The herald., 1898-10-16

panies. The house holds three thousa nd
spectators. and ID worked by a staff Of q
hundred and fifty persons, exclusive of per-
formers and musicians. The luxuriousness
Of the appointments decora tions and fur
n'ture cannot be equaled by any place of
entertainment in Europe. The immense
vestibule Is Illuminated by 22o electric lamps
OF various forms and colors. and it's walls
are covered by superb mirrors, alternating
with frescoes by Tojetti of Florence. At
the end Of the vestibule is lobby contain
ing more than a thousand pouncaAHy orth Of
china, and furnished with Louis XIV writ
Ing tables, each Of which Is supplied with
writing NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pens!-
for the use of visitors. The ladies' retiring
rooms on this floor are furnished also in
Louis XIV style. and as luxur!ously ap-
pointed as the boudoir of any duchess,
even to the extent Of bedstead-a copy of
a celebrated one in Paris-for ladies who
may be taken Ill during the performance.
The retiring rooms attached to the shilling
gallery have good water colors on the wallis
and mahogany toilet tables supplied with
ivory brushes, etc. Every part of the audi
torium and the Hobbies and the retiring
rooms are covered with Wilton pile carpet
"a tHS pcot 4udllty buL nave uo SPdCt
for anything like an adequate description
of the decorations, furniture, statuary,
draperies, the paneling in valuable woods,
the mural paintings in the auditorium
all Of which suggest the mansion Of
wealthy collector of curios and works of
art rather than the interior Of q music
hail.
OF the 115 members of the staff, over
ali, ,,nk,r o.. 1r~x
have corridor of dressing rooms and two
bathrooms allotted to their use, and there
Is tailor's department for making, re-
pairing and altering their uniforms. The
managers dressing room is such as one
would expect to find IN a New York mil
lionaire's mansion.
In the course of a thorough exploration
of the building / was taken by Mr.. Albee
the manager, even over the gridiron at the
top Of the stage. The gridiron Of an ordi-
nary theater Is covered by dust of many
years accumulation. Mr.. Keiths grid
ion is swept until perfectly clean every
morning; as Mr.. Albee remarked, I'VE
make 1t a rule that every part of the build
ing, in front, behind, and below, is so kept
that any lady could walk anywhere Except
near the furnace) in white satin dress
without injuring IT," Good manners and
good morals Is the motto Of the establish
ment. and absolute cleanliness Is included
In good manners"
American men are supposed by us Brit
ishers to be always splitting, but the prac-
tice is prohibited at Keith's, both among
the employees and the audience If one OF
the latter Is seen to spit-and SIX attendants
are constantly ON the wach-a neat gilt
beyeled card Is handed to him intimating
that he has broken rule Of the house and
that If he does so again he will have to go
out. Every scrap OF dirt. even from foot
marks. is Immediately wiped up and the
engine room Is no exception to this rule.
All the engineers tools are kept, when not
I'M use. brilliantly polished in a mahogany
case with glass front The chief engineer
makes his notes and reports on Louis
XIV writing table; his oil cans are OF beat
en- copper, No programs are supplied, be-
cause thew make q litter on the floor of the
auditorium.
The engine room, dynamo rooms and
carpenters shop are perfectly appointed
with all the newest inventions. The en-
gine which would set the Sprinkler" 60
ing in case of fire is always working. Mr..
Keith supplies MS own water iloHi "ai
artesian we'll. and his own electric power.
The heating, ventilating, and cooling ar
rangements are the best obtainable.
One Of the rules of the establishment Is
that no employe of whatever grade Is per-
mitted to use an oath, and no performer
is allowed to sing an indecent song or speak
a suggestive line. Drunkenness Is almost
impossible, because no drink is sold In the
building; here is news for managers who
rely on their bars for the best part of their
profits.
Mr. Keith has aimed at elevating the
vaudeville and variety classes Of enter
tainment by eliminating every objection
able feature and he has succeeded In doing
SO without sacrificing talent" The COM
mercial advantage of this careful selection
of artists is seen in the large number Of
ladies and young girls who occupy seats
in the daytime without male escort. Mr..
Keith exercises the same care as regards
the persons he admits to the auditorium
And he makes over sixty per cent on his
money.