The Washington herald., 1909-03-07

From the Chief European Correspondent Of the
Lafan News Bureau.
Paris, March 6.-One need not be a very
close observer IN a Paris theater or
music hall to discover that the applause
is not always genuine, that some Of IL
has been paid for; for it is somewhat
mechanical and always breaks out in
the same place. A lawsuit stiu In prog
ress Is laying bare some OF the mysteries
OF this system Of hired applause.
A certain Nine Alamone is suing TIE
Olympia Music Hall for cancehng a yer
before its expiration a contract she had
with # TO supply the claque. She had
paid the music hall a sum Of 1850 for
the privilege OF supplying applause for
the last three years OF her contract, and
now wants $3.50 returned for the last
year. In addition, she claims 1900 dam
ages.
She used to receive thirty seats for
each performance. which she sold for %
cents each 10 persons who in return for
this cheap price OF admission agreed to
applaud such artists as had made ar
rangements with her. Her average profits
ran to $1,000 or 81, 200 year. The greater
part, OF course. came from the perform
ers. as was shown by the following letter
read at the trial:
Madame: Inclosed IS SEQ for the month
OF September. count on your kindness.
CLEO DE MERODE
Friday. Sept 2. Isoa"
Judgment Seldom Used.
The leader OF the claque seldom uses
rnuoh ff1avv,s-t IL IT. ,-o-t- ~ -,e,-a-
knows much about the theater. The
story told Of one is almost classic:
The Coincide Francaise Company had
been playing an act OF Moliere at the
Folies Dramatiques on some special occa-
sion When the curtain fell the claque
leader gave the signal. and his men vehe-
mently demanded the authOrs appear
ance. The next day al the cafe he was
heard TO declare:
This Mr.. MOiiere that We played yes
terday has talent. but he isn't very genial:
he didn't come. like Mr.. Scribe always
does. TO thank me personally for the very
fattering success We had obtained for
him"
Receipts Are Large.
Faust" remains the best money-maker
in the Paris Operas repertoire Between
January l and February Is It was given
four times. with average receipts Of $S.I49
"Gotterdammerung. also given four
times. ran Faust" very close. as It aver
aged $S,O45
The Operas only novelty under the
new management. Maeterlinck and Fe-
vrier's ''AIonna Wanna" was given six
times to an average house OF S2.A2
Samson and Delilah." played four times,
averaged S2,7G2. ~Lohengrin" for its three
performances drew S2.S0 each night
''Tannhauser'' was given twice 10 8. .S55
and S2.6l5.
'Rigoletto" averaged $3.50 for the three
productions Il received. anr Aida
brought In S2,254 on the only night II was
given.
The total receipts for these twenty
seven performances amounted % S72.y53
an average Of s., ,7O3l~ and as the average
expenses are put az $500 a night. It Is
easy 10 understand how the new manage
ment has financial trouble on its hands
The financial difficulties do not arise
from excessive payments 70 artists. at
least not 70 all artists. for Messenger and
BrousSan engaged their new tenor, Paul
Frantz. whose success has been cabled IN
these dispatches. at $50 a month. When
Frantz had established himself as 2 IA
voTite and had been asked TO sing Lohen-
grin. Samson, and Siguard within a fort
night. he asked for an increase After
much discussion he was offered an extra
S25 a month.