The Billings gazette., 1899-06-30
TRIALS OF A WOMAN.
SHE WHO TAKES tn. TICKETS At
THE PICTURE SHOWS.

As rule the young woman who
takes tickets at the picture exhibition
Ia an art student herself. The other
girls trying to earn money envy her
and think she has a soft thing" It
Is apparently easy enough to be tho
ticket taker at plctupe show All
there is to DO, apparently, Is to sit IN
roomful OF pictures, take peoples
tickets as they come in and sell cata.
logues.
"You would be surprised TO see how
much work It Is said girl who
takes tickets at one OF the big cxh.
bitions. "You have to keep your eyes
open all the time, for there are n large
number of people who try to run past
without tickets. haA to 70 after
people dozen times day. calling
ticket, please, and they turn on me
with an Indignant stare. Most Of
them then 80 and buy tickets. But
one we'll dressed woman the other day
! took UP her lorgnette, looked me over
from head to foot, and said In an Icy
tone: Ticket! l have no ticketr ana
proceeded calmly on her way. ran
after her again.
"'Madame,' l said, shall have to
trouble you for a ticket
"T have already told you had
none she said.
"I'm afraid you will have to get
one said |. was beginning to be
afraid l should have to get II 'bouncer'
to put her out, for | was determined
she should not 60 III without paying.
That Is what I'm here for, and | am
conscientious. Well, at last she tiounc-
ed out to the ticket office. bought her
ticket and put 1t down on my desk,
saying:
"'What an imposition"
"That Is one sort OF the people have
to deal with. Then the other Is the
kind who wish to borrow catalogue
for a minute and keep 1t the whole aft
ernoon. have to be very stern about
catalogues. The best way Is to polite.
ly look up whatever picture is asked
for and to absolutely refuse TO let any
one take catalogue for a moment.
One nice old lady took my at my word.
and | really believe she asked me
every single number in the room. |
did more than 25 cents worth Of work
for her. can tell you. The worst Is
telling people the price OF pictures. ATT.
ter about six weeks Of 1t 1t CRATES on
ones nerves. This is what continually
happens: A threadbare old gentleman
comes to the desk;
"'Do you know the price Of pic
tures?' he asks.
"'Yes; would you like to know the
price Of any? reply.
""There Is one In the other ROOM he
says.
"'What Is the number| ask.
"'l can't tell you the number. but It's
In the other room
"rhen l have to send him for the
number.
"'No. 221.'
""rhat Is $500.
"'Why" asks my old gentleman.
"If It's early In the afternoon. l eX-
plain to him that suppose the artist
thinks It worth that; that he Is we'll
known, or what not; later ] say. i
don't know Not one person In 80 Of
those who ask the price have the
slightest idea Of buying. Some will
go through half an exhibition and In.
slst on knowing the prices Of all l
get so tired Of being polite and atfable
to all these people that by the time l
get out In the evening ! am ready to
insult my dearest friend for the sake
of being rude to some one It's so
hopeless telling the price Of a picture
over and over again and each time
having the people exclaim, What an
awful price"
"A great many people hold me per-
sonally responsible for the pictures.
Lots Of people come and talk very dis
agreeably to me about them. What
makes them have such bad shows"
they ask me- Young men come up
and say. Isn't this awful trash" In an
accusing sort OF way, rs though
had done 1t all myself. And one man
fairly shook his fist In my face and
demanded his money back. It's a
swindle" he shouted at me- But 1t
really wasn't my fault
eat private exhibitions it's different.
There people come up to me and say,
what a privilege to sit among the
works of the masters all day.
don't tell them that If ! sat among
the works Of the masters much longer
] should go mad, but ! would like to.
'"rhe other day friend OF mine
took my place, A man came up to her
and asked:
"'Miss, Is your picture among these
works Of artI'
"'Why, no. she replied,
"He stood off q little way and
squinted at her, Ut should be-you
are worthy of 1t. Did no one ever tell
tou you had a beautiful protileT
"That was little startling, coming
from an utter stranger, Later she
learned that her admirer was ----, the
we'll known photographer, or course
La. LII. ~ Laa.