The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-26
ANENr THE TRUST"
Recent Evils Discussed in q Dispas-
s1onate Manner

S4O1aE6 manner
The theatrical octopus has once more
waddIed into the lime light as a result
Of certain rather ridiculous occurrences
in the Savoy theater. New York. and al
over the country the people that follow
the fortunes Of the theater are flashing
themselves into a fine frenzy as a result
OF its temperance, says 3 Chicago pa
per
The octopus, safe within its lair or
wherever it is the octopus hides when
not out for a gambol-has been hstle
heard OF this season. Mr.. William Win
ter pOked a stick at it the first Of tire
century, when he declared that the stage
was tgirdled by its tentacles. and that
under the -sOrdid and ruthless tyranny
OF the theatrical trust the theater had
been turned into a department store 7"
The motive Of this ring" continued Nj.
Winter, In Indignation is mercenary.
and the tone OF it IS vulgar Such an in
duence must, in the nature OF things
make everything that it touches conf
monplace and mean
At this the octopus il said to have
gone into a deep Sleep its tentacles be-
ing, in the meanwhile. in good working
order About this time Minnie Madden
Fiske hit it a rap with a 1avelin. She
won a theatrical suit out west that dis
cOmhted a representative Of the syndi-
cate, and this reused the octopus to
faint sense Of injury IN its farthest
Henrietta Crosman whacking the poor
thing over the head with a lash
From all tales that come out Of New
York. ana from the mass Of matter just
now burdening the desks Of the dramat-
ic editors as the result Of the present
alertneSs OF the octopus, the sitting
brings out the humorous rather than the
serious Last Saturday night Miss Crcs-
man dismissed the audience that had
assembled TO see her play Mistress
Nell' at the Savoy, made a speech de-
clar1ng that owing TO the petty perSa-
cuti0ns Of the manager OF the theater.
aided and abetted by the theatrical
trust. she had arrived at a state Dor
dering on physical collapse. and told
those present (cheers) that their money
would be refunded at the box Office
Whereupon. and decidedly, Miss Cros-
man got into print the telegraph wires
flashed the momentous news. the OctO-
pus shrilled, and many people who write
about the theater sharpened their pen
ellis The clamoring public solicited
Miss Crosman to hit the monster again,
but there were no Wagers that the gay
and charming Mistress Nell would de-
stroy it. and SO restore Mr.. Winters
peace Of mind
In the moment Of calm succeeding the
outburst OF acclaim over Mistress Nel5.s
feat few found time 10 ask what il
was all about Mistress Nell had referr-
ed somewhat vaguely 10 restrictions
Among other things. she was not allow
ed to see or communicate with her hus-
Le~@AA -@AA--6 kGAAOAAlA144GC= Ger Lf1ll--
II it Is a low octopus that seeks to pre-
vent family conferences. But the part
ing Of the ways really seems to have
come about over a ridiculous disagree
ment with the management OF the the
ater over the right Of Miss Crosmau.s
servants to pass through the theater
auditorium on the way 10 the stage
There was a stage door for that pur-
pose, said the manager OF the theater
and he could not have the audience an
noyed- The maid OF the actress. seeking
to disObey the order, was reprimauded
That the octopus was back Of all this
was obvious-to Mistress Nell-and the
actress said as much in Diminishing her
audience. So that the crowd fled out
every body was interviewed, and Ms