The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-17

prising newspaper surely ought to rescri-
be. The thing is no sooner said than done
The society reporter" is at once dispat-
ched to interview the charming lady,
and in the morning column or so OF
elobrate description, both OF Miss Lam
ouroux and her gowns, and her pet pug.
appears in the daily prints. The reporters
are also permitted TO attend the rehearsal
and chat with the princapls between the
acts. They have the rare experience of
watching, the coryphees rehearse their
parts in tailor-made gowns, OF listening
to the perennial disputes between the
contralto and the leader of the orchestra,
and of lending willing ear to the stage
manager while he curses the chorus girls.
A day or so before the initial the most
touching incident occures. This is the
paper" The paper consists Of a large
number of small pink slips, each OF
which can be exchanged at the box-oflce
for two choice orchestra chairs. These
slips are distributed by the press agent
with judicious lavishness. The newspaper
men of course come in for the first con-
sheraton 1t is a pretty slow reporter
who cannot obtain sufficient number OF
these pink slips TO accommodate himself.
his family and his friends. The higher
editorial officials, the directors, and the
stockholders are usually provided for in
the boxes. The newspaper fraternity, In
deed, is unrelenting in its demand upon
the affable advance agent 1t is not alone
however. The most prominent club men,
the leading politicians, and merchant In
in some mysterious way find themselves
in possession of these pink slips. just how
this resourceful manages it no one has
yet discovered. He never hawks his free
passes from the house tops. nor is the
whole town invited in a body to dead
head'the show. He is far to diplomatic
for that Each reciptiant of his kindness
so dexterously does he manage the affair,
rather gets the impression that he is the
only favored one, that he has been judi
iciously selected, as the one person in
thousand to be treated in so generous
fashion. Inded, the rarest test OF the
advance agent is the distribution of these
free tickets in so def a manner that ev-
cry spectator at the show will imagine
that the entire audience, himself alone ex
cepted has paid good money for value
received.
One more ceremony-the master piece
of Mr.. Levey's art-and the curtain is
rung up for the first act This | the
dress rehearsal" To this the chief ed
floral magnates and a number of jolly
good fellows are invited. At its conclu-
sion, usually at midnight the speciality
hidden guests and the principal actors
lf,,1r mt
of the town, where an elobrate banquet,
with a plentiful supply of wine has been
prepared. The editors, the actors and the
few selected club-men have the finest sort
of time until the small hours Of the morn
ing There is never any formal toast
programme arranged, but every one is ex
pected to contrihuit in some way to the
general entertainment. Mr.. Levey pre-
sides respondent in evening dress and
diamond-studded shirt front; and after
few happy Introductory remarks calls up
on each separate guest to do his stunt"
The newspaper men usually tell story
or make a speech, in which the incest
things imaginable are said Of the forth
coming play. The theatrical gentlemen
sing songs, or do a varity of character
acts. Frequently the authors themselves
are conspicuous figures at this midnight
feast, and of course is expected to say
a few words of hope and misgiving.
Is it at all surprising, after the con-
sumate art with which the boom has been
developed that Name. Xxi is a great
success? The house Of course is packed
and the audiance is in the best of humor
In return for the free ticket every other
man attires himself in dress suit; more
rarely a high hat is dedicated in the
lobby. One lady in every ten appears IN
evening dress. The applaus Is loud and fire.
quent. in spite of the fact that the chorus
occasionally fails to reach a high note,
and that the calcium light man some
times gets his colors mixed. The aud
ierce does not even loose its patience at
the half-hour waits between the acts; and
although the first performance Is seldom
over until midnight, the thing Is usually
acclaimed as a great success of art and
with column accounts of Name. kiki the
bumblest chorus-girl is given stick
all to herself; and the high social stand
ing and discernment of the audience are
pointed out at length. The local correspon-
ents of the New York dailies-who are al
WAYS especially cultivated by the pink
slip artist-telegraph a few approving
words for the beniht OF their metropoli-
tan readers. AS a producer Of general
good humor. the experiment OF trying il
on the dog" IS an unparalleled success.
b J. Hendrick.