The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-11-23

go out at night very rarely There is a
good deal of javvine over the regular
tickets sent to the office, but take no
part IN IT. indeed, j rather take pride in
saying that 7 never use any of them. and
/ cant be accused of taking more than
my share And when I crawl into bed al
10 O clock, cannot help thinking with
pity of my younger associates who are at
the theater, possibly with girls. whom
they VIII have to take ten or twelve
blocks out of their way when they go
But when the regular tickets left at the
Office are not wanted and when even the
once Doy cQnteIlpluousiy refuses 70 use
them, then begin TO long for the thea
SHOWS better Ihan the Ialrly good ones
In the fairly good shows. you see the
same old lusulleietple concert. ana tue
same Impossible 5000 people, from seStsol 2
the very bad shows that pleases me.
When the show is so bad that there are
no boys around the door longing to get
in, I always attend, if I get notice i'm
time that such a show is i'm town 4 like
to walk into tile theater. and find MO one
there but the ushers. I like to he intro
duced to the manager Of the company
particularly if he wears an overcOat with
a fur collar. for it amuses me to hear him
lie about how he neglected advantageous
ofIers IN Chicago and New York to come
to Atchis0n. and catch cold
There was a time (when / attended the
good shows that the owner of the thea
ter came around to where / sat and look
ed so injured that felt so uncomfortable,
and ashamed that ne did not have bet
ter house, but now 90 the injured act
myself, it is a good deal pleasanter. If
the owner Of the house does not look me
up when there is a poor show I look him
up. and ask him how he happened TO
make such a poor selection
eve shall have to apologize to Mr. Howe
here for leaving out part Of his enter
Tor IA Ine state journal once hau sOt
hold of his paper before we did and had
clipped out something on the other side
in this particular spot, but We feel as
sured that Mr.. Howe viii be sensitive to
the delicate compliment implied that his
paper is so highly valued in The Journal
reprint one side but both sides, If it
We're possible.-Ed)
To resume
The show given at the theater Saturday
night was so bad that found 1T one OF
the best attractions of the year "A fat
old woman dressed in Kate Greenaway
costume for little girls, came ON, wear
actress. and would rehearsa little and
her acting was so bad that it was posi-
lively good. Then she attempted to sing,
and her singing was worse than ner act
ing
The fat woman was succeeded by
little woman Who was thin and ugly. IN
my capacity of dramatic critic at variety
halls. i have seen some rather dirty cos
tunes, and heard some rather bad serlo-
comic singing. but this woman broke the
record She is missing great opportun-
ity. if she viii bill herself as the very
worst serio-comfc singer on earth, the OLD
FOUNDERS viii pack the halls where she
There was the usual "darkey'' and TIE
usual Irishman. and they could not have
been worse. I have not enjoyed a show
more in years / wanted to call on the
actors in their dressing rooms as inter
viewers do with Bernhardt and Irving.
but could not get in; the constable had
charge.
The wonder is not that these people
think they can act. for we are all dis
gracefully conceited. but that such peO-
pie can ind manager who believes they
can entertain an audience. or attract an
audience. a man who takes "a show on
the road should have some Judgment, of
course not much is expected, but there
should be some.
Captain Seaton informed me that the
show of Saturday night was booked by
correspondence. by Mr.. Ferguson. Let us
hope that Captain SeatOn. who is really
very anxious to engage only respectable
attractions can make his charge against
Mr.. Ferguson hold good
But how about Mr. FergusOn2
I was pleased with the show, but there
We're seventeen others present What
viii they think2
DRAKE WATSON.