The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-07-30

dramatic CRITIC. for two J ears Genera
5f Mana ger for Richard 4 M ansfield,) &5S .E3
Note,-The series by Professor Vllllam8
s.. Tomlins will be, resumed next wee k.asf&
$500. o THE Audience IN general the
,I1N theatre, excepting its lobby and
4 auditorium, is a closed book
PM1SSs; Aside from the box-off flee M pla. ~
5l2esgk1y1 the doorkepeer and the more Or
loss gelit lemanly ushers. the pu bic does
not come into contact with the = h ca
staff. The manager Is known to but
few other than his personal friends. He i
does not aim TO be too ccessible. and
finds 1t best to keep himself behind the
glass doors Of the private office. Every
excursion to the front o f the house sub
ietts him to numerous tnsldious attack 9
from all sorts and conditions OF people
who want neutrality-suspicious. from po:-S
sitlons to passes. 81 5
on opening nights he m ayS usual be-
found near the door, faul Il essly array edS
and Theoretically, lf¬& a absolutely wei
coming tho coming guests. Comp IL
Z few recognize him, but he is :pre pared for
3uli emergencies, and stands ready, a Il the
III oper moment to receive congratulla-
lions If the verdict Is favorable ~ Occa ~
sionally missing from his post, 6 IT ma "
be safely assumed that he has been SUI A. 4.
moned by his star for consu ltatlo n,$fr re-;
proof or some of the many kinds SoI ~ IN
Pleasant ministratonsto (which the Sstel-E
lar mind is capable in its working hours
Ne But the first acquaintanc OF III es the ca
tire patron is with the treasurer VINO
handles tickets In the box q otIlce & anos
must add to he patience OF 81 g op me
wisdom of a serpent, to say no thln 8 oLg
All amount of diplomacy that would SUI
~ 5at,tir
Ills tribulations begin wit h the opening
Of the office in the morning and con-
|ltinne until the window loses AT nlg y e.
AZ biting letter to the r1anase r5g1 rom
some patron who conpl aims OF iinclvlllty
Inc box office is his first greeting
The complainant is recalled as some
what strenuous and tirascible gentleman
Who demanded certain seats 4 tnat nag
l6been sold days before, andSln ms
Satbeing refused declared tina 7 q y bo es
| office men were fabricatOrs Ind allle q
~ scalner5 who tolls not neither does
| h $snin, This accusation, however a tfs
|,lct astonish the seasoned box OF f'ce man.
| Having heard 1t so often hefmight az
most believe the tale but for the Simpoy-ll
erishcd condition Of his pockketpeoo'kt l
which suggests anything else u t i'si =
scalpers profit. stls N IL -
with this beginning of tria Is the & con- :.
cert OF afTlctions continues VIII scatc NJ
4 an Interruption during ne day,.Su ~. J,
woman who brings a. fri enc a4o! 1 {. w. ~.
i her 10 shop for tickets as she mig ~ i
stnckinss and keeps the line waiting
4 while she discusses the blllly8 q va
rol,s seats is his special ~ " heh slls
}lturns away fter consuming ten nl'lu .,
a saving that she will decide some o q,
i tine there is nothing left for ne fnlser-
nble trea surer but a nome = conmun.ot
With himself In the shad or we t1cku
rack Perhaps 1t Is no .,, s,l
for time his answers are.s!p 4, w =
4 sharp. and II those who had lntenaeu !,
sinwes 4 ST find themselves going away w y
50 seats or n box, they may gues s, .s' :
Il tho eloquent ticket sell Is a >
get even.
Small wonder that the dear Pubic q
occasionally annoyed curt answers ,'n e, .
Z the box office. Small - - =
tleasurer's elastic and pro tcssoMa! III ~
point OF endurance. The deTa no lot y, w W
seats In the fourth row GO w, " i,
! liberated the liyelong day vPell-nls1l y
duces Temporary insanity. Inc W s,,l
, who brings last nights tickets W! i,
painfully elaborate stor 9t ,o -
wrong pa steboards had been siNeN' ~, o =
a demand for the return. p I rer llloils.
niles C,ssa lpon hIss I4elion. Of ]; tron "
although the applicant ~ pgomtppllly, tur1 !.
down, while the gent who has ,!p ~. II y ',
tickets and wishes TO pc aa.1,lltsu, Y
honor is another Wayelet Il on th'sS ses " :
trouble, ,Sy # e. |, + 4.
! In like category must be placed !, n =.
many who have develops I'd cast .oi s ~,
ness In the family after purchasing lick
, cts, and consequently wish to get mel g
+, money hack. The amount of sickness ld's
covered In this way. pa rticula ny Nhel,,