The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-03
THE POINT OF VIEW.
The Theatrical Trust" and the Tenn
pest in the Teapot

pest in the Teapot
tempest Is raging fercely In theatrical
teapot. The general public doesn't know II,
and upon now reading of IL won't care u rap
about 1t. So much OF a row as there Is relates
wholly to the business OF amusoments, and
cannot affect the art Of the stage at all. The
| people who support the theatres by paying
money for admissions concerned with the
plays and the acting of them. but hardly any
with the managemen ent Of the pieces that they
go TO see. Therefore the outcry against the
theatrical trust" when heard at all,
reaches few interested listeners. The facts in
the matter are very simple. The first Amer
lean manager 10 make marked advance In
the production OF plays was the late Lester
wallack. After him came Augustin DAILY who
gave strong impetus TO worthy dramatic in
terests in this country. The ensuing opera
tions of Abers NJ. Palmer were epoch max ing
in their beneficial effect. Next in the valua-
BILE developent Of real art and literature on
the stage was Daniel Frohman. and the latest
OF the managers to make commendable prog
ress with stock company was Charles Froh-
man, the most energetic and daring OF them
all This younger Mr.. Frohman went into
comprehensive business undertakings, too.
and there were soon associated with him Al
Hayman and Isaac b. Rioch, wealthy owners
OF theatres. Meanwhile the firm Of Klaw a.
Erlanger developed from what are called
booking agents-that is. arrangers of routes
for travelling companies-nto controllers of
many theatres, and original producers Of nu-
merous plays. At the same time the Phiia-
delphia firm OF Nixon a. Zimmerman built up
an extensive and lucrative business in owning
and managing theatres. year or 80 ago
some OF these men, AL Hayman, Charles Froh-
man, Klaw a. ErlanRer Nixon a. Zimmerman
and Rich s. Harris, entered into an arrange
ment for ths purpose OF avoiding needless
rivalries, and operating 10 a certain extent ir
unison. Their combination Of interests is
dubbed by some folk "a trust"
The methods Of this trust seem to pro-
duce degree OF harmony, solidity and prosper.
ity hitherto unknown in the business OF the
stricals. IL does not seem inclined TO confine
itself 10 the promotion OF plays and COM
panies controlled by its members. The local
managers OF most OF the frst-class theatres
throughout the country, and all the star
actors of Importance save two-Minne Mad
dern Fiske and Francis wilson--are included
in the trust" through which the routes al o
planned and carried out Presumably, mutual
interests are served. Nothing hinders any
one OF the hundreds OF participants in the
"syndicate' from withdrawing at will. No
doubt they will do so as soon and "a fast rs
they find that ii does not serve their purposes
Mrs. tiske and Mr.. Wilson assert that 1t does
not. and they are conducting their tours i'm
dependently II is Mrs. Fiske who has set the
theatrical teapot boiling tempestuously with
accusations, recriminations and lawsuits. But
the tempest is still confined to the teapot, and
the great public of theatre supporters will
know little about 1t and care less. Mrs. Fiske
will still be admirable and prosperous rs an
actress with genius 1apd the men composing
the trust" will continue their art and trade
Of manufacturing and dealing In large and
generally excellent line OF theatrical enter
tainments.- The sun.
Butcher Weyler seems TO be almost as hard
to suppress rs the Cuban rebellion. New
York Press.
An Eastern paper quotes Mrs. Lease as say
ing: II want to be fair" Horrorl We hope
she isn't blonding her hair.-Wichita Eagle.
man weighing ll5 pounds was arraigned |
in police court yesterday for failing to sup
port his wife, weight 3t5. How could he?-
Buffalo Express.
A man of 100 and woman Of 20 have just |
married at st. Joseph, Mo. Love may not be |
entirely blind in this case, but perhaps has |
TO wear very strong glasses. Denver Post
In presenting the gunboat Wilmington with |
n Bible and silver punch bowl the people Of |
Wilmington seemed TO understand the peculiar |
needs of the navy. even II they did touch ex-
tremes. Baltimore American.
An aerolite containing queer marks fell in |
New York state the other day. and profes |
sor who has examined 1t says it Is probably n |
message from Mars Perhaps, however, it is |
merely n conRratulatory note from Old Nick |
to Dick Croker.-Clevelsnd Leader.
IL appears that through mistake a number |
of letters were stamped at the general postofice
the other day with the word October" in |
stead OF November. There was no reason |
for the authorities to be worried about this. |
ANY man who received such letter from a |
woman would think she had given it to male |
relative to posr.-New York Evening Sun.
Business men who devote themselves to a
non-partyism and bi-psrtyism. and are in n
protracted hysteria about the independent
voter, would find IL TO their advantage to re-
member that they must depend upon the Re
publican organization to fight the battles of
sound money and for the maintenance of the
Republican form of government. Brooklyn
Standard Union.
After having made this city the second
largest In the world. IL would be too much 20
expect New Workers to make this state. now
the largest play second fiddle to any other
state in the Union. This city must remain
the largest city and the largest state in the
whole Republic. The hill for division may as
well be fled away in dusty pigeonhole.
New York Tribune.
LITTLE HUMOR.
Sha--Thera cartpinlv m nat IN cona ,,is,n-