davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

ence i'm equally efficient methods We IL
drop over to the National and visit j. r.
Fowlers brother. His name Is w. H.
Fowler. He is as different from J. f. as
Fairbanks is from Taft. Where j. +.
takes the affable. sympathetic view of
things and deals in a genial sort of way
with those who come to patroniZe ms
house. w III. takes the knight of the old
school tack and INDUCES in continental.
Louis XIV politeness. Where J. K. smiles
at feeble jokes and discusses the show
w. II. Grapes himself with curtain Of
asbestos reserve guaranteed to be abso-
lutely impenetrable. He never changes.
He is never chilly and never warm-sim-
ply formal.
Il wonder why it is said W. H., when
approached for his views on the subject
of audiences, that so many people ask
how is the show? 1t isn't fair to us
you imagine a hypocritical box office
man?
The patron would walk up and make
the regulation inquiry:
us the show pretty good this week."
No. would reply the hypocritical
seller of tickets, 1T is not good. In
deed, it is hardly fair. You see the cho-
rus lacks effective grouping and the
tenor solo at the end of the first act is
so placed as to lose all of its effective
ness. Besides the dialogue lacks wit
and but / don't thipk the hypocriti-
cal box office man would get beyond that
point, for by that time the manager
would come in and throw him out.
Yet many of our patrons. and some
Of our regular patrons, ask us what we
think of the play. They'll come up and
lean against the railing and look us over
confidentially.
Seen the play YETI they begin.
Yep we reply.
'Howje like it,
Fine We respond.
They reach for their money while we
watch them furtively.
Guess you can pass out two seats
near the center aisle they conclude, and
walk away as happily as il we were paid
to criticise the plays upon which We keep
the theater open.
This particular type is never satisfied
If they read the dramatic criticisms they
drop in next day to inquire whether the
articles are correct or not And if we
remark that they are just they are skep-
teal"
Apropos the inquisitive patron they
tell a good yarn about two chronic in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

have sworn to 20 with them. Even the
people-snd. what is more, the politicians
uphold them. "Greece's days are num-
bered with such an army as we have
now they say. THE Turks or BuIga-
rians can take us whenever they wish. I"
And the Hellenic nation is thoroughly
alarmed at the prospect OF another period
of bondage.
The union" does not stop at blaming
the dialogue. To its mind NJ. TheOtokis
is equally to blame. II accuses him of
mismanaging public money and behaving
as a traitor. It's leaders brought all their
soldiers out of barracks and refused to
return until he was dismissed from power
and the king had promised to convoke
the chamber OF deputies early in the au-
tumn. The date was fixed for October g.
but has now been postponed. When this
takes place the union" with Zorbas to
lead it, has promised to begin reforms not
only In the army, but In the government
as well.
Col. Zorbas Is an outspoken. bluff SOL
dler. lie declares himself TO be absolutely
loyal. and In a proclamation he recently
addressed to the Hellenes urges them to
show every respect toward the DYNASTY
and the constitution In the course Of an
interview he said:
1.-The miserable state of the country
since her dellverance. all the depravity Of
parties and perversion of politics have had
disastrous results and led the country to
ruin beyond any conception that could
have been formed. Our poor country has
had to suffer humiliations worse than
death itself. We soldiers have felt these
humiliations more than any other part of
the nation. The evil reached pitch that
could only find vent In revolution. Never
theless this movement is not essentially
a military one. II is a national act, be-
cause II voices what the nation has been
feeling but was too weak to express for
a very long time. We want to change the
whole political machine. which has shown
itself quite out of gear. Our demands are
not In the least anti-dynastic. Even our
resolution to abolish the commander-in-
chief Is purely professional one.
The whole nation is devoted to King
George and his family. and so is the
army. When the news came that he
had signed the amnesty the first thing
every officer did was 70 cry Long i've
the kingr-a cry which was enthusiastic
caily repeated by the whole army. I
do not know what the king thinks at
present but he Is clear-headed and
knows how to sum up events at their
right value. My conviction Is that he
VIII not abdicate. but will assure the
re-establishment of a normal situation
by his spirit of economy.
But We arc determined to stick at
nothing in carrying out our program Of
reforms. We can put up no longer with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

