The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-22

theaters are owned by the nobility and
aristocracy and the wealthy element of
society The fact that man owns
box, however. does not give him free
admission to the theater. He has to buy
his entrance feet like anybody else. and
if he does not give notice of his intention
to come at least two hours before the
beginning of the play seats in his box are
offered for sale to the public, unless there
be some definite understanding. There
are usually two tiers Of boxes running
around the theater in the place OF the
first and second galleries.
The box holders generally remain
through the entire evening, or at least
utnil midnight, but the occupants OF the
parquet, orchestra circle and the galleries
are almost totally changed at least three
times during the evening. While those
who have witnessed the first act are pour
ing out of the exit on one side OF the
building. those who have bought tickets
for the second act are crowding through
the entrance on the other side. The first
act besings at $50 1t last an hour or
little more. and half an hour or so is nee
essary to change the audience and the
for their new parts, so that it is 10 O'Clock
before the second act begms; midnight
before the third, and often O'Clock IN
the morning before the curtain rises on
the fourth act In order to fill the house
at that hour the last performance is US
ually of rather risque character. some
thing that the police would suppress II II
were offered earlier in the evening. /
suppose they go on the theory that people
who will sit up until o'clock IN the
morning to see nasty play do not neeo
to have their morals looked after. The
second and third acts are always the best.
and in them the popular actors and &C
tresses are brought out. Hence fashion
able and critical people seldom go to the
theater before 10 o'clock and seldom stay
until after u. The audiences for the
last act are genarlly men and women OF
doubtful character.
The social life of Madrid is found at the
theaters Instead of exchanging calls at
their homes, people visit from box TO box
during the plays and between the acts
There is a great deal Of dressing. The
theater is the only place that many wom-
en- have an opportunity to wear their
good clothes, and the young men ana
women have greater freedom there FOR
conversation and Irritation than they can
have anywhere else. 1t is CONSIDERED per-
fectly safe and good form for young
man to stroll up and down the corridors
Of "a theater with his sweetheart, when II
would be improper for them to be seen
in the park or in the streets together, or
1a n yir1U n their
home. And if they choose to withdraw
their chairs back to the shadow, and
miss a part of the play, no one objects.
These conditions make the theater a pop
ular place Of resort for young women,
whose relations with men are restricted
by the old-fashioned etiquette; and, OF
course, where the candle is the moth Will
follow.
Theater parties are the most popular
forms of entertainment. As / told you
in a former letter, what We call hos
pitality is unknown in Spain, Italy and
other Latin countries. The doors of the
Spanish house seldom open to strangers
and ordinary acquaintance. and 1t costs
little trouble ana expense to invite
friend or two to your box at the theater.
wife and daughter under very pleasant
surroundings, and have an ice or bottle
of wine with them between each act.
The opera season brings the height of
social life in Madrid. 1t usually contin-
ues for three months, performances being
given three evenings in the week. Sun
day evening is the gala night. The best
operas are given then, tn best performers
appear. and the finest dressing and the
most brilliant show Of beauty may be
seen. The toilets and the diamonds are
usually worth seeing, and everybody or
social importance in Madrid is sure to be
present. The queen sometimes appears
with the king and her daughters. She
always gives her patronage to the encour-
agement of new pieces and the reception
of famous singers.
The Teatra Espanol, the leading theater
supported by the same class, Is the home
of the pure Spanish drama, which many
critics think is superior to all others at
the present day A gentleman of high
literary taste was expressing to me only
the other day his surprise that the plays
of Spain were not moro frequently trans
lated into English ana performed upon
the English and American stage. He de-
clares that new pieces are produced in
Madrid every season which are worthy
of any stage. and much superior to any
thing that is produced in France at the
present day. He asserts that Benito Per-
ez Galdos of this city is the greatest Nv
ing dramatist, although he never heard
of one OF his plays being produced in
America or England
The bull fight is, of course, the great
national amusement and every Sunday af-
terncon as long as the weather win per-
nit. 1900 or eco men and women, rep
resenting every class OF society. mothers
and grandmotheTs, priests and monks, as
semble at the Plaza de Toros, not only
in Madrid but in every other city of Spain
and witness the most brutal spectacle
that human taste approves. Six bulls are
tortured and worried until they are ex-
hausted. Then they are killed by the
thrusts Of the sword Of 4 matador. who
Is the most popular individual in the
and makes more money than
any other man. Often as many as Twelve
horses are ripped open b. the horns OF
the bulls and are allowed 10 die in the
rtt-It u l-4t Mn h4DNfA
ing from their wounds and their entraIis
dragging upon the ground And this IS
the national sport of Spain
1t Is not sport, for the ban has no
chance To escape OF tight back The
horses are blin5folded 50 that they can
not even see what attacks them. The
men who torture the tUn have wooden
screen behind which they can dodge when
pursued and II the animal crowds too
closely upon one Of his torment0rs tie