The sun., 1897-05-15
COLORED WOMEN BARRED.
SHUT OUT OF THE 0RCHEsTRA At
THE STAR THEATRE.

Hnd BeuEht Orchestra Tickets, but were Told
That They Could SIT Only In tho Baicouy-
That IL tho Rule OF the Thentre-A Law
suit Under the Equal Rights Law Talked or
Two colored women who bought tickets on
Wednesday night for seats in the orchestra OF
the Star Theatre, whore Uncle Toms Cabin "
is playing, werc not allowed by the management
OF the house to occupy the seats their tickets
called for. and a result there will soon be
other test of the Equal Rights law, which made
trouble for theatrical and hotel people when 1t
was first passed.
The women arc Mrs. Lottic Askew, wife OF
a chemist who lives at 4s Sixth avenue. and
Miss Gertrude French, who is employed rs
maid in the house of William Fahncstock, tho
banker at 457 Madison avenue. On Wednes.
day evening Miss French calling on Mrs.
Askcw. They decided to go and see tho play,
and they left the house shortly after o'clock
for the Star Theatre. Mrs. Askew, who Is
very light in color, purchased two seats in the
orchestra at the box office and the two women
went inside Instead of seating them the usher
told them that he would have to exchange their
scots for chairs in tho balcony, as it was against
the rules of the house to scat colorod people in
the orchestra. Neither of tho women would
agroc to this arrangement They protested to
the management, but their protest was in vain.
They were again informed that the rules of the
house could not be violated for them. Then
they went away.
bic Afro-American church In West Twenty-tifth
street, and they have been advised by their
friends to sock redress in the courts Mrs.
admitted that she and Miss French hac been
excluded from the orchestra of tho theatre, but
declined to talk about the matter further, as
her hus band had ordered her not to. She limited
at legal proceedings.
Manager Cooley was not at the Star Theatre
when Sun reporter called there yesterday but
his representative explained the situation as
On Wednesday night these two women came
to the theatre at about 1880 o'clock. One of
ht o ghs that it Is
awhite or colore1 woman, She came to the box
office. while the other. who is l. quite dark. re.
asked for two orchestra chairs. which promptly
sold her She paid rs cents apiece for them and
soS to 9sd Had
known she was colored should have given her
coored people shall not be allowed anywhere
In the body OF the house. The rest of the house
as S peop to
be courteous to all our patrons. but we have
deemed 1t wise to make the rule speak of. and
we explain this rule to them. Nine times out OF
a complaint is made we give the man or woman
the alternative OF q balcony scat or mono at all.
get yet orchestrs seats through othep % people In
that event our ushcrs simply lake their
coupons. request them TO wait a moment. and
then bring the coupons to me. 'Colored,'
they say. and understand and exchange them
for balcony seats Of equal value. Ifthe exchange
is not satisfactory we offer to refund the money.
This is precisely what was dono in the case OF
these two women They didn't approve Of what
away Indignant A little later tho husband OF
one of the women came to the theatre and de-
things rs have. He wound up by Offering the
man the money paid for the seats, but the man
declined to take it, saying that
perfectly right in what we had done. and that
he didn't feel entitled to any return. He went
away perfectly satisfied. That is all there was
to ii. ! don't think wo have anything to fear
from legal proceedings. This theatre is a pri-
vatc enterprise and the management feels 1t has
a right to make such rules as it regards neces-
sary and wise. Mr.. Cooley cnterts ns the great
est respect for the colored race, and all the en-
ployecs of the house have instructions to treat
them with the utmost courtesy. We do not feel
that fairminded colored people will blame us
for making ou- own rules for the conduct OF our
theatre or for enforcing them"