Evening journal., 1898-12-12
] K BIYLIS

There was a time in this country
when, outside Of the greater cities, the
only theatrical amusement at the peo-
ples command was the occasional ap-
pearance at some hall Of barn
stOrming company composed Of firth
rate actors who neither knew their
lines nor how to act them, and the
more rare visit of some really good ac-
tor with good company. But, hap
PLY, those days are past. Nowadays
every city of Importance has one or
more theatres, where the best attrac-
tions may be seen.
It is a singular thing, however, that
in all cities Of 100, 600 population or in
that neighborhOod, there is always
some particular amusement house that
always occupies in the mind of the
public the prestige Of being "the best
house in town" And there is usually
very good reason for the bestowal
Of this proud title on one particular
house. The theatre occupying this
eminence in the public eye in any city
70 usually managed by a man who has
an intimate knowledge not only Of
every phase Of the theatrical business,
but enc also who knows intimately his
patrons, who has his finger always on
the pulse Of his especial clientele, and
who ascertains juet what the people
want and then proceeds TO give it to
them with every accessory needed to
make it's production complete. Should
his lati Ons like high-class drama, this
wise manager does not attempt to force
them to be content with farce comedy
or vice versa. He sees that the besi
people in the profession in the liner
which please his patrons are secured
and his management is a guarantee (
the people OF his town that when ;
company is billed it is one that maj
be seen with the assurance that th'
audience will be pleased.
Such a house as l have described Il
the Grand Opera House. Of Whining
ton, Del, and It's manager Jesse X
Baylis, is one of those managers whom
/ have tried to depict, whose sole ain
Is to please his public, to give then
what they want, and the success whicl
the house has achieved is sufficien
proof that Mr.. Baylis policy pays.
The Grand Opera House is undoubt
edly the leading theatre Of Whining
ton along the lines of the legitimate
and its career Of uninterrupted success
since Mr.. Baylis has been its manage
has been a source OF qualification no
only to theatre-goers, but to all citi
zens.
Mr.. Bayis fret took charge Of tn
house in 1874, and except for a periol
when he embarked in another busines
has been it's manager ever since. I'm
der his regime some Of the most IA
nous artists in the world have appear
ed in Wilmington, and he has made
reputation that is national as a sue
ceseful director of a theatre.
Personally Mr.. Baylis is one of tn
representative citizens of Wilmingfo
and has been a number of times select
ed by his fellow-citizens to fill impor
tant offices. For several terms he wa
! president Of the City Council. He /
deservedly popular, not alone in hi
home city, but with every artist VIII
has appeared in his theatre It ha
often been asserted that the represen
tative opera house Of a city is tn
business barometer Of the same. NJ
Baylis reports that from August ND t
the present date the house has not ha
losing night This fact tells of Wi
mington's return to prosperity.
5 camille and Financial Times.