The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1894-02-22
IN TILE OLDEN TIMES.
WHEN THEATRcAl. TickgT sPEcU-
LAToRS WE'RE IN GLOVER.

How Ono OF Thorn Won wagor by tho
Ala OF an Old Violin Cass--Tho Trick
Was Ono OF Jimmy Hydo's, Whom All
Old limo Now York Show Peoplo Know.
"The palmy days Of the ticket speou-
lator are ovor," said tho old theatrical
man. "There's nothing In the business
nowadays. Newspaper criticisms, tho re-
suit of public sentiment, were the first
things to kill tho business, and it never
has and never will revive. Why, 1t was
nothing in the old times for a man to
make $25 and $50 in night specuIating.
1t wasn't necessary, either, for q man to
stand IN with the box Office in order to
make money, as speculators have to now
adays. A speculator could be stuck with
10 or 20 tickets and still make some profit.
30 gar as making money now, though,
there Is little in 1t. A speculator is in
luck II he can knock out So q night. All
OF tho old timers who made big money
speculating years ago arc either dea6 or
In other branches Of the business now.
A trickier or smarter crowd Of follows
than some Of the old time speculators
could not be found.
"About tho most successful game I
ever cav worked by speoulator was
the scheme gotten up by Jimmy Hyde,
then prominent among ticket specula-
tors, to beat tho Frorch ball. Jimmy,
who is now with the Casino, made up his
mind that it would be an easy thing to
beat the ball cut Of several hundred dol
larg. Max Hirsch, who was then and is
now treasurer of the metropolitan Opera
House, was telling Hyde about the elab-
crate arrangements that were being made
for tho French ball that year, and how
twas bound to bo great success on ac-
count Of the crtiro suspension Of the
free list, when Hyde exclaimed: 'Sus.
pend tho free list, ehP Well, you con
suspend and be darned, but just tho
same I'm going to pass in at least Is
people, I'll bet you don't pass in soul,
barring yourself, replied Hirsch.
"Tho resHlt was heavy wager, Hyde
betting that no would pass In ut least 10
strangers for nothing, giving mono Of
them tickets or passes. Every ono who
heard of the bet laughed at Hyde, but
Jimmy simply smiled and said nothing.
Those who knew Jimmy Hyde felt con-
fidont that ho would succeed in doug
what he had boosted he could do, al
though nobody could SEQ just how he
was going to manage 1t. Well, on the
night Of the ball Hirsch stuck around the
door of tho opera house all night, watch
ing every ono that passed in. Itwas just
about midnight whom Hyde, followed by
a meek looking individual who carried
something under his coat, showed up in
the vicinity. Leaving his companion on
the corner, Jimmy walked into the lobby
and approached young man who was
leaning against the wall.
"'Going IMP asked Hyde.
"'Can't. Amt got the price,? respond
ed the stranger.
"'How much have you gotr asked
hyde.
"'Two IN halt.
"'Well. It's morey anyway, 80 come
on and Hyde walked out of the lobby,
followed by the young man.
"'f!ow, SEQ here said Jimmy when
they reached the corner, when you get
inside don't stop second but lust 20
right past the winorooln down toward
the stage. At the left ond you'll find
flight Of stairs. Go down them, and
you'll find yourself in the cellar right un-
der one Of the gratings which open on
Thirty-ninth street. VIII you do that?
"'I don't see any uso of doing all that,
but you get me iii and I'll do It,
"'All right said Hyde, and he took
the uundio from under his companions
coat and handed 1t to the young man.
1t was an old and battered violin case.
'Tako that and walk right through
the door, said Hyde. IF any one SAYS
anything to you, just say "musicinn,"
and pass on. When you get in the cellar,
pass it up to me-
''Tho young man took the case and
walked into the lobby and past tho door.
men without any trouble. In three min.
utes he was under the grating and had
passed tho case up through small aper-
ture. Nine other men, each Of whom
paid from 50 to 81 apiece for the use Of
the violin case, We're successfully passed
through. Hirsch stood at the door the
whole time and never once saw through
the game. 1t was ono Of tho doormen
who caught on first. He thought it re-
marlable that so many Of the orchestra
were coming In late, and when Hydes
eleventh man tried to pass through no
nailed him. Musician said the man
honrsely, but 1t was no go. Tho door
men took the case away and opened 1t.
OF course it was empty.
Clyde saw that the game was up and
almost burst with laughter when he saw
his man 90 sailing out into the street,
with tho old violin case flying after him.
The truth flashed on Hirsch in an in
stant Two mutual friends whom Hyde
had let into the secret at the last mo-
ment testified that 10 men had been
passed through on the old case, and
Hirsch paid over the amount Of the
wager like man. It didn't take the
crowd long to drink up the money, and
when 1t was gone Hyde was forced to
blow in the money he had collected from
those he had passed In too. That was a
mighty neat piece Of work, that was, and
there wasn't another man In New York
but Jimmy Hyde who would have
thought of 1t. 1t seems that Hyde had
made up his mind to beat the ball in that
way long before the bet was made, and
that he only accepted the wager because