The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-19

travel is remembered. it seems probable
that such a train load would more than
fill one of these cars. The cars will be
provided with a buffet. SO that walters
may be summoned by electric bells
placed at the. seats
Each car will be supplied with a per
manent orchestra, consisting of a pi-
anO. violin, cornet and flute, which viii
occupy the customary place in front of
the stage Performances Will be given
in the theater car continuously from an
early hour in the morning till late It
night At stated hours the uSherS Will
pass through the train, which will of
course be vestibuled. announcing the
performance and distributing programs.
The tickets for these performances will
be on sale al the ticket Offices along the
line the same as sleeping car berthS or
apartments and can be arranged for in
I advance for any date or performance
The theater cars are to be used for a
variety of purposes. ARRANGEMENTS are
being made TO use this little theater for
church purposes on Sundays, when the
little stage viii be converted into a pull
pit and the piano used to lead the con-
gregati in song 1t is thought that
travelling religious delegates viii gladly
take advantage of such a convenience
It may also be used for sacred concerts
The entertainment will besvarled by in
PRODUCING stereOpticon entertainments
or lectures.
One of the plans that will probably be
worked out later is to convert the stage
into a bulletin board on the nights at
ter election or during stress of war or
other excitement and throw the returns
or latest news upon screen This in
formation can OF course be telegraphed
to the train while 1t is in motion Not
the least attraction of the theater car
is the fact that the seats are removable,
and a. dancing floor is to be carried as a
part of its equipment. With the aid OF
an orchestra the car may be converted
into a veritable ballroom where, amid
flowers and palms, the travellers may
a a nc
journeys.
The Chicago Tribune quotes some hu-
merOuS comments on the ''theater car
by Chicago railroad men, The Tribune
says.
From New York comes the story that
some of the through express trains from
there are to be equipped with vaudeville
cars fitted with ali the accessories OF a
theater, but the idea of having a blond
haired young woman in abbreviated
skirts assure the passengers that her
pa was the engineer does not meet
with favor in Chicago
General Passenger and Ticket Agent
G. H. HeaffOrd of the Chicago, M1lvau-
kee & st Paul said The candy
butchers are bad enough Why should
a greater nuisance be inflicted Think
of a vaudeville performance 200 miles
long. I do not believe the west IS CIV
iIized enough for that sort of thing yet"
P :. Eustis of the Burlington said:
''It might do some roads. A prize fight
or a turkey grab would succeed on
some railroads and make money, but
1 don't believe many of the big roads OF
the west will take up this vaudeville in
nOvatiOn."
Other Chicago railroad magnates
thought that the plan would not be
feasible. With the train running alOns
at sixty miles an hour cOnsiderabl loss
of life would result If passengers went
out between the acts. Eggs are also
expensive on buffet cars. and enough
to throw at an ordinary low comedian
would cost several dollars Some Of the
more impressiona bic passengers might
become so engrossed in the singing SOU
brette as TO be carried past their sta
tons.