The times., 1897-08-26
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs.


ter town / have ever seen in my travels" !"
said George s. Matthews, salesman for
concern out in Cleveland, Ohio. who is
at the Regent. 1T is truly remarka BILE
how a city OF 30 900 can support so many
high-ciass theaters. Washin gton thinks
it is getting into line pretty well with
seven theaters for population OF about
25O,0 ,00o, but Providence, with it's six thea
ters and small population deserves the
palm.
.And there is this much about Provi
dence, too. Its theaters are all supported
we'll. Every theatrical man who ever
played In New England knows that Provi'
dence is known among the profession as
an easy town" 1t has never yet been
the rock ON which some flock OF fly-by
night transformers was shriven. Every
troupe that strikes Providence manages
to get ont again whole, If it Possesses n.erit
enough to draw at all. Providence audi
ences are educated people. and they don't
allow anyone to 'pla y the dog onthem.
''Ir a show is good they patronize literally;
II it's bad they reulain away and let 1t
sneak out of town quietly. reputa ton
that Providence has possessed for years
effectually insures 1t d good class of at
fractions. Its value, from d theatrical
managerial standpoint Is proven by the
recent action of 3. F. Keith, the vaudeville
manager, who has established one or his
higb-Class variety houses in Providence, as
one of his chain OF theaters in Boston, New
York and Philadelphia / underst and that
air. Keith has been contemplating putting d
house in Washington In his circuit, but
Providence goes away ahead OF this town
in proportion to its population "
"a peculiar thing happened here the
other day." said Frank Bosworth, the
veteran actor, who once was with Edwin
Booth, but who now officiates as clerk
at the Lawrence Hotel "a chap named
Chuck NoonaE got in here from New
York on the early morning train Satur-
day. he left New York Friday at mid
night. When he came out of the break
fast-rooIn he picked up a copy OF the New
York Journal, just in from the metropolis.
and read an account OF the suicide OF
California George, the well known sporting
man, who killed himself in New York
Saturday morning a few minutes before
1 O'Clock. Well, it was strange coinci-
denCe that Noonan was an old friend OF
California George, had spent Friday night
With him and had left him in the depot
at jersey City nalf an hour before he
killed himself. It was a great shock To
Noonaa to have his friend Kill himself
right after leaving him in good spirits,
and not to hear of il until he reached
Washington, eight or ten hours later"
The hotel register al wizards, which
Is decorated daily with several bars Of
music Of popular and appropriate tunes, by
Clerk Coffin, had blank look for yester-
day. The scarcity OF arrivals suggested
no more appropriate tune than HE Never
Came Back" and Mr.. Coffin, for obvious
reasons. did not insert that in the hotel
register. The day preceding bOre a few
bars Of the song should Aud Aoquaint-
ance Be Forgot" in honor OF the ar
rival at Wizards OF Cornelius Van Cott.
ex-postmaster Of New York city, who is
well-kn own in all circles here.
Col. J'rn Patterson, of South Florida
was at the National last night. He was
talking on that subject with which al
Flo;idans are popularity suppos ed to be
wen posted II was the subject Of
dllEdIpEs. We nave niGH 10 pEOplc
who are known as Gator grunters They
have Practced this SO long that they
| success fully initiate the grunt of an
alligator. They act guides to parties
OF Northern tourists during the winter
and often hunt gators ON their own ac
count. They take a big wagon, and ds
rule go out to the edge of the glades
Through the flat woods around the margin
| OF the glades there are many little lakes
| that IN the dry season subside except
directly In the middle, where the 'gators
make deep puddle. which is known as
gator hole The expert hunter takes
up his position near this hole. and con
cealing himself begins to produce that
peculiar grunt in imitation OF a 'gatN
Pretty SOON there is a slight movement
Of the water, and a long black head
shows up. Then another comes To the
surface. Then the old bull gator crawl.
| up into the mud along the water. The
| others follow him. They come in searcr
OF the sound, and when they are fat
enough from the water the slaughter
begins"