The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-01
THEATERs AND BOOKS.

THEATERs AND o
Among the unmistakable proofs Of the
existence OF an era of prosperity are two
that cannot be overlooked, namely, the in
creased attendance at heaters and the in
creased patronage of book shops. Managers
Of theatrical enterprises agree that never
in their experience has their business
equaled that of this and last season, but
it requires no official assurance to convince
any observant person Of this fact. They
see with their own eyes crowds focking to
the places of amusement night after night
and week after week, with no apparent
indication OF loss OF interest-or depleted
pocketbooks-as the season goes by. This
was not the case a few years back. A
few Entertainment in a season could be
sure of good houses, but with the most
there was a painful uncertainty as to
whether the receipts would cover expenses.
1t is true that during a period Of financial
depression theaters do not go out of bust
ness, for it is we'll understood that a period
Of hard times is not entirely unfriendly
to public amusements. A certain number
Of people can be counted on to attend such
places merely for the temporary forget
fulness Of their cares and anxieties to be
secured there. No matter how little money
a man Of this class may nave he is willing
to spend a part of it for amusement But
those who do this are not the multitude.
The majority OF persons of small or uncer-
tain incomes have a sufficient sense or
thrift to refrain from such indulgence. 1t
is only when they have enough to pro-
vide the necessities of life to a reasonable
extent and have something left that
they are willing to invest frequently in
theater tickets. This rule, of course, does
not apply to the young nan who Is ready
to spend the best part Of a months salary
in taking his sweetheart TO the theater and
to supper afterward. This irrepressible
youth is at the front in good times or bad.
But the mass of theater patrons is not
made up of improvident youngsters, nor
yet of people of large incomes, but mainly
of a class Of ste~ady-going, substantial cit1-
zens who know what they can afford, who
enjoy the relaxation to be obtained at the
IQedIGT anu QCllDGI dlSly pan AOA NHO "a
penditure of a certain sum in that way.
Some of them prefer frequent attendance
at the low-priced houses, others. an oc-
casional evening at the entertainments Of
higher cost, but somehow they succeed in
furnishing such a harvest to the managers
and actors who cater to them as has never
been known before. There is a good deal
of criticism by the fastidious and exclusive
Of the quality of the entertainment fur
nished, but If the crowds which attend
are pleased, and willing to repeat their
experience again and again, as they OBJ
viousIy are, criticism is out Of place. When
they want something better they will make
the fact known in unmistakable terms.
The buying of books, too, is on a scale
far ahead of anything in the past. In dull
times the public libraries are depended on.
With increased prosperity a preference is
shown for ownership of the ~books-books,
too, not necessarily solid" or of more thar
passing literary value. No so very long
ago men and women were wont to hest
tate over the purchase of a volume of cur
rent fiction costing a dollar and a nalf and
were apt to take, instead, a paper-bound
book of earlier production, and decide to
wait till the new novel was reduced in
price or could be obtained from a public
library. Now. such books are bought by
these same persons as a matter of course
when they first appear in market. One
liberal purchaser recently explained his
habit thus: MY wife and 1 do not care
greatly for the theater. Tickets for both
for a single evening would cost from one
dollar to four. according to the character
of the play and the house. For that money
1 can buy from one to four books, and
do it every now and then. Consequently
we keep up pretty well with the new things
from the publishers. It is our outlay for
entertainment and amusement, and suits
US very WELL" An economical element of
society looks askance upon so much ex-
penditure for what, even in the case of
the purchase of current literature, the most
Of which is light fiction, it regards as
frivolities; but such objection is idle. The
human need for relief from the pressure
OF care and labor and the monotony of daily
IOulAlc muSI NC SldliAtO III SOLuS lOIIu,
and if the multitude chooses to seek this
relief in so harmless a way, rejoicing rather
than blame should follow. The average
play may not be especially elevating and
the current novel is certainly not educative,
but if they supply what the people want
their existence is justified and their cost
a matter not to be considered la by the
individuals directly concerned.
STORY OF THE POSTAL ERVICE.