The Washington times., 1906-12-16

Many a heart appears to beat respon-
sve TO last weeks plea for better man
ners on the part OF theatergoers. Any
numbers OF kindly notes have been re-
ceived. and one who appears to have
suffered long in silence sends in the
following;
Dramatic Editor, The Washington
Times:
In view OF the good Offices you have
recently done iu bringing 10 public
notice the lax manners OF local theater-
gOers may I beg space 10 call your at
tention TO a habit which has probably
escaped your notice but which is prov
ing vastly annoying TO the temper OF
rheater patrons and damaging 10 their
clothes.
Is there any way on earth by which
theater managers may compel their
patrons. particularly women. to keep
their feet OF the seats in front of them
That sounds somewhat undignified
but it is a fact that women in the thea
ter are indulging in a most pernicious
habit OF making dOOTmats OF the people
who sit in front OF them The women,
who probably are not accustomed to
having f0otstOOls provided for them in
their homes manifestly look for such
provision on the part OF theater mana
gers, and when they find it has not been
made they promptly rest their feet on
the seat In front. The shoe protrudes
through the opening between the seat
and the back and not only Affords
supreme discomfort 70 the person in
front but brings ruination to her clothes.
Last Monday night, as everyone will
remember. was a stormy night The
Of
for anyone's comfort but her own Il
woman behind me spent the evening
N1ptng her feet all over my gown.
Now the Jheater managers of the
country have done away with the hat
evil Is there any escape from the other
extreme? In the interest OF decency if
not that of good clothes. will the mana
gers not do something 10 make people
keep their feet on the floor?
ONE or THE WEEKLY VICTIMS.
That is a wall that should touch a
heart Of stone. and il reminds the writer
OF one more bad habit-that of braclng
ones knees against the seat in front
Many people are made intensely uncom-
Portable by having anyone or anything
touch their chairs. An elderly lady at
the opening OF the Southern -Marlowe
engagement was annoyed throughout
the performance BY somebody behind
her whose knees seemed to be burrow-
ing right through the chair into the
small OF her back. II was weil-dressed
somebody too. who should have known
better People who only pay for one
chair should confne themselves TO that
one, and keep both hands and feet of
the one in front.
The lesson OF the week, theatricauy. |
seems 10 be that the cachet OF "a New
York success has a distinct CONNER
cial value. y year ago FritzI Schef
opened here in Mile. Modiste," and did
a decent average sort OF business. Then
she went to New York and registered
one OF the seasons hits. Now on
return engagement, she packs her houst |
at every performance. Oh, yes. it's
a good show, OF course; but why did |
Washington have to walt for New York
10 find it out?
And one more why-why doesn't Mile |
Modiste" work William Pruette harder? !
He has a splendid voice and never was |
singing better than he is now. and yet |
he has but one song, 7 Want What |
Want When / Want It." through the /
whole two acts of the lively little opera !
He does some good comedy work. but |
first last. and all the time. he's a singer. |
and the public would like TO hear him !
sing.
One more lesson was emphasized down /
at the Academy-it doesn't pay 10 have /
too good a show. "Bedford's Hope" is /
the best thing Manager Lyon has had |
down there for "A year, and II drew the |
worst houses II is a good play. and IL
IS veil acted It's big scene" the race
betws-s0l the auto and the locomotive, Is
wonderfully effective. triumph Of stage
mechanics. But the Academy. which is
usually crowded. had rows OF vacant
seats at many Of the performances-the
sort OF audiences that would, perhaps,
be called good houses" at some OF the
uptown theaters. but not at the Acad-
emy.