Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-18
rho chrIstlan."'

Noticing the comments about the sale
OF seats for 1.-The Christian" expressed
by Patron of Both, and zone Who
Cannot Afford to Pay the Spectator"
the writer notices with regret their ig-
norance of facts and as their state
ments may mislead others, desires to
correctly adjust them.
In the first place 81 per seat is no
higher than Viola Allen commands
elsewhere. The writer saw Miss Allen
In New York and paid $3.50 for a seat
way back by the door equal in 1oca-
ton to our '1o' row, and moreover, the
writer calls attention to these would
be "fault-finders'' that $3.50 and 50 are
the prices charged In New York for
such Identical shows as we pay only
S1.50 and 50 for here, such as Henry
Miller, Frank Daniels, Because She
Loved Him So.'' etc. ~
Moreover, it costs more to produce
shows at zone night stands than
Where they run for week or more, so
our critics can thereby see they are
really getting more for their money
than many others.
Norfolk is one OF the four favored
cities. for Miss Allen only plays in
Norfolk, Richmond. Atlanta and New
Orleans. Miss Effie Elsler. in COM
pany No. 2, playing the other cities OF
the South
Therefore, from the above stated
facts. the writer considers Norfolk
lucky to get such an attraction at q
price less than New York and other
similar cities pay.
Now as to the speculation on tickets,
etc, the statements of Patron of
Both" are not true.
Nobody bought at one time forty
tickets. and there was only one theatre
employe in line. The highest number
of foIr or te-A1 Hxx,1
seven, and he was commissioned by
different persons to buy for them. Some
even going so far as to give him the
money in advance and small commits
sion for himself. The employee was
paid likewise by some t-of-town pa
iron.
Those who speculated in most in
stances known to the writer bought
tickets at an advance from parties who
had purchased only two or three, and
these for their own use, but, finding
that they could make some profit, sold
out before they left the line.
One man bought two tickets at 50
each, intending to take his wife. but
before he left the theatre he had sold
them to n party for 81 each.
The writer also knows personally of
one theatre party who bought fourteen
tickets and another twelve, and he
himself for his family nine
So 1t can be seen that with one. or
two executions speculation was In
dulged In either by parties who bought
at an advance from purchasers or by
parties who had Bought for them
selves.
The writer admits that 1t Is wrong
after party gets in line to be allowed
to purchase for those further down the
line, but the party making this state
ment evidently does not know that
as soon as the management learned
this was being done announced that
any one so doing would not be sold a
single ticket.
AS to the upper gallery, the benches
are neither divided nor numbered, and
no coupons are printed f5r this section
of the house.
For these reasons it Is obvious that
1t Is impossible to reserve in the upper
gallery. The writer was present at a
conference a few days before the open
ing of the sale of seats and heard the
management deDrecate in most en-
phatic terms any kind of ticket specu-
| latfon.
| Parties have offered n premium on
| general admission tickets IL allowed to
bring n chair and rnt same in the
aisle. but this Mr.. Duesherry positively
refused to permit. as it would incom-
| mode his patrons.
| REGULAR PATRON