The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-21
COMEDY NOVELTY
Topeka Dramatic Club opens
Its Entertainment
With q Somewhat Startling Blu
of Realism.
PEOPLE STARTLED
By Trouble Between Occupants
of a Box and Usher,
But They Were Only Explaining
the Plot of the Play.
PEOPLE STARTLED

'sBut can't a lady wear her bonnet II
she likes in a private box; what non
sense is this?"
The voice was loud enough to be
heard in all parts of the Crawford the
alter, and it emanated from the front
balcony box on the left of the auditor
iurn At the first sound the orchestra
ceased playing, the hum of converse
ton on the first floor ceased and all eyes
were turned in that direction. A young
man was standing by the side OF d
chair in which the young lady who &C
companied him had just sat down HIS
face was turned angrily toward that OF
the usher who had shown them 10 the
seat in the box a moment before. Inc
most noticeable portion of the young
ladys toilette was a large leghorn nat
trimmed with red roses.
Rules of the house that all ladleS
must remove hats at performance,
the audience heard the usher say in an
abrupt reply to the young mans re-
mark.
But this is a private box; the hat
is not obstructing any ones gaze" went
on the young man in voice that gave
evidence of a desire to both brighten and
convince.
Cant help it," said the usher stolid-
ly Rules of the house, you know"
'Oh, hang the rules of the house,
blurted out the young man while the
angry expression on MS lace IGSOlNCO
itself into an absolute ScOWl Il say
it's q downright imposition, an absolute
curtailment of personal liberty, to ask
a. young lady to remove her hat in
private box when she doesn't want to. -
Cant help that either" repeated the
usher in an aggravattng sort of a way.
Management insists on all ladies re-
moving their hats"
''Oh. well, all right, if you very i'm
politely insist" and the young man gave
the usher parting glare and turned to
his associate, who during the discussion
had been sitting with a half frightened
look on her face. My dear" he said
as his expression softened, Il suppose
you will have to remove your hat"
The young lady's hands instantly
sought the offending headgear. AS she
withdrew the fastening she leaned
slightly over the railing of the box. 1t
was heavy with red roses in front and
toppled with the action of her head.
Her hold was not secure and the thin
straw slipped from her fingers. She
made a frantic effort to grasp it as it
fell but her action was too late. The
audience saw a streak of red and yellow
as it turnbled to the theater floor.
And then something happened. A
man sitting in a seat directly under the
box jumped to his feet. He held the
construction of thin straw and red roses
in his hand. My wife's bonnet he
exclaimed.
The young lady was still leaning over
the railing of the box At the exclama-
ton OF the man below her she started
My husband she gasped.
She had barely time to draw back in
her chair before the man on the first
floor turned his eyes to the box Her
bonnet by all that's holy he said as he
gazed at the compartment above him.
Just then something else happened
Back in the rear of the house a stem
torian voice roared: Put him out"
Another voice took up the cry and the
stentorian voice gave vent TO it again
Ihen a medley of voices Joined in and
ut him out" Put him OUT" resound-
ed through the house
Inc young man standing in the aisle
reaIlzed that the chorus in the rear
no longer at the box but bewiiderineylV
at the faces about him. An usher
started down the aisle toward him.
QUIZ have to leave the house he
said as he reached him.
Put him OUT Put him OUT" vel1ad