Amador ledger., 1903-04-03
Cheap Shows.

The town has been overrun with
cheap shows OF late and a lot of good
money that could have been better
spent has been wheeled out of the
public. We think it would be better
for the people to spend their surplus
change in beautifying their grounds
and improving the streets, rather than
give it to a lot of people who take it
away and spend it for no good purpose.
Dispatch.
Is Indefinite. If the subject is worthy
OF notice at all, it certainly was incum-
bent upon this expert in spending
money to the very best advantage to
point out just what shows were worthy
to be patronized, and those that ought
to have been given the cold shoulder.
The ''cheap shows" are the ones that
ought to be tabooed in his opinion.
That is another vague expression. AT
what point does he draw the line
between cheapness and dearness. From
his standpoint show that demands so
cents general admission must necessari-
ly be worthy of support. The high
charge is guarantee of high quality.
We presume the free show business
A free show must be dear as gift,
because it is cheap. The reasoning is
very logical. But he deplores the
wasting of so much good money. 1t
might be put to better use in the i'm
provement of gardens and streets.
Alas! The dear people ought to form
union for the purpose of engaging his
valua BILE services in telling them how
thnu To diSfY hut
change. They are very much in need
of guardian on that vital question.
1t is the same old selfish tune that was
played some nineteen hundred years
ago over the costly ointment that was
wasted in amounting the earth's most
disting uished visitor. The Ledger be-
lieves that the show business
OF the cheap, dear or free character
Is a legitimate enterprise, as much so as
running a newspaper. We are pleased
to see them come here. Their coming
means the circulation of money, and it
Is the circulation OF money that makes
business. Ii everyone would heed the
advice of our local Solomon, and at
tend to his own garden patch in spare
Notwithstanding that everyone has
a garden to attend to, which is won
derful stretch of the imagination-what
a model camp we should have. We
are in favor of throwing the doors wide
open, and inviting strangers-whether
showmen, mining men or others-to
come among US and do business. What
we do want is that they come on their
own merits. If they do succeed in
taking few shekels from us, what of
lt?. Is that cause for weeping and
WalIinO Rathar Wa ahnn1d Io frIol of
it.. We do not believe in the policy of
taking all and giving nothing. But
there is one class of show folks which
we have no use for; probably our CO.
temporary will not agree with US. We
refer to those who make practice of
getting up entertainments with the use
OF local talent, and dividing the profits
with some local organization Because
a certain percentage of the receipts is
to go for the benefit of some charity,
troop of solicitors are turned loose upon
a weary public with tickets for sale,
the manager as an additional incentive
to activity offering prize to the one
who succeeds in disposing of the largest
number of tickets. 1t is a division and
subdivision scheme, the main chance
being kept in view all through-namely
to rake in the coin on the popularity of
local artists for the manager. This
playing the people for suckers is what
we are down on. These leeches take
more money out of the town by one
performance than a dozen of the travel
ing shows depending on their own
merits. This mask of charity hiding
an intensely selfish spirit is deserving of
censure, and undeserving of support.