The times., 1899-03-19
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

Press Agent Roth, who. besides being
representative for Hotel Topsy Turyy," 8"
is one of the best fellows imaginable
travelled from Cleveland TO Pittsburg with
his company recently and declares that
during the journey he made note of more
good stories than he win have opportunity
10 use during the rest Of his natural life.
Nearly every member Of the troupe seemed
TO be in a reminiscent mood and the result
was that each contributed to the collection
OF anecdotes. The first man TO open the
conversation was Eddie Foy. whose tale
concerned Dion Boucicault, the famous
author OF THE Colleen Bawn" and other
Irish dramas. Mr.. Foy said that in one
OF the small towns at which the play
wright was announced to appear a number
of years ago the manager of the local
-'op'ry house was asked how he thought
the star would do. The amusement ca
terer hesitated and finally replied, We'll,
IL Boucicault comes / hope he'll be better
than he was before. Last time he was
here he fell off the rope"
The small town part of the joke made
Edwin J. Connolly think of an experience
that fell to his while he was starring
in a piece called "A Soap Bubble" In the
average ''one-night stand when 4 COM
pany arrives its director usually calls for
a rehearsal of the theatre orchestra. Mr.
Connelly's organization reached a little
place in Kansas during the course of its
travels and the musicians were ordered 10
assemble early III the afternoon Al the
appointed time the comedian went to the
building and found one lone man walking
up and down in front OF the stage with
cornet under his arm. Mr.. Connolly asked.
Where Is the remainder of the band2"
viii he
I'm all the band you can get The rest
of the fellows are playing at q dance to-
night"
"Ah." remarked Mr. Connolly. sarcas-
tically. land / suppose you're the best
cornetist in the world"
The composite orchestra answered: Not
by damn-sight- II ! were I'd be playing
at the dance, too"
This anecdote created roar of laughter.
When quiet was restored Amelia Sum
mervilie remembered passing through
a country village last season and disem-
barking with other members of her COM
pany for dinner. There had been two
performances that day and a weary rail
way journey had completed the work of
firing the tender Thespians completely
out Consequently all felt that lynching
was in order upon hearing one of the
lOungers about the depot suggest, SHOW
folks, / reckon" and another grunt dis
grstedly. 'Ah, ANY old thing TO get out
of working
But although the press agent will not ac-
knowledge it, perhaps the best OF the mar
ratives related was contributed by Mr..
Roth himself. Time was when this profess
sional promoter of publicity was travelling
in the interest of a one-ring circus Only
the smallest of places were visited and
Mr.. Roth's duties more often compelled
md hypc ct fnr III
pose OF posting his own bills than TO COM
pose matter for local newspapers. Whether
II was the difficulty OF the position or mere
constitutional weakness cannot be said bu,
eventually the man ahead" came down
with fever and was forced to take to his
bed. He did not write the managers of the
SHOW. thinking his illness slight one.
and after fortnight OF misery got up and
went on with his labors. Consecutiyely he
visited town after town in the order per-
scribed in his route book, sticking up pla-
cards and taeking banners with more than
his accustomed yigor
One day Mr.. Roth reached village some
three hundreds miles from that in which
he had been stricken. Anxious to let his
employers know that be was doing his best
and worried at not having heard from them
regarding the paper he had SO layishly
bestowed on the empty boards by which
and began distributing gaudy pictures
about the miniature station, which acted
as sort of municipal gateway. While thus
engaged. an ancient rustic drew near and
watched the operation with apparent inter-
est When the first OF the bills had been
put together he asked: Jenkins Brothers
shows-hay" Yes" said Mr.. Roth. Aud
then he paused to dilate on the wonders OF
the aforesaid shows. The farmer listened
patiently until his informant had finish
ed. and then he quietly remarked: Il
knoN-that gang was here a week ago."
For moment the impressario of the bricl,
fence vas stunned. Then he got his senses
togther and asked questions. The facts
CLEANED were lamentable. but they were
facts beyond doubt During his two weeks
Illness the circus had passed its advance
agent and gone on ahead. Upon recovering
the representative had forgotten the length
OF his confinement and had continued ad-
vertising the combination in towns it had