The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-13
weeks that would be tickets worth sl60.
How much is the watch WORTH"


said the treasurer. THAT means that it
did not cost you over S35, And you expect
it's costp"
But" protested the stranger. -The
tickets cost you nothing. You can issue
them az though they were courtesies to
the profession, or billboard Autographs,
nothing"
They would cost me my job and my
reputation" retorted the treasurer. "And
# you W il wait until l get outside in the
lobby where there lis nothing between
us, this will cost you one OF the swiftest
Kicks on record. Get out of this theatre"
he added, sternly.
In the course Of the first three days this
new treasurer was in charge Of the box
once there were no fewer than forty
telephone messages from persons who
had sent packages to Mr.. Blank. Socks,
neckties, champagne, candy, collars, shirts,
mats, from two different concerns. even
pair OF shoes. three pairs Of link cuff but :
tons. several fancy waistCoatS and a score
OF other, articles of wearing apparel, were
returned TO thu senders who made inetfec-
tual attempts 10 establish cordial relations
with the new treasurer.
The experience OF this new treasurer
was similar to that which confronts every
new man who takes charge Of a theatre
other cities. one will find the same horde
OF deadheads who wish to get into relations
with the man in the box Office.
The man in the box office can be very
crooked II he wishes TO take chances, though
there is probably not one treasurer in a
frst.class New York theatre who would
steal dollar in actual cash. For one
thing detection would ensue by the end Of
the week, when all accounts are balanced.
But ii the treasurer wishes to accept
presents in return for free passes. that is
his own affair-until the manager catches
him at it. The treasurer has certain dis
cretionary, authority in the granting of
passes He issues the passes to the adver-
Using agent for the billboard privileges and
in store windows. He also is permitted
TO recognize actors and actresses who
present their cards. in case business is not
up to the capacity limit
Here IL where the treasurer finds his
opportunity to take care of his personal
friends and such people as ingratiate them
selves in his favor with costly presents.
learned a lesson about accepting pres
ents the first year l was in a box Office"
said the treasurer Of Broadway theatre
who has held his place for ten years and
If generally regarded as absolutely incor-
ruptible. And the narrow escape from
detection then SO alarmed me that deter
mined never again to run any risk, even
though ! was perfectly innocent Of trickery
or double dealing.
THE incident I refer to happened nearly
dozen years ago. and the man who almost
got me into trouble is still trying to estab-
ilsh cordial relations with new people In
local box offices. He has big establish
ment where he sells perfumes and toilet
water
"He managed to scrape an acquaintance
hn1 In hrt .ny "a
several months, and one night he asked
me casually where lived and if WAS mar
ried. When I gave him the address and
added that | was married, he said he was
going to surprise me. The next day he
sent me up some very fine stun In the way
OF scents and lotions and things
Il didn't stop to think that he would
surely expect something in return. A week
later he strol!ed in and. after waiting until
the line had grown thin before the window.
he stepped up for little chat No sooner
had thanked him for the stuff than he
asked II he could step inside.-oh, he didn't
want a seat, dear me, no. He would stand
up So let him go through.
A few nights later he came again. This
time he had a friend with him Could
spare him two seats in the last row. The
manager wasn't around and l thought l
might AZ well dress the house, so gave
him pass for two.
ne Nef' Hle come more sweet SIN cling
stun and then began to write notes asking
for passes AS we were not selling out, |
sometimes sent him the passes, but | ALWAYS
marked them so that | coult recognize them
again. Every treasurer does that with his
PASSES.
One night, the leading lady was i'll and
we had 10 dismiss the audience Money
was refunded at the box Office. the holders
OF seat checks presenting them to claim
the value of tho tickets
A woman came up with two seat checks
which had been punched. and asked for her
money back. | recognized her as a woman
who had presented pass | had sent to the
passes are always punched with lit tie round
holes by the treasurer, 10 identify them as
checks issued on passes, so that if il ever
became necessary to refund money, We
would lose nothing
when / told the woman that she held
checks that had been issued on pass she
grew indignant
! bonded you tickets Ter which paid
81 so she protested.
Did you buy your ticket here, ma am
| inquired.
No, sir. You would have charged Inc
81 for the tickets here 50 | got them from
Mr., So-and-So,' and she named the store of
The perfumerv man. He had sold her the
pass perhaps all the ether passes which
! had sent him
Il paid the woman her 81 so out Of my
own pocket and the next time / saw the
perfumery man made his ears burn with
s. me language that wasn't as sweet a. his
violet extract. Since then | have never
present nor isslirD pass 10 anv
one not personally known TO me, who in
tended to Use the pass In person.
Il have had agents for nearly everything
under the sun try to work me for deadhcad
tickets. | have had furniture men offer to
furnish a fiat free. champagne men offer
to send me all the stuff / could drink.
whiskey men try TO send me quarts Of good
old stuff, talors offer to make me suits Of
clothing for. nothing except deadhead
tickets, jewellers offer me diamond rings
and pins, railroad men have offered me
passes from here to San Francisco and re-
urn, hotel men have offered me superb
accommo dat ions for practically nothing
at all except passes, and I don't think I
the case when say that there
is practically no article of merchandise in
New York ci'v which could not secure
without the prrment Of a cent II I were
willing to sacrifice my reputation and. of
course, sooner later. my position.
1T il trr' r!naAng what some people
will do in nrf'"r 10 get few free tickets 10
he theatre
81 II TROPICAL FRUIT TRADE.