The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-05-14
Evening Herald
THURSDAY, MAY IA, 1896.
MR.. FERGUSON S TOOL.

Monday that has apparently struck terror to
the hearts of those interested. Here it is:
The theatre entertainment booked for this
town one night this week will appear in Potts
vile the following evening. The highest price
charged for a seat at the latter place is 7j cents
while sl.OO is the rate here. Persons who have
been in both theatres say the difference, if any,
should be In favor Of this town as the local
theatre is no comparison to that at Pottsville in
comfort to the patrons stage equipment and
general appointments. The prices charged Will
keep many away, as the public is quick to resent
anything that savors OF eNtortion as this does
The entertainment in question was Hoyt's
Midnight Bell " with Digby Bell in the lead
ing role and Duncan Braggadocio Harrison,
doing the contortion act The latter gentle
man l?)-to use his own language, God save
the mark-appears to be warm under the
collar because the above article appeared. The
article was published because we thought the
people of Shenandoah were being gouged,
and the slim attendance at the performance
last evening is sufficient proof that the
people thought so and resented the extorton,
Mr.. Harrison relieved his troubled mind
during the performance as follows 'The
poor house this evening is attributable to an
article appearing in the HERALD charging us
with eXtortion that we appear in Pottsville
for 10 cents and charge 81 90 here. We sold
out to a local fire company, and they control
the prices. The papers animosty is trace
able to their fight with the local theatre
management, who viii not deal with them
because they charge him eXtortionate prices
for advertising and they are continually
fighting him.
The facts in the case are in direct contrast
to the statement of this former manager Of a
broken down pugiist. On two occasions we
submitted advertising rates to Mr.. Ferguson,
upon his own solicitation. The rate furn-
ishcd was the same he had been paying the
paper for several years. and but slight
advance Of what he is now paying q weekly
publication. We will wager 10000 that the
above statement is correct. VIII Duncan
Baggadocio Harrison raise his bluf? Mr..
Hlrri7on is the 220-pound bluff who ralroadcd
Sullivan through the country ON bluffs, but
he i, apparently failure as a manager of
Legitimate theatrical company. The company
Is all right, and they might truly eXclaim,
deliver us from our friends!
That we have not missed the advertising
of this house will be readily believed when
we state that we have sold the space it would
occupy at better prices than it was offered at,
and that the value Of the paper is admitted
is evident from the numerous advertisements
of theatrical attractions which have APP
peared in it during the season, all paid for by
the companies themselves, and also by the
ire Of Duncan Braggadocio Harrison aroused
by small item in one corner of it.
Now, as to the statement that the local
management will not use the columns of the
HERALD because we charge extortiOnate
prices, and that we are continually fighting
him. The manager of the local theatre and
his man Of all worS, who is paid by the L. V.
K. X Co., seized the opportunity to use Harri-
son as a tool to strike the HERALD. We have
no fight with Mr.. Ferguson, as the columns
Of the paper will show, neither did we charge
him extortionate prices, and would not now
refer to the matter but that we are forced
to in selfdefense.
We have been importuned by many who
are fond of theatricals to criticise the man
agement for the manner of conducting the
house, aud as it is place Of public amuse-
ment it is open TO criticism. Even with the
temptation to retaliate we have relrained,
notwithstanding people have come to us
with complaints that rats were running
around the floor between acts; that actors
and audience were nearly frozen for want
Of the comfort people pay for; that the
house deserves the reputation it has among
actors Of being about the poorest excuse for
a theatre to be found, needs no repetition
from us, A glance at the windows patched
up with tin beer signs, the variegated wall:
showing where at some remote period the rain
has trickled down, the seats too small, tho
gallery minus many seats, needs no comment
from us, yet despite the pressure brought t.
bear upon US we have refrained from crit
cism.
Tho article referred to above does no
criticise the play and the attack is not un
warranted" as shown by Harrisons owl
words If he can sell out TO "a fire company
and the latter can afford to charge but Z
cents, why cannot he play for the same pric
when he has greater gross receipts.
Instead Of the HERALD fighting th
theatre management, we have evidence t
show that the facts are just the opposite
r. cy have stated that any theatrical CON
pany that uses the columns Of the HERAL.
would have their dates cancelled; they hay
told managers that the paper is not read an
that il is no good If that isn't misrepresenta
tion and taking undue advantage, we don
know what is and it is plain to see we al
not the aggressors. We have other am
stronger evidence Of the managers displa
OF auimosity that will be forthcoming
occasion demuudsit. The public has the fact
ami lhcy can j aese who is the aggressori an