The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-11

Some Things That Impressed an Americas
Woman as Being Odd or Noticeable.

woman as Being Odd or Noticeable.
London theatres arc different In many
ways from New York theatres" said a woman
who has lust got back home. I'm the first
place. like the railways. many OF them are
built underground. big nunkey dressed In
the style of George ". or a punctilious per.
sonage in u swallowtail points you out the
stalls and you go down one flight OF stairs.
maid in white cap and apron directs you
down another. at the landing OF which another
maid in another white cap and apron directs
you further down still. until you stand at Q
side entrance and the flare OF the stage bursts
upon you.
Standing there at the side entrance mo.
mcnt before the maid comes to seat you, the
appearance OF the stalls strikes you i'm posing.
Everybody Is in full dress. There ire some
very beautiful shoulders. but. alas! there are
also some that are not beautiful; but beautiful
or not. they are all bare.
In my opinion the pit spoils the effect OF the
stalls. Our way OF making the gallery seats
the cheapest is decidedly the best. The juxta-
position OF exquisite toilets, elaborate coiffures
and bare shoulders with the common everyday
clothes OF the poorer class is too violent. I'm.
agine carpeted floors. white aproned attend.
ants, perfumes and flowers divided from you
by board wall four feet high. above whch-it
reaches Just to the eycs-seatod In hardwood
cHulE, WIN your ltel Oh u Dare llOOr. you gaze
in a melancholy way over into the promised
land. Some tourists buy seats for the pit-the
difference in the price is considerable. two
shillings and siXpcnce for the pit. ten shillings
and siIpence for the stalls-but rather than slt
there with the fence separating me from 1.-THE
swells would stay at home forever.
The pit applauds strange and unexpected
sentiments. In fact. you are never quite GER
tain what it will applaud; neither. l imagine,
are the actors. For instance, a large and un-
wieldy actress SAYS in a loud voice. Some
people buy their gowns in Paris. but London 10
good enough for me-. whercat the pit comes
down in II stupendous thunder of applause
interspersed with cries Of. Bravo! bravol
bravo" An actress who has been Il magnificent
success decade or SO before appears upon the
stag" She stands in the glare OF the foot
lights. wreck Of her former self. and before
her cracked voice can, break upon the enrap-
stands on its head. throws its hat in the air and
shouts Bravo, bravo. bravo"
~ some peculiar customs prevail in the stalls.
natural way, but i was their coming back that
surprised me. They entered at about three
rows in the rear Of their original seats. and de-
liherately climbed over the intervening backs
of those three young men. all in evening dress,
with shining patent feathers and expansive
n"Tho prevailing afternoon tea prevails also
at the matnecs. Between the third and fourth
acts, or dlter the llfSt piece, while the scenery
is being showed about for the one-act farce. the
maids serve tea at siXpcuce. 1t gives n home-
Tx" air tn a theatre to see these neat and nim-
bic maids going about with their tiny trays.
waiting on the women.lwho gather in groups
and chatter as they drink their tea for all the
world as II they were at home in their own
drawing rooms.
Every posi- Bile effort is made for the COM
fort OF the London thcatrcgocr: otherwise he
complains. He must have his moneys worth
or the manager suffers. In many cases the
manager is deserving o. sympathy At a
matinee at Her MaJesty's Theatre there was
som" knocking on the outside wall. 1t did
not annoy m" in fact. | hardly noticed it un-
III some on" nearby complained IN go and
ana walked out with determined stride.
Several others in different parts OF the theatre
got up and walked out. The manager was be-
s!"gcd. TIL" knocking continued. Finally
MIR. Tree came before the fODtlights His
countcnance was rerturb"d. He npooRized
knock Ing. promising to do all in his power to
have 1t stopped. He hadi Stopp"d-l wondered
how much he paid those carpenters to stop
their work for couple Of hours-anh the play
went scrcncN Oh.
In one important particular tho London
~ his patrons. Rather than put them to the
necessity Of going outside IN cold. stormy
weather in cases OF sudden and extreme thirst.
b" supplies their needs Mt close range. In .
London thratr" YOU not only find c.oakrooms,
umbrella repositories. billiard rooms and
rooms where tea is hrewcd and thin slices Of
broad and butter are served upon Il moments
notice. but you hnd fu-nc lGrd barr roms, gilt.
trring vi tn cut glass and long -n"rked bottles
Nlled to IN" hrlm with the uhiIuitOus Scotch
whiskcy. together with its ins"parable com.
Ianloh. the inevitable Sizing soda water"