The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-04-10

In demOniacal tones he refers TO every
action that goes on, and spoils little bits
of suggestions by explaining them fully
The crowd around feels like Iynchiug
this little fellow, but are unable to do
it, because of the injustice of our nation
al laws about jUstifiabe homicide. The
knave in a dress suit three rows ahead
who breaks in upon pretty scenes by
telling the house of his personal &C
quaintance with the player is an angel
compared with this vainglorious egotist
behind.
At the end of the act both of these
parties together with a large portion of
the rest of the house. make it their bust
ness to 90 out. II is not often that
either drinks. but he crowds his way past
Just the same and waits until the next
scene is we'll under way before coming
back. When he reaches the auditorium
too early after the beginning of the next
act, he sits down and finishes the con-
versatiOn begun outside. Between all
these nuisances and inconvenience the
play is nearly over when one begins to
enjoy it. For thirty minutes there is not
a sound in his house and the man and
his best girl begin to wonder if, by a
rareful comparison of notes and bright
guessing, they cannot find what the
whole thing was about. They determine
that there may be some Clew in the last
scene and wait for it -anxiousIy So do
the rest of the audiences and when il
comes the house begins to straggIe out
From a murmur that merely diScOmforts
the actors and annoyS the audience the
sound of early leavers swells into the
roar of a mighty ocean and only culmi-
mates when the final curtain has fallen
Then the remainder of the martyrs file
out, wondering if the production was
good or bad and hoping so with all their
hearts.
What delightful evening one may
spend at the theater;
But with all due seriousness il may be
said that the fault of this continual nui-
sance is with the men who manage the
theaters A little irmness and courage
would secure for their patrons comfort in
watching performances they have paid
most dearly for. There is no reason why
gentlemen and ladies should arrive at
place of amusement late any more thar
at depot and there is no reason why
they should be admitted when they do
any more than that train should wait
for them. Their entrance fees do ncr
come TO more than those paid by others
and they certainly do not purchase the
right to disturb. A printed provision on
tickets sold might easily give managers
the TlBul 10 utIldNu OF THESE u4tIl-IdSu-
ionables what good sense and courtesy do
not seem to have taught them-that man
who buys u seat at the theater is also
supposed to purchase immunity from an
nOyance while witnessing the perform
ance. The only right and proper remedy
for the trouble would be 10 insist that
late Corners stand back of the orchestra
circle until the act in which they arrived
be over This would, without much in
convenience to the tardy ones. be of great
benefit to others in the house. Besides
which the bonnets of the ladies would be
seen to better advantage after the lights
were turned up.
OF course the other matters might not
be so easily taken in hand Ii would
probably be impossible To suppress the
dress-suited youngster or 10 murder the
loud-vGiced man, but a notice on pro
grams requesting ladies to remove their
hats might succeed in finishing reform
already well begun, and the t-between-
acts bother could easily be taken into con
sideratiOn. simple question as To
whether Il seat purchaser intended to go
out and consequent knowledge as to
where to place him would not be ILL
timed. and Certainly would not be taken
in the wrong way. There is very little
excuse for the torttfres patrons of the
theater are forced TO bear and managers
should be compelled to take measures to
alleviate them.
One thing that seems 10 require espe-
ciai notice - he ,f