The times., 1897-06-20
The AmusementS Of the Gods at
Close Range.
BRAVE WOMAN'S EXPERIENCE
Turning Back the Old-Tiine Tradi-
tion of the Stage aud Its Patrons.
First Coue, First Served, with
No Regard to Sex or Anything
But Economy.

rises to the top, or the more practical rea-
son of economy, the truth remains that
the galleries of Washington theaters have
long since PASSED in the process of evolu-
tion from condition OF being Temporary
resting places for the ne-suspendcred
gentry, bent on tobacco expectoration and
applause fer blood and thunder ciinIaxes,
to the dignity of well-ordered places, which
seat some of the most refined and cul-
tured people of the city, This change has
doubtless lerneated night performances,
but makes itself more manifest at matt
nees. Eere the Iorties that once Infested
the galleries have made way for deter
mined Ihalanx of women, who have dis
covered this most delightful way OF get
ting three hours enjoyment out of 20
cents When they took possession there
was an exit of the peanut hag and tile
introduction of the bonton box. Paper
hall fights have been superseded by decor
GUS behavior, while the spectacle OF feet
dangling over the railing has become a
nightmare OF the past.
Bearing these faces in mind, a party Of
young people, including the writer, started
out one bright Saturday noon to invade pre-
cincts no longer held sacred to gallery
until our slim pockets Were tottering under
The strain imposed upon them. We mad
viewed plays at close range, until stage
beauty seemed but an automatic coinbna-
ton OF skin and rouge. and green paste
board trees but parody On nature Alto
eether We were ready for the hcg1ra to the
gallery, since there, at a safe distance, one
may keep her illusions and part OF her
a ON h.a
arrived at one OF the principal theaters
of the city. The lobby was deserted and a
single individual sat in the main ticket Of
flee Out in the streets department clerks,
aimed with toothpicks and wearing that
expression of satisfaction resulting from
the Consciousness OF an inner man well
fortified, hastcned back to- the treadmhl
of routine work, while newsboys, whose
mouths must on the morrow be law abiding
and muzzled, made up for time to be lost
by crying their wares in shrill, PIERCING
tones It seemed too carly for matinse peo-
pie to be at their post, but we strollad past
the alley to the 6peanut' entrance and
found dozen or more women standing
around the door They had preceded us,
we learned. by about fifteen minutes, and
were evidently thoroughly conversaat with
..svoidGg the rush.
Their object was 10 get tie choice Of
seats in the fIont low, the most desired
goal Of all gallery patrons. To fail n this
enterprise would be to some equivalent
to a failme in a school examination or
getting a bcoly prize in progressive euchre.
Not withstanding tie eaily hour, we were
Just in time. Within almost as brief a
fol- fo eU
ten-ahreast regiment Of people extending
from the steps 70 the street and round
into the alley. was toldthat when wagons
want to pass Though the alley, the people
who do not wish to lose their places merely
drop on their knees and let the carts PASS
over them. The crowd, after attaining
a certain SIZE, seemed To giow smaller as
new additions We're made to it. Closer
and closer its parts came together like
loose bale OF cotton going through the COM
press. Heie and there in the thTong might 4
DE seen u lone, lost. forgotten man, desc
late as the single oyster IN the stew On his
case the stew OF laughing, bustling femInini-
ty), ana the CLEAN Of the white heads of
several old ladies, who did not know
what 1t was like, and wished they Were
out of it, But too Iatei The mass con-
space as each recruit endea vored to squeeze
into the place she would have had II she
had come earlier. Some small boys had
climbed upon the railing and made ready
to leap over the fist comers' heads when
the door should be open.
few Enthusiastically attired people,
with more elaborate decorations on top
than inside their heads, hobbed the latter
los - ar SiD GOO
their faces set for the "reanut'' gallery
and catch them in the disgraceful act Of
econo,niziag The crowd watched them
with much amusement, for most Of the
former were rather proud of their uncon-
ventional outing, despite the fact that no
hats Were on straight and they were stand
ing on one aGotheT's feet-a performances
that lack of space made not quite as
essential as ii would be in Chicago, bit |
enough 50 to lee anything but soothing All |
stood there in cramred quarters. talking |
of the anticipated pleasure and other topics |
which il suggested One moment decIn- |
ration was ntade that weiting was lots |
of fun and that the hot sun was not ub- |
Jectionahle the next there were impa- |
patient Complaints about the tine the |
crowd must be kept outside No one |
be open at 10 a III. some people would |
be there before breakfast Presently the |
attention of everyone was diverted by |
handsome equipage which drove ap near |
the stage entrance Allnecks were craned |
o-er the railing to catch a glimpse of |
handsome couple, who aliehted from the |
carriage and glided past like vision, |
emitting sparks to the crowd of that ra |
diance, not material but psychicaI, which |
hangs like a halo around theatrical folks |
and makes them appear as remote froIn |
the common world
"Are they not magnificent?' sighed one |
young girl
'Yes, yes" replied another. TELL me, |
is this one of the prerogativcs of peanut |
patrons?'' This is my first trip. What |
other joys are in store for us? Give ME |
the perpendiculars, as Mrs. Malaprop would /
say"
You will think of naught but perpen-
diculars when you start up the steps
There are forty flights, and they are as
steep as the 80
"Hill of Life,' interpellated an entfu-
siastic little matinee girl, ssbut there is /
such q reward at the top you forget you
were not borne up In q chariot or-or-
elevator"
"Joysr' cried another "The joys of the
peanut are innumerable; not the smallest
Is the knowledge that there is only one
individual in this mass who viii want TO
go out between the acts, and even he will
hesitate when he thinks of the steps"
The faint creaking of the door caused |
the lively chatter to cease, and then there
ensued Cne of the funniest scenes ID has