The times., 1899-12-17

was that shown In Children of the Ghet-
to- If the Lieblers see to this they should
not find it difficult to retrieve with the sec
ond offering their losses from the first.
Above all things. when The Mantle is
produced, George Tyler would do well to
keep Israel Zapgwill out Of the country
An exhibition of! author is not half SO de-
sirable as an exhibition OF that authors
Cleyerness.
The managers CT the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York, and Of two like thea
tres in Chicago have determined to put a
stop to the nuisance of repeated selections.
This move, which is the result of long
suffering on the part Of artists and public,
is being heartily commended by various in
fuential newspapers. a fortnight ago a
prominent writer in speaking of the affair
said:
That a number Of publications devoted to the
interests of music and kindred arts and aWusc-
nents should have found ID necessary of late TO
protest against the encore habit IS significant of
the extent to which the nuisance has grown
Il has come TO be taken for granted at many
concerts and miscellaneous entertainments that
the length of the programme is to be- nearly
doubled by the addition OF encore numbers.
Whether OF not the majority of thc audience IS
really disposed 10 hear performer for the sec
UEd time. there seems TO be always a minority
which. either from personal friendship on from
a stout purpose to be sure of getting its moneys
worth keeps up the applause until an encore IS
granted. The result is not only tlat many nt
the attendants are bored. but that the whole
character OF the programme which presumably
is made upon certain we'll defined principles OF
programme construction, IS altered or wholly de
syroyed
The managers Of concerts and other public
CujeTl lJlnmeuts. il they 50 desire, can pat an
end 10 this practice early in the present season,
simply by placing on their programme "A line
announcing that encorCS VIII not be granted, and
then adherlug their decision. I'm occasion
al instance, no doubt. the rule must be broken,
but let it be when the performance Is exception
al and the demand sincere. Where. rs IN the
case OF Mr.. Thoma-' programmes. eminent
sOioist appears bat once an encore number is
no doubt admissible. and Mr Thomas himself
lately has shown 4 willingness to accord 2 single
encore II il comes IN response 10 a spontaneous
and sincere demand, In Sucu Instances an encore
means something. Under the present custom an
encore is neither a compliment 10 the performer
nor a source OF satisfaction TO the majority af
the audience As u general thing the fewer en-
cores the better.
ANY one who ever has sat through an
amateur entertainment on Sunday night
at a local theatre will fully appreciate the
justice of these remarks Six determined
and well-dispOsed friends OF a performer
can make it necessary for an entire assem-
blage to tolerate an added ten minutes Of
piano solo or recitation. Occasionally
when the initial number has been very
bad, the majority enter a protest against
the minority that is apt to be embarrass
ing to all concerned. In professional en-
tertainments encOres are a trial to labOrer
and listener The sooner the habit" is
abated the better.
That famous volume OF George AIDES
clever Fables in Slang contains one
chapter that should be read by every the
atregoer with the same interest that the
remainder are sure to provoke from the
general public. Nothing more deliCiously
humorous or facetiously true has been
printed since the day of "Dooley." The
tale in question is dubbed The Fable of
Paducah's Fayorite Comedians and the
Mldewed Stunt" If there was the faint
est possibility that the persons depicted
would recognize themselves in that Gepic-
tion. the charitably inclined would do well
to send marked copies Of the book to all
the vaudeville houses. In a missionary
spirit a portion OF the anecdOte herewith
is reproduced:
Once Upon 4 Time there was a Speciality Team
doing Seventeen Minutes. The Props used in the
Act included a Ratchet a Brick SETTER Bot
tie two inflated Bladders, and a Slap-stick The
Name OF the Team was ZorOaster and IeudayCsta
These two TrOupcrs began their Professional
Career with a Road Circus, working on Canvas in
the Morning and then doing a refined Knockabout
in the Grand Concert OF Atterpiecc taking place
in the Main Arena Immediately after the big
Show is over.
When each OF them could Kick Himself in the
Eye and Slattery had picked his Face SO that
Stebbins could walk ID, they decided that they
were too good TO show under a Round Top so
they became Artists. They wanted a Swell Name
for the Team, SO the Side Show Announcer who
was somewhat OF kidder, and had attended
Unitarian College gave them Zoroaster and Zen
davesta. They were Stuck on it, and had 4 Job
Printer do some Cards for them.
BY utilizing two Of Pat Rooney's Songs and
stealing a few Gags, they put together Seventeen
Minutes and began 10 play Dates and COmbina
t0H5
Zoroaster bought a Cane with a Silver Dogs
Head on il. and Zendayest1 had a Watch Charm
that pulled the ButtOuAOles out Of his Vest.
Alter every Show, as soon they Washed Up,
they went and stood IN front Of the Theatre SO as
to give the Hired Girls a Treat, or else they stood
around in the Sawdust and told their Fellow
Workers in the Realm OF Dramatic Art how they
killed 'em in Decatur and had 'em hOllerin' in
Lowell, Mass, and got every Hand in the House
at 81. Paul Occasionally they would put
Card in the Clipper saying they were the
Best in the Business Bar None, and Good Dress
ers on and of the Stage. Regards to Leonzo
Brothers Charley Diamond, please write.
They didn't have to study no New Gags work
up no more business, becuz they had the Best