The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1893-11-04

P~1ayhouses IN the Gay Capital Have very
Many per~uilarities-

P~1ayhouses IN the Gay Capital Have very
Many peruilaritiss-
Plays In Paris generally begin &c >
O'Clock md never finish until about mil.
night. II they wer- over earlier the audi
ence world think that they Rad not -
ceiVed their money worth q bal air and
good acting Sitting four hours In such
an atmosphere would BE- unendurable .
an American were Il not for the long waits
betwcen the acts. when one can walk Tor
twenty minrtes in the large foyer Or 70
out and get a little fresh air. The orche-
ira never plays between the acts. 20 there
= no inducement 70 remain In the hot. gar
lie scented air during that time.
IL l. a matter d some Formally 70 get
into a French theater. Don't I'm LAT
you can do - In free America. throw down
afe~ silver car wheel. with a goddss u
liberty on one side and a loudly screaming
American eagle on the other. and enter
the theater and take Jour seats. No there
j. a good deal u red tape TO b. unraveIed
before that. n you wish a good place you
must 90 10 the theater e few days in ~
vance. politely take or your hat 70 the
ugly and cros- old female IN the box Office
and humbly ask tor the seats Jon wish.
When she has finished discussing the Latest
style from Russia with Der assistant. she
will grufiy exclaim. '1C0mments" Iou
must not reply. as a friend u mine did
who was not well up IN Freuch- Gone On
yourself but say Jour polite Sentence AL
over again
II the spectators and the uziy Oh WON
ans friends have n0c reserved al the
places. she viii write out a document on a
large sheet q green or rel paper ror they
never have printed thea-er tickets hereL
stating your name. the title o. the play.
the chief actors amt. the date and Official
number Of the Performance. and after dust
ing it well With sard for they arr too con-
servative 20 use biotting paperj. and de-
manding two cents extra Tor the govern
ment stamp. she viii hand IL over 20 you
In exchange Tor French gold On the even
ing Of the performance o purchase a
programme Of a man at the door. and walk
up TO the desk where three Frenchmen In
dress suits preside.
Your troubles then begin. Thee
'judges' act a ticket takers One Of
them examines the green or red document
that you procured with 80 much trouble,
70 see that IL j. not a forgery. and that the
date. etc. Il all right. and then passes il
On to one Of his associate judges In this su-
preme court Of united French red tape,
WHO .DNAN AN III UHEI AAL AEAIn DA ~ CUT
ner aud cries in a loud voice. ~Deux per
s0nnes a Couch" or words TO that effect.
Perhaps you think You are in the theatei
then. Oh, no. You rave yet 70 pass tbs
Cerberus who guards the innerdOor. Tni.
IS an ugly old bag. with a white cap, who
takes your ticket and insists OF your leav
ing your coat with her. II il l. summer
and you have nothing 10 leave Of that kind
she will then ask you FOR her little bene
1t" as she calls il, in advance. before she
will let you go TO your seat You must
pay up or fight, and / advise every one Z,
pay cash. as il is cheaper in the end.
These ugly old women. who are known
as "ouvreuses" lopenersl. and who keep az
eye well open for half franc pieces Tor whole
ones II you nave a pretty girl with you
really run the theater, OF at least all thai
portion Of il in front Of the footlights. I
you 20 often To the same theater il is bcs
TO fee them well, no matter how much yoI
may dislike the custom. They always in
sist on furnishing a dirty little ~foOtstoo
(which is always in the way) TO the swee
girl who is with you. but they call be
Madame IN such a natural way that yo'
conclude il Is worth an extra half fran
r piece. Finally. when you have uncondi
t~ionaiiy SURRENDERED 20 the 'ouvreusc,
! she will permit you to occupy the cushione'
board for which you AVE paid dearly. an
! will only occasionally disturb you to ask /
; you wish an Official" programme or n
1 opera glass.
Although the theaters here are very IN
q comfortable. the entertainments are Away
enjoyable. The acting here is the best il
E the world. Paris Cor. Boston Journal.