The times., 1899-11-05

raised again-this time before the assem-
bage had decided whether to clap its
hands or not. The star was given luke
warm reception and took advantage of it
to step before the house. He was cheered
a bit. Out he came again The cheering
increased. Another bow. Speech! cried
a boy in the gallery. The star put his
palm over his heart and shook his head.
/ Then he disappeared. Speech Speechi"
Hem" said the triumphant actor. Il
want to express TO you my thanks for this
cordial greeting. [Applause-l l want to
tell you how much | appreciate your kind
| ly feeling. This is my fifth night in
/ Washington, and five times 1 have been
Obliged to make a speech. [Applause.l 1t
would be impossible for me 10 tell you
how Observation-Disclosures has moved me.
/ can only say that in all sincerity I thank
you" LDeafening applause.l you should
have been at the National Friday" re-
marked young woman to the writer
week later. Mr.. was brought out
seven timesi'
In Paris these things are not trusted to
chance. A certain number of men-chiefs
of the clique-are paid to organize bodies
trained to make q noise at stipulated
points of the performance. The aforesaid
chiefs occupy placarded chairs, and are
surrounded by their assistants, each OF
whom is as familiar with his cues as are
the players on the stage. The system has
its drawbacks, but at least, il is more
satisfactory than that in vogue in London
and New York, where ushers and house at
taches OF unusually emotional natures are
moved frequently to thunders of approba-
tiOn at the very lines which audiences gen.
orally receive in the most conspicuous si-
lenCe. The one combination is not more
known than the other, a demOnstratiVe
doorkeeper being quite as observable as a
labeled chief of the clique. No regular
theatregoer can be ignorant of either. Il
is said that after the Broadway production
of "A Marriage of Convenience" at the
Empire a well-liked producer walked into
the Lambs Club. How did the piece go?"
he asked. Great came the answer Nine
calls after the second act" "Humph,"
was the reply. That's odd I heard that
Mr.. Frohman had ordered ten"
Will Post, husband of Marion Giroux and
part author of My Friend From India"
quilted the Garrick one evening before the
end Of the play being done there. Going
already?' quoth the manager. That's al
right, replied Mr.. Post, Il left my ap-
plause with the head usher"
But these are only a very few CT the
styles adopted for the manipulation of the
public. Skillful writer's have so learned to
use the pity, admiration, and interest of
theatregCers that the success cl >.lr
has come to depend-at least temporarily
less upon his or her gifts than upon those
of his or her representative. The Chicago
genius who had a woman Kissed in the gal
lery that she might be cheered from the or
chestra seats only adapted to his own needs
a plan that was first tried with a weil-re-
membered prima donna in the City of
Mexico The LiebIers' system of inducing
noyelists to come from their pedestals and
be exhibited was invented when East
Lynne" had it premiere in Boston. Israel
Zangwill's attack upon the critics of Goth
am was not new. George owen O'Connor
made a business of provoking newspaper
wrath all along his route. The Primrose
and DoCkstader- William West fight at Buff
walo was unique only in its musical feat
ures. L Don't Like No Cheap Man" and
4 Don't Care Ef Yo' Nebber Come Back
had not been composed when Colonel
Jack" Haverly was cultivating the enmity
of all his rivals Mrs. Wood and Mr.
O'Connor and Colonel" Haverly all owed
a measure of their success to these things.
II is not probable that p. T. Barnum was
quite right when he said that the public
likes TO be fooled" To the thinking portion
of the public the process must be trying
and humliating. Few play-seers would
submit to dictation did they knew that they
were being dictated to. But generally they
do rot Many of them labor under the i'm
preston that they are spreading the gospel
in repeating press agents reports and en-
couraging merit when the clever use of
drop curtain moves them to enthusiasm
Truly, the wisest may go astray in cult
waiting familiarity with things theatrical
On last Sunday evening in New York
city Jessie Wood the critic of the Even
ing Journal" shuffled off this mortal coil
The fact is of moment not because Miss
Wood had to do with one of Gotham's dai-
lies. but because of the well-known person
ality and work of the woman herself There
probably is not an actor or actress in this
country who has not, at one time or ancth-
er. writhed under the comment OF the dead
reviewer. There are few readers of news
papers who are not familiar with her style.
To both OF these classes the demise of the
writer came as a great surprise.
With all possible reverence, il may b
remarked that Miss Woods removal fror
the field OF active labor in ITSELF is no
regrettabe The articles that came from
Miss Woods pen and the pictures with
which they were illustrated were a con
stant insult to the people whose effort
formed her topics. These articles were moi