The St. Louis Republic., 1901-02-25
Their Treasury Is Increased by
$4,000 by Two Perform
ances at New York.
FABULOUS PRICES Fas soXEs.
Timothy d. Sullivan Is Said TO
Have Paid $1,000 for One
: Bouquets Were Cheap
at SO Each.

RcPIB!.rC SPECIAL.
New York. Feb. 2L-There were no BLACK
Cats" as the managers organization is
known, in the Academy OF Music to-nisht'
a.d # was as well for them The white
Rats" filled every inch Of room in the old
playhouse, which never has held bigger
audience. In the afternoon. as well. there
was an outpouring of the friends OF the
vaudeville actors who are al war Win Tue
managers association.
At the end of the afternoon performance
George Fuller Golden. the chief OF the
white Rats" after telling what had led
to the organization OF the society, said: i
Will show you who We are" Then. turning
to the wings. he said:
Rats, Come ortr'
In an instant the immense stage was filled
with actors and actresses. all bubbling over
with enthusiasm, for Mr.. Golden in his
speech had hinted that the differences be-
tween the white Rats" and the Black
Cats" as the managers are now termed.
might reach such an acute stage that either
one side or the other would be wiped out OF
existence He said he knew the managers
would be forced TO abandon the collection
of the per cent commission, and added
that an issue was involved which was much
deeper and more far-reaching This, he
went on to say, was the dictatorial power
that the syndicate, IL allowed TO go on.
would have in its hand. a power that might
enable it to keep out OF employment any
vaudeville artist, however talented and de-
serving, for unjust reasons.
At the words Of command. the white
Rats" sang the rousing chorus of the order,
ending with the war cry, Rats! Rats.
Rats, R-a-t-si Hurrah!" Then. with no end
of mutual congratulations, the white
Rats" rushed OF TO dinner and TO prepare
for the big event of the day. the evening
performance.
The academy was filled long before
o'clock. and outside there was a throng of
thousands anxious to get In. Fabulous
prices were paid. too. 1t was said that for
his box Senator Timothy u. Sullivan had
paid S, 1000. saying il was the first chance
to get square for the many favors the
members Of the fraternity had showered on
him. James ]. Corbett. too had given
fancy price for the box I'm which he. his
wife and a party of friends sat, and Mrs.
Corbest sent check for $lo0 to the
white Rats treasurer. That official said
his fund would be increased $1,000 by the
two performances
Just inside the door was a bevy of pretty
girls with boutonnieres to sell. and lucky
was the man who paid less than so for a
the saleswomen. who were Kitty Mitchell,
Dorothy Neville. Myrtle Gale Lillian Mil
burn, Mrs Harry watson, Emma Carus,
Florrine, Miss Forester, Miss Winchester.
Miss Tobin, Flora .Murdock. Kitty. Free
mont. Ray Bailey, Mrs. Jimmy Barry, Elsie
Barnard, Ada Lane and Lilly Sutherland
To give q list OF those who appeared on
the stage IN one capacity or another. or
those who were in the boxes. would be to
name every one Of note on the vaudeville
stage.
It was announced by RAT" Armstrong
that. besides having the Academy OF Music
Tor ten Sundays. the order acquired to-day
the Academy of Music in Brooklyn, which
Vile house on March 4. and also the Star
Theater In Philadelphia. Shea and Wilton.
who have theaters in Springfield and Wor-
cesser, have agreed not to deduct per cent
commission from actors booking in the
future.