The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-26

The unpleasantnesS over at the Froth
inghaln theater on Saturday evening may
be in the end productive of good results.
The experience of the committee OF the
Mems Guild of St. Luke's with MANA
ser'' Clark will certainly prove beneficial
if it will teach our people the folly of
dealing with unknown fakirs in the in
auguration of charitable entertainments.
The business of scooping in money by me
aid of local assistance has in the past
few years become the most profitable that
cheap theatrical hangers-on can engage
in. Combinations possessing no talent
have been able, by securing the services
of q church, a lodge or perhaps fire COM
pany, to make money in towns where
meritorous company would starve. 1t is
seldom that company of any actual merit
can be found working the charitable benc-
fit racket. 1t is usually the hams of
the profession that engage in the business.
In the small towns the "hams" also have
fine pickings. They usually travel in
blocks of three-a hero a heroine and
funny man. They carry a lot of cheap
costumes and with the aid of the most
prominent home TALENT give legitimate
drama to crowded benefit houses. The
amateurs hustle and sell tickets to their
friends; but when the settlement Is made
Il Is seldom that any one save the barn
stormers are benefited by the scheme The
system of opening the purse strings of the
dear public Is carried on in a more eN-
tensive manner by the shrewd nomad5 of
the calibre of Clark and his gang. They
operate on a larger scale and would not
waste their time on small game. They
usually possess costumes and settings for
an opera or spectacular of the kirmesS or
der, which are guaranteed to fill a long
felt want and furnish amusement tor So
ciety people who are suffering from ennui
for lack of occupation. An oily-tongued
agent is sent on in advance who will prom
Use anything. Much depends on the abil-
ity and judgment of the agent, who Is eX-
pected to select the proper charity to be
used as a mask and interest the proper
people in the enterprise. Rehearsals be-
gin: the friends of the charitable object
canvass for the sale of tickets the mer-
chant is called upon to stand and deliver"
in the matter of advertising on the pro-
gramme-the profits of which generally go
into the pockets of the fakirs and not to
the charitable fund-the committees hurry
from one end of the town to the other
at the bidding of the manager" who has
more temporary power than the Shan of
Persia; old and young are worn out from
hard work, or are suffering with colds con-
tracted by exposure; the performance is
given; house packed; a grand SUGGEST
But when the box office receipts are divil-
ed the charitable institution is lucky 20
secure any sum worth consideration after
the promoters of the enterprise have been
satisfied.
80
Perhaps many readers will remember
presentation of the Ben Hur tableauX
that was given at the Academy several
years ago for the benefit of the Young
Mems Christian association gymnasium.
This affair was in charge of a lady man
aser, who was the alleged possessor OF
complete set of Ben costumes historically
correct and artistically paralyzing. The
Academy was filed on the evening of the
entertainment with a good -natured audi
ence that laughed al the spectacle present.
ed By the unfortunate members of the
cast as they posed on the stage clad in
dreams" of cheese cloth and Turkey red
calico About the only redeeming feature
of the entertainment was the work Of