The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-22
The Business of Pleasure.

The Business of Pleasure.
That the business OF amusement making
is n very serious affair is shown by re-
Gently published volume by Mr.. 6. II. Fox.
n renowned London wig maker, which rur-
ports and really seems TO be a complete d.
rectory to the dramatic and musical pro-
fcssion In Great Britain. The edition Is
published under tho patronage of Mr.. In
WING, Mr.. TooLE, Mr.. kendall, and other
artists whose identity Is concealed behind
tho mysterious ampersand.
Doubtless II is u fault of our social sys-
TEN that the railroads in this country have
no third-class accommodations. II they
had. most of our actors, we presume. would
use them. In Great Britain all the actors
seem to make use Of the cheapest rates Of
fares, for portentous table Of railway
fares. preflxed to the directory. gives only
third-class rates. This table. arranged on
the square system" and therefore evil
IDENTIFY wholly trustworthy, gives moro
than 9, 400 fares. and must be OF inestimable
value to the British Thcspian in avoiding
the tiresome foot journey believed In this
country to form an important walking
gentleman's part in the actors repertory.
After this valuable table comes map OF
Great Britain. with short cuts between
tho principal theatrical towns; and then
comes table dividing those towns accord
ing to their theatrical values. 1t Is rather
surprising to see such towns as Bradford.
Brighton. Bristol. Hull. Newcastle. and
Nottingham in the first class with Bir-
mingham. Dublin. Edinburgh. Glasgow.
Liverpool. and other large and familiar
1.,,A t1,,S SC, <kn Nhnx,
rank. The towns in the other classes rank
about rs one would expect.
After these tables comes tho great second
course of the book. a list OF tho towns in
Great Britain. arranged alphabetically. set
ting forth tho theatrical value OF euch Of
them. Abcrdare opens the list; it has q
population Of 3GO0O and Saturday Is its
market day. There arc two halls. ono Of
which, Temperance Hall. seats 900 persons.
and can be hired for two gurcas night. or
eight guineas week. piano extra. 1t has
a theatrical license. There arc two news
papers in the town. a full line of theatrical
tradesmen. such as bill poster and caterer.
and four keepers OF professional lodgings.
Tho other towns are described in the Same
way, except that here and there. Us in the
case Of Bolton, the days on which wages
are paid are inserted. and in many cases
the value of the house" in money. at the
regular rates"
After we have learned tho names OF the
keepers OF theatrical lodgings in York. we
reach n list OF actors and actresses: it con-
tains the names of nearly 5000 men and
women. ranging in Importance from Mr..
IRVING and Miss TERRY downward to the
young lady who will appear in "com. ope-
IA. burl comedy. or concerts" Then
there are lists of acting managers. agents
dramatic. music hall. advance; authors
dramatic and "songs and sketches" COM
poscrs. dancing masters. elocutionists. en-
tertainers. musical directors, and music
hall "artistes."
Among these last are many names and
titles that might have come out OF DICKENS.
One lady calls herself Queen Of tho Spiral.
and next TO hers appears tho name OF
the King OF the Slanting Wire. AsKo and
CRAWFORD modestly term themselves
merely" useful gymnasts." AvRIGNY says
that he is "equilibrst. jongleur iaponais;"
and the Brothers BoRAIN pride themselves
on being the disappearing demons" How
has chronology fallen! Mr.. MARTIN CAsHAM
calls himself a Bumpologist!" Mr.. CHIRG-
WIN contents himself with being the
White-Eyed Musical Kafflr:" another gen.
tleman announces himself as the illumin-
ated musical coon and two other brothers
call attention to the fact that they are the
human corset-strings:" thus the list OF
music hall artstes is most agreeable read
ing. veritable pill to purge melancholy.
Lists Of stage managers. scenic artists.
and vocalists follow. and a long array OF
professional cards ends the book proper.
But the advertisements are by no means to
be neglected. Sandwich boards " arc adj
vcrtsed. and spangles and jewels: CO.'S
tunes. wigs, scene and face paints; canvas
for scenes. and silk and cotton tights: all
these are offered for sale. and intersperscd
are the business cards of managers OF all
kinds. from the gentleman who makes a
speciality Of producing plays for copyright
purposes to that one who will furnish an
entertainment ut any price from ten shil-
lings to fl00. DR.. JOHNSON thought actors
were harmless pleasures:" but their
pleasure giving is n business. and very
laborious one into the bargain.