The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-07
RUSH FOR MELBA SEATS.
The Early Morning Saw Long Line
of Eager Buyers.

"a GdSOI buyers.
From the Kansas City Star:
Hardly had the echoes of the last tri-
umphant Jones yell died away in the
early morning dampness to-day when a
mysterious looking figure wrapped in a
great coat glided out of the darkness
house. The figure looked up at the
clouded sky and then raped on the
heavy door. Then it sat down on the
cold stone steps and its teeth began to
chatter. 1t was o'clock.
Soon another figure, muff1ed and mys-
FERROUS as the first, took seat on the
cold steps-and its teeth did chatter
likewise.
And then came another and another
and another, and soon all their teeth
did chatter like unto chorus of skulls
shaken in a basket.
And soon there came some more ana
some more muff1ed forms and there
were so many that they no longer sat
upon the steps, but stood in long line
that reached more than half a block
And their teeth did still chatter-and
then the men began to chatter.
HAD FUN WITH ONE ANOTHER.
81 never thought you would turn
WAITER said muff1ed number one 10
muff1ed number two.
two, but here I am-and my wife is
responsible for it.
s.Oh. your wife?' sighed the first.
yes. she wants to see MelOa anu
then die"
Was there a CLEAN of sarcasm IN the
reply of number one!
Il wish it were my mother-1n-laW-
Just then the sun came up ana the
first man saw that he had oeen Talking
to his brother-in-laW-
By o'clock the sun shone full on
long line of tired, impatient persons,
that stretched out and twisted anu
wriggled like a black snake.
1t was a rattlesnake, and every rev
moments a figure would rush up the
walk and add another button TO the
rattle. It was a composite snake anu
musical. Porters and managers, nus
bands and sons, aspiring musicians
and teachers, tenors and bassos,
who could sing and those who thought
thew could sing. When the man went
into the little office and opened the WIN
dow there was a great cran1ng OF necKs
and flashing of So bills that would
have disturbed a bank clerk and
clamoring for tickets that made the
ticket seller take off his coat
OF course it was all on account or the
coming of Melba next Saturday night
The seats that persons usually gfuoge
81 for were selling like not CAKES al
SIS apiece, and the reserved gallery seats
that one might usually buy Tor. 70 Genus
were eagerly sought for at 81. AS fast
as the money and tickets could be ex-
changed the line dwindled away, until
at 80 O'Clock all had been served but
about thirty of those who had waited
patiently for three hours.
Melba's prices are the same every
where Her manager has tickets OF
his own printed with the price on each
of them and carries them with him
from city to city. Even this precaution
does not prevent speculation, however,
and some who put it off until the last
moment pay double the price of the
tickets. Of the tickets placed on sale
this morning there was a large early
sale, and after the first rush was over
a steady stream poured in and out the
office during the morning. The sale
was uniform in every part of the house,
and fully as many orchestra seats were
purchased as those of the gallery.