New-York tribune., 1902-10-16
AT THE PARIS THEATRES.
orp FASHIONED ABUSES AND DIsCoM-
FORTS PREVAIL
Paris, October /.

Paris. October /.
Paris theatres are approaching a crisis. The
nublic have at last discovered that in all that
rertains 10 salubrity, comfort and convenience
the boulevard theatres are far behind those OF
almost any other city OF Europe or OF the United
s,ates. The extortiOn OF the ticket brokers.
yrhich has been remedied elsewhere, still exists
4, Paris and the annoyance caused by female
,shers and dispensers OF programmes IS worse
nan ever The comfort and cleanliness OF the
Tbkstre Francais and OF the Theatre Sarah
Rsrnbardt have opened the eyes Of Parisians to
.be disgraceful condition OF the popular theatres
s,ch as the Varieties, the Palais Royal the Porte
saint Martin and the Renaissance The Pari-
sisn theatrical season does not really begin un-
I'll November. although most OF the theatres are
omen with revivals OF last seasons plays as early
a. September / for the benefit OF tourists and
transient spectators. The public have, never
,beless, begun 10 express Indignation at the
rresent condition Of the theatres, and IL may in
teFest Americans visiting Paris 90 have an idea
~ what is in store for them whenever they pro.
nose to pass an evening at an average Partisan
theatre.
The FIRST abuse is in regard to tickets Take
the case OF an American and his wife who want
40 see one Of the successful plays, such as Les
neuK Ecoes," at the Varieties; "Loute" at the
Nouveautes; Billet de Logement." at the Folies
nramatioues, or NINE. Flirt," at the Athense
The American goes 10 the box Office OF the the
.tre. which is open from II a. m. 20 p. m. He
snas a red faced, matronly dame perched in a
sort OF cage. He addresses her through little
D,reon hole, and asks in his best French: can
Won let me have two good stalls for tomorrow
evening"" Monsieur" says the middle aged
fsnale There are no more seats left am
sorry. but everything is sold" Well" replies
the American, Il viii take places for the day
sfter tomorrow" With a provoking smile the
qoos woman SAYS How unfortunate. Every
seat Is sold for the day after tomorrow and
also for the day following" For what day
then. can have seats?" The florid complex
ioned woman puts on her spectacles. feigns 20
examine q series Of enormous sheets OF paper
hearing miniature diagrams OF the seats. pro-
fussly annotated with cabalstic marks. and
finally says: Why. how unfortunate you are
sir, There are no orchestra or balcony stalls 10
he had until the end Of the MONTH" The Amer
ioan after a moments hesitation. says: is the
play such tremendous success, then?" ''Oh,
the success is absolutely stupendous. The best
way is TO apply 10 the ticket brokers. for they
bought up al the good places beforehand The
American takes this advice. and applies TO a
ticket broker, who has probably been watching
his intended victim a few yards distant. The
American finally secures, after hard bargaining,
tuo good orchestra stalls for tomorrow even
ing" but instead of paving the regular price for
them-S2 apiece-he has been compelled to pay
E or S4 The next evening he notices quite a
number OF vacant seats near him. and il he in
vestigates matters finds that by preconcerted
arrangement between the woman in charge of
the box ONCE and the ticket brokers all the good
seats have been ceded TO the latter and the
sn-Fw
been divided. In this way several OF these
mstFORly women, or ''buralistes" intrusted with
the sale Of tickets at the location" or box
once, have made from S3 600 TO 5000 during a
single season.
Another abuse tolerated by no other theatre
going public but that Of Paris is the "ouvreuse,"
or female usher. These are broken down. jab-
berng women, reeking with the aroma OF garlic
or Of onions, who tear of corners Of your fiimsy
paper tickets and show you where your seats
are situated. These ouvreuses are necessary
evils, because the stalls in the French theatres
are numbered with such microscopic figures that
It is impossible 10 read them without bending
forward and creeping ones way in impossible
attitudes. The ouvreuses at nearly all the the
atres except the Theatre Francais and the The
aiFe Sarah Bernhardt are obliged 10 deposit with
the management sums varying from $500 TO
seJO az the outset Of their engagement. They
receive no remuneration from the management
Of the theatre, and, like their colleagues, the
women who give you wooden checks with num-
oeIs IN exchange for your overcOat or wraps are
arFen 10 regard the public their natural
prey These harpies dun you at inOpportune
moments for their tlps-10 cents for the ward
ioDe Keeper and another 10 cent piece for the
usher These abuses are supplemented by the
posfamme sellers, for the old fashioned prac-
Noe o' making the spectators pay for their pro-
sanmes is still retained at most Of the boule-
N@a theatres. The Paris theatres have mar
iSser seats and worse ventilated than are
atmosphere OF the little Palais Royal Theatre.
'@ instance, is almost unbreathable. and con-
ems microbes that one can readily imagine
~ee from the eighteenth century. The floors OF
most OF the theatres in Paris are uncarpeted,
~la me traditionary and hideous red plush
eeAS are saturated with accumulated dust and
"'n These abuses have been forced upon the
n'eeauon OF the public by the modern arrange
menus introduced at the Theatre Francais and
tae Theatre Sarah Bernhardt and Parisians Al
Is beginning Of the present theatrical season
"oNe for the first time begun 10 kick" and
eAtfess their just resentment at being compelled
submit 20 Inconvenience and discOmforts
uat cate from the era Of cane chairs and tallow
candles cir.