New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-20
THE COLONEL AND TIE 7HEdIRES.

HE WONDERS If 81 WILL SOON BE THE RULING
PRICE FOR ORCHESTRA SEATS
The Colonel was walking with his stick pointed
over his shoulder With the Colonel. this indicates
thought and delberat;on Though his trousers
we're rolled up. ne seemed unmndful OF the sloppy
condition OF the streets for he paid no heed 10
where he stepped. His reflections were aDsorpihs'
for he passed several acquaintances without hoo'
ding 10 them At OF the street corners MS
march was stopped by a couple OF carriages. ana
this gave his sympathetic friend an opportunity 10
overtake him. He gazing around him In an un-
observing way when his glance fell on the SYM
pathetic friend. -
"Ah," he said his face Frightening and dit-
ferent light coming into his eye, 'he very man
want to see. Come with me-
Linking arms with his friend. TIE Colonel led him
to the Broadway entrance OF his favor.te care oh
the way in ard for time after That wniie inc
waiter was getting his order he chatte1 ABOUT
various trivial things I'm his pleasant manner But
il was evident that on his mind there was some
thing weighty Finally he drew from his pocket
little envelope took from 1t three theatre tickets
and LAYING them on the table before his friend.
| pointed at them with one OF his long fingers
| Look at them" he said with frown.
For tomorrow night, sald MS irie"u' anu
| good play. | hear
The Colonel brushed away side Issues Win =
| slight wave OF his hand.
| 81 maid Sc for them" he said. and his friend
| waited.
Yes" said the Colonel slowly and with certain
| sternness. SIS each | wonder" he added, with
| a change OF tone what the theatrical managers
are driving at? Is il going TO be the regular thins
| to pay s. each for orchestra chairs In all tho
theatres? Are the theatres going to put prices up
| on US when everything else and everybody e'sc
are putting prices down? 1t seems 10 me that IL ID
rather bold to raise prices when We are all expect
| ing them to be cut. How does 1t strike you
| PERHAPS the managers find that they can't make
| any money when they get 81 % each for orchestra
seats"
| "perhaps they don't said the Colonel sharply
PERHAPS there isn't any money In the theatrcai
business in this country. Perhaps managers are"
putting up new ard expensive theatres Wherever
rhev can get desirable sites. Perhaps English COM
NAMES English managers. English actors, Enshsn
stars English concert-hal singers. ana rrehc"
| ones too aren't breaking their necks 10 gel over
here and catch some OF the showers of gold that
! fall the theatrical business what "o 'S~
! think" he asked.
Lots OF them come, it is true
"Or course they DO ard they think they nave
| gold mines too when they have engagements IN
| America They get more money here than they
over dreamed of abroad and they go home with sig
| S,li nie~es dropping ont CT their pockets so IuiI
they are stuffed so there does seem TO oe "'o"e'
! IN The theatrical business, doesn lleIc., ....os
His friend did not know so the Colonel accep'ea
''' "CertainIy,' he declared. with emphasis NOW.
II the theatres are all going TO put their prices up
there are three OF them nov that know o oiwh s
sum that isn't picked up from every pavnss1o tone
great thousand people IN TINS G'. ssv "s ara
gninS 70 make Increases all along the line some
going to feel that we cnee @eHt What
are they trying to do-pluek us OF our tea'herS anu
'ne Gut IT, Colonel believe that the theatrical people
say that It costs great deal more nc" ~ p'''">'
play than it did twenty years age
WV9 em the scenery is very elaborate The set.
| sumptuous and elegant. Modern audiences oe"'a""
all this splendor and luXury cn, tho theatres hold
a great many more people than they dd years sent
Can't the Managers get d pager from so that one
piay can go drawing crowded ho Ee,nraI iittic
How about all that" asked the COLONEL "''''
There does to be something ed N tbe Colonel
and sh lou tn' tell You something else The mum.
her Of unemployed actors was never bo rers
w wng TO- take engagements for small salaries
Bar out the supendols salaries in Wages srs
a W@S way down he said. with gravity sS t the
money doesn't all go for sa Emission and PLUCK
' my pd GS5 '"s price,, s, w.. .rs0, compelled :.
B C seSt we aren't forced to buy them II
don't them TheIs T sS do So Sns
You need not even so to the theatre at all II You
10 yes Yes know. said the Colonel. That is The
old argument but you might as well say that the
L: eas ad u should be e
! 70 ride to Harlem for 81. | could walk there for
| nothing You see. that would not do. ~.
| Don't you see" the Colonel continued with
| one OF his amable smiles, that the managers
are in danger of killing the golden goose-and the
| American public Is q goose-that Is laying the
| golden egg And then. what? You say the pro-
| auctions are more sumptuous and the expenses
| be? Don't we get better rapid transit for lese
money than formerly? Don't We get better sur
| face cars and more transfers? Don't We get better
hotels with more luxurious appointments? Dons
we get better clothes for less money? Why snouIonS
we get better plays In better payhouses, with pet.
surroundings and scenery for less money t mn
| formerly, or certainly for the same! It's lo,,y
TO think that the public will pay more Inc pu2nc
| isn't going to be a golden goose always Inc pnc3
| OF everything Is going down. and the Price %
theatre tickets must not go up. X they ao. Suc
| the public has to stop going to the theauo-""s'
| as | said before. then what"
| The Colonel touched the bell 49,, .~n,.
Then, what. say he asked ana nIs "a vy" ~
| thetc friend could not tell. because ne o'o n0s
| know.
REAL. ESTATE BY SAMPLE.
| axans urith a houaa 10 ael went about 0xnlpIo