The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
A PRESS AGENTS MISTAKE.
HE NEARLY PRoToKEs a RIOT
AT AN OUTDOOR SNOW.
TIE Conspiracy to Abduct an ALLEGED Rack
nay Beauty wat Too successruI-The show
Got More Publicity Than was Contem-
plated by tho nrd-workin Press Agent.

Hay Benuty was Too huCCGngTut-Tbe SNOW
Got More Publicity Than was Contem-
plated by the Press Agent.
Speaking OF press agents." said the old
Snowman, sometimes the %cleverest of them
overreach themselves. 1 remember that on
one occasion a very alert and Woodworking
gentleman in charge OF tho literary bureau Of
an outdoor entertainment in Boston almost
precipltated u riot In order to obtain publicity
for his show. The season had been very disas-
trous. The orchestra had been on strike once
or twice for back pay. The promoters checks
didn't come In with gratifying regularity, and
the elements conspired to close the gates of the
big amphitheatre from two to four nights every
week. After n consultation with tho other
members of the business staff one day, the press
agent sent out a rather readable yarn to the
effect that the pretty daughter OF an aristo-
cratic family on tho Back Bay had appeared
%incognito as n flguranto in the outdoor spectacle
purely because OF her love for the stage.
'Thc press agent ravcd over the beauty Of
the Back Bay belle, and said that she had the
most striking figure Of any of the corps Of two
hundred who gathered. whenever the weather
permitted, on the big outdoor stage. He sur
rounded her with mystery. He told that
sho drove nightly. to the performers gate In a
closed carriage, attended only by her trusty
French maid. Ho said that tho manage
nent had, with due regard for tho feelings Of tho
aristocrntic Boston girl, provided n scpa-
ratio dressing room for her where she would not
come in contact with the ordinary ten or fifteen
dollar n week coryphces and the bowling mob
OF auxilitries recruited from tho North End and
from South Boston.
Tho press agent went still further In his ad-
vertising scheme. lie said that u brother Of the
Back Bay beauty was on the warpath and had
actually gone so far as to threaten violence to
ono member of the management. Ncvcrthc-
less, 1t was stated, that she was determined TO
appear at each and every performance. re-
CARELESS of tho wishes OF her family in the
matter. OF course, no names were mentioned;
that goes without saying.
1.-THE story appeared In several Of the Boston
papers, and the press agent g~lcefully rubbed
his hands. He knew that the reporters would
DO after him in n body. and that something
must be done to get a secondary story about
tho Beacon street daughter who appeared in
the scanty costume OF a Pompeiian dancer.
Ho decided on heroic measures. For a won
der tho advance sale OF that nights per-
formance was very large. 1t was almost GER
tain that II the rain held Off and tho scenery
didn't blow down and the orchestra didn't
go on strike again the nights receipts would be
over 81. 900. so the press agent felt justified in
blowing himself a little. And he did.
Not having any Back Bay girl of theatrical
proclivitics in the company, he had. OF course,
to provide n substitute. He found one in the
wife Of an accommodating property man. She
was quite pretty. had appeared in the ballets Of
outdoor spectacles for several seasons, and
managed most Of the time to provide food and
lodging for herself and her husband. Tho
agent took the ballet girl into his confidence,
and also told the husband what his part was TO
be. 1t was arranged that at an important juno
ture in the performance, when the entire com
pany was assembled on the stage. the husband.
disguised in n dress suit lent 10 him by the
agent, and II false beard obtained from the cos
tuner, was to create a scene at the main en-
trance to The grounds, and to call loudly for
=" Sister! sister,
for the time being. said the agent. She's the
Back Bay beauty that all the papers told about
leave the show al once. You must make your
row in front nf the boxes, and YOU mustn't he
You. Wen fix that. In the excitement the
nncc will he interrupted. III make a little
speech TO the effect that your sister Is the stage
struck girl from Beacon street. and that you
have cone to save her from the perils Of the
Fall of Pompeii:" I'll tell you TO accompany me
TO the stage and point out your sister If she is
really there. OF course You will point out your
si-t, but without giving her time To put on her
street clothes you must throw a shawl over her
head and drag her sCreeChlns 10 the stage door.
Then bundle her into IA closed carriage which
] will have there for you, and drive like the
devil TO IA hotel al the north end.
- You must keep out Of the way OF the re-
Torters and stay under cover all night the
couple Of bottles OF vine for You and your wife.
| guess she won't kick; III fact ! know she
wc !lTS, Variant. ,,,,o dorcor consented 70 r,av
her part in the game which was 10 set all Bos-
ton talking. and Tho offer Of 80 and the two
cold bottles won the husband over, IN u jiffy.
The plan was carried out without n hitrl, mp 10
that point where the EretsndGd brpiher in
Unfortunately the press agent had not taken
the ballet and the supers into his confidence.
The spectators shouted, cheered, yelled. and
=" Take her out. You're right. Take your
sister out some OF them cried.
Let the show go on. we We paid our money
we want to see the tireworks,' cried Others,
Those women in the crowd who had read ths
curiosity for a glimpse q the runaway beauty
from the Back Bay. When the press agent
with a special Srd. OF. %tIe Srt ard Fs,s the %b hIs6.n soi II ba hi.
to the stage where the bnrco sister was selected
for the sacrifice, II howl went up from III" army
topple tho canvas walls OF Pompcii around tn,
heads Of all concerned. The little woman mad,
n pretonce OF resisting, and this only excited tn
wrath OF her associates who were not onto tn,
game, In the rush that followed the press
The husbands prop whiskers went sailing oul
into tho artificial lake in front OF the stage. ant
liz AZ" putt
1.-The big policeman who was in the conspir
acy was compelled to club three or four of tn,
men. The pretended brother made "A gallant
rush for his Back, Bay sister, threw a shaw
over her head. and while the press agent anc
the cop guarded the exit, husband and wife fec
to the stage door and escaped in the carriag,
which was in waiting.
THE press agent and every one concerned II
the management, including the foreign stag
manager, had hard work to restore orde
among tho ballet and the supers. When thi
was accomplished they found more trouble OF
hand. Some OF the people in tho boxes and OF
the tiers OF seats began cries Of shame! Out
rage! What has that poor girl donef and ~
on. The, press agent had just, about strength
enough left to mount the orchestra stand ant
request silence. He made a brief explanation
OF the alleged position Of the management
toward tho kidnapped Back Bay beauty. "ha
WAS all. The performance went on.
THE accommodating husband not only pun
ished the two bottles OF wine. but stayed DRUM
for a week afterward nj tho expense Of n
story from the husband, and 1t was only sup
pressed after considerable effort. That pres
agent concluded that for the balance OF tn
season he would do his work along ordinar.
and more peaceful lines, even though he didn'
hucceed therehy in rrOmotinR pMblicIly 70 th