU
might hear of the adventures of the wear
crs of sock and bussin, and nearly expire
with laughter at the stories of those who
had come from the provinces in different
troupes, playing in barns and receiving
payment in kind from the farmers and
peasantry.
Another grievance is the manner in
which the theaters here are lighted. The
greater number of accidents are traceabie
to this source. The use of gas is perma-
nent source Of danger. and when fire is
kindied the suddel extinction of the gas
always leads TO psnic. Ii Is unqnestion-
able that theafers would be more brilliantly
and ef'ectually illuminated by electricity.
The ravages caused by gas on some Of the
paintings in the crush room of the larger
thea;ers, and the dingy dizziness of the
gliding and rich ornamentation may be
noticed by the nost casual observer.
Nothing need be said of the additional
safety which would be secured TO the
actors. or the comfort of the audience,
who are s;ified and poisoned by the
noxious atmosphere,
On certain DAYS of each week many of
the seats and boxes OF the Paris opera
house, the Theater Franchise and the
opera Comique are lilied by regular an
nual subscribers and their friends. The
right 10 these seats is often handed down
from generation to generation In the same
family, SO that il is sometimes quite Diff
cult. II not utterly impossible, for a new
conner 10 secure one The American
colony especially, IS always on the look
GU, for vacancies of this kind. aud the box
Offices of the state tteaters are overflow
ing with these demands, signed by hun
dreds Of wealthy solourners IN the gay cap
ital but the difficulty 10 rent a box by the
year NJ the opera IS almost iusuperable.
The French theaters are having rather
hard time Q. II. The receipts are nos a.