The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1892-01-09


and matter-of- fact way in which the
acknowledgment is made on the wit
ness stand in London that outsiders are
freely admitted 10 actresses dressing.
rooms during the performance Of plays,
and that, while not there. they are
permitted To stand around the wings
and freely enter into conversation with
the half-nude girls who appear in the
burlesques, pantomimes. and comic
operas.
Such a proximity or such a custom
would bc considered monstrous in this
country. In London. it seems, well-to-
do young men about town. noblcmcn
who arc patrons Of the stage and others
are regular frequenters behind the
scenes and pass their evenings in large
part smoking and drinking in actresses
dressing rooms. Not small actresses at
that, but women who. as Florence St
John testified, receive as much as $3.50
per week.
Inquiry from various American man
ayers and stars strongly emphasize this
statement At the Casino, New York,
for instance, where comic opera Is con
tinuously given and where, naturally,
there congrcgates greater or less mum
Der Of the jcuncssc dorcc, Mr.. Charles
barton, the business manager, stated
that under no circumstances whatever
is any stranger ever permitted behind
the scenes during performance. The
rule Is so strict that even Mr.. Aronson
himself gives the example by seldom or
never going on his own stage during
representation
II Is very seldom indeed that even
note is allowed 10 be handed in. Notes
and telegrnms are invariably kept at
the back door until the opera is over,
usually for the reason that such tcle-
grams are apt To bring bad news and TO
disturb the actors aud actresses in the
cast. by means Of this rule they are
left in blissful ignorance of possible
misfortune until they arc through with
their work.
OF course in n very urgent case the
rule would be relaxed, but, added Mr..
Barton, during the entire time he had
been at the Casino nc had never known
OF single human being, even a news
paper man, who came in search of in
formation. being permitted behind the
scenes.
Interviews with other managers de.
veloped the same condition of affairs.
One of them said;
"You can see Immediately what n re-
Taxation of this rule would mean.
| Personal friends OF mine, for instance
would think that il allowed others TO
go ON the stage during representation
| they ought To have the same privilege.
there would be jealousy and recrimina-
tions. besides the bad effect u would
have on the theatcr when IL 10, round
that outsiders were admitted TO con
verse with people employed in the per-
Torrance. Naturally the worse con-
structions would be placed upon this
IL would be said that men 90 in so MS
TO converse with the women, and in a
very short time the house would be dis
credited in the public eye"
This actually took place in the case
Of the Bijou theatcr, New York, before
IL came into the hands OF Mr. Rosen-
quest Edward H. Rice used 10 cor
duct the performances there. and as
was continually in want Of money
would borrow sums from some
rich friends. whose reward was
init 90 occasionally go benin,
scenes
For some reason or other this
ways been considered a pnrti
valuable privilege. aud no
very men who are permittc
dulge themselves in Lor
---...-' - les for the supp
m -. patror
lst.s bfOfcta.- -
blink tertainment tnCyt
ilrcn has known OF cases
no, put their money
arrow Speculations for nc
BEAT than this in New Yor
IT, actual manager OF
Idthe has put n special clau
% rs that, In spite of that
hho
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