The times., 1899-12-03

necessary in this enlightened town, but you
cannot make managers understand IT,
This is common sense-not only for New
Fork, but for Washington. The practice
of littering dead walls with multi-colored
paper is one that costs visiting attractions
thousands of dollars monthly. and that
in return. affects only the galleries of
local playhcuses. Il is absurd to suppose
that any intelligent man or woman will
regulate his or her theatregoing by the
Autographs pasted about between adver-
tisements of baking powder and of shoe
backing Theatrical bill posting is a nui-
sance, and a nOnsensical nuisance, at that
The use of slang is not to be commend
ed In daily newspaper, but there are GER
tain phrases of the street which have no
parallels in eXpressiveness. Some people
make one tired'-there is no other way
Of vOicing the idea. George Lederer OF
the Casino and other theatrical enterprises.
is the latest of these
Recently Mr.. Lederer has been rendering
himself ridiculous in many fashions Only
fortnight ago he wrote number of sup
per invitations sent them unsigned 70 the
girls in his The Man in the Moon chorus
and discharged those who replied. Perhaps
this method commended itself to certain
pUrists and. after all, il concerns no one
but the manager and his employees. But the
final stroke does deserve general attention.
Because the denizsns of the Windy City
did not flock TO hear THE FOUNDERS" ana
because the critics of that metropolis were
not unanimous in their praise, Mr.. Led@re"
has announced that he will cut Chicago off
his route sheet" BY the Notwithstanding
I sentence quoted he means that his attrac-
/ tions will be sent to Chicago no more The
/ great Western town will be forced to get
/ on without them.
4I,g 20
+ be a dreadful calamity. The average man
/ and woman doubtless will feel that Chicago
/ can get on without MIR. Lederer quite as
we'll as Mr.. Ledersr can get on without Chi
/ Cago The deprivation would seem to mean
/ merely a trihing abstinance from late sup
/ pers ON the part of Chicago's youth-from
! legs ard lingerie on the part of Chicago 9
old age. The remainder of the population
/ by exercising a little seh-control may
manage to forget the charm OF Ludwig
Englandar's colorless music and OF Harry
B. Smiths recent witless lines. The ini-
/ tiated-Leander Richardson and others
among Mr.. Lederer's staff of paid and un-
I paid press agents-wiIl see readily that this
new move Will prove the greatest catastro-
( phe which Chicago has been called upon 90
I endure since the year Of the fire.
Fortunately, from the viewpoint Of the
aforesaid press agents the boycott is not
likely to last Time win heal Mr. Le-
| derers walled about Irritation" and it
may even awaken him to a much needed
| appreciation OF the fact that the ownership
of the Casino does not carry with it, as a
perquisite. the ownership of every ounce of
conscience and every inch of newspaper
| space known to exist outside of New York.
The gold cure always has proved excellent
| treatment for such irritation Charles
/ Frohman was irritated not long ago be-
| cause San Francisco would not enthuse over
number two organizations. San Francisco
was cut off" And yet even now, Mr..
Frohman is planning TO send John Drew 70
California Immediately upon the closing OF
the comedians Eastern season. Mr.. Le-
derer's tender feelings doubtless were "ir-
ritated' not so much by superfiuity OF
criticism as by lack of patronage. When
Chicago which managed TO do very we'll
with David Henderson before the Casino
was opened, evidences a Willingness to pay
for Mr. Lederer's exhibitions of the female
form divine it is not likely that the exhibit
tions will be denied.
But. seriously. this "cut Off nonsense
doks make one tired A two-night stand
does not rejoice in the sort of theatre Mr
I'rohman would like it to have. and the
town is "cut off. The city council Of
Des Moines, Iowa passes law that if a
trfe blue, is the business of no outsiders
and ghtway Des MOines is cut OIL
The newspaper writer's of Chicago. who
compose as able and honest a body as there
IS in this country, do not agree with Mr.
Lederer is his opinion of his attractions
and Chicago is ''cut of" Recently, wheI
The Times ventured to voice its opinion o
Klaw & Erlanger extravaganza, those
gentlemen threatened that, unless the To-
; cal press was muzZled, Washington would
} be ''cut off " What arrant, insolent ego
tistieal impudence. Doubtless, If these
} directors do not acquire proprietary right.
to the earth in the course of events, theil
combinations will not leave New York
where a majority of the reviewers are il
the habit of saying whatever it is desirab.t
that they should say.
I Fortunately 1t is not probable that, out
side OF a few cities as notorious as thei
{ critics are corruptible and ignorant, tn
threats OF these managers will have an,
effect Chicago is showing no sign Of con
e triton Neither are San Francisco an
i Des Moines. AS for WashingtOn-Th
Times denies that any theatrical combina
I ton can control it to the slightest degree
The Times wishes to endorse the Chicag
j opinion that THE Founders is the mos
e stupid, horsey cOncoction that ever ema
mated from the Casino. And, if Mr.. Leder
/ er sees fit. he can "cut off" Washingto
whenever he pleases!