conc of the unions most active MEM
hersp. headed: Make your will" Tho
letter is too long to give In extensc.
but the following points i'm IL throw
much light on the situation and TIT.
way the controversy IS carried on in
Greece 1t will be borne I'm mind that
il is as if the general in command OF
the American army wrote thus to Pres
ident Taft:
THE only thing left for YOU TO do
the letter runs. since a generous Hell
lenic people allows you to exist, is TO
shut yourself up I'm monastery. where.
with prayers and lamentations. you can
ask God to forgive you for all the sins
and treasons YOU have been guilty OF
during the past twelve years. The fact
that Greece has no army today is your
work. More than that. Greece Is with
out administration. without justice. with
out security. whilst you have swallowed
one hundred and thirty millions OF
drachlnas." "A drachma Is worth about
~ cents) The letter concludes with:
1T is true that the constitution allows
YOU TO enter the chamber so long as the
nation has not yet ordered your hanging
but the constitution does not suppose that
YOU are going to enter IL In order to
commit rev sins and continue your work
of treason by faithfully serving the coun-
try's enemies. George Theotokis! II you
come into the capital to overturn a gov
ernment beloved by king and people. and
to continue your disastrous work. make
your will before coming here, because
before trying to accomplish your infa-
nous ideas you must reckon with the
people. the king and the army
This letter. published i'm a Greek paper
the Roodos-caused its recipient TO
change his program and publicly an
nounce that though he will not assist at
the debates on the army and commander
in-chief. he will allow his followers to do
so and vote as they wish. His followers
have been rapidly decreasing I'm number
and the next week or two will show
whether the Officers union can hold
it's own against them.
In the meantime the situation OF their
country has attracted the attention Of pa
triotic Greeks abroad. NJ CorgiaIegno.
one OF the most prominent members OF
the Greek community In London, has tele-
graphed to King George, putting at his
disposal $100Wo as "a first instaiimeut
for military and other reforms"
He adds i'm his telegram that he expects
that these reforms will have as their
corner stone the strengthening and pres
tige of the dynasty and hopes that othor
patriots will follow his example.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

an Interesting proposition. Talk about
the difficulties of the manager of star.
His troubles fade like nebulous clouds
before the warm rays of summer sun
at least half dozen of the Temperament
tai type to handle in one evening.
I'll give you an example.
Mrs. Smith and her husband with two
friends are coming to the theater. or
course. Mrs. Smith Is a little late. Her
friends stopped in to dinner and they
fingered a while. Her husband did not
buy the seats. He reserved them because
he supposed. with that wonderful optim-
ism possessed by SO many husbands. that
Mrs. Smith would start in time to enable
their being forfeited. Besides. he wasn't
sure whether Mrs. Smith intended visiting
the theater or a church concert in the
neighborhood.
a short. rotund soul, walks up to me and
impressively explains that he engaged
two seats.
I'm sorry I say. but YOU see It's
now half past eight and the seats are for
feited. | sold them to another party.
But insists Mr.. Smith. you had no
right to sell them. 1 engaged them
az know I repeat. but that guaran-
tee does not hold after the play begins.
AT this juncture Mrs. Smith joins the
conversation.
James, she calls to her husband
please buy those tickets and come in
side. We're waiting, you know. Don't
stand and argue
Beads of perspiration form on Mr..
Smiths ruby forehead.
What have you, young man. he
grcwls soto voce.
Five seats in w near the CENTER i
reply
I'm W. he shrieks, are you trying
to crack a Joke? This il no time for
cracking jokes. young man."
I'm very Serious ! reply.
Mrs Smith comes over and tells me
I'm accommodating; that I ought to
have sense of perception enough to know
that when anybody reserves seats he ex-
poets to use them. l apologize for be-
ing unaccommodating and explain that
I'm in the ruthless grasp Of mercenary
corporation that makes me do as it says.
Well. the merry, merry war goes on.
Perhaps Mr.. Smith takes seats in a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

cial man behind the box. One is the ply
steal question of postures assumed by the
patrons while buying tickets. and the
other is the psychological question OF the
yet evolved an answer. but Winters Is
hopeful. and he believes he can solve
them before he dies.
Il wish I knew said Winters why
the individual patron will buy his tickets
in particular fashion. / don't believe
that any two men ever purchase seats OF
me in exactly the same way.
"One man will lean over the railing and
stick his hands in his pockets as though
he were about to place a bet at a race
track. Another will assume Byronic at
titude. resting his head on his hand. and
gazing at me and clear through me A
off with his tickets though he were
buying cigar. fourth will grin. \
fifth will deliberate the matter as though
he intended walking of with the theater
before he got through.
"They are strange. these customers Of
mine. Just stay here and watch them"
The writer paused and watched.
a little shopgrl. dressed in perfect
taste. a strange mixture Of crudeness and
daintiness when one compared her petite
figure and piquant face with her ''aint's''
and seems" strolled up TO the box. She
flirted with everything irritable. She flirt
ed with the box office man and a disin-
terested spectator who was lounging i'm
the doorway-even with the writer. Had
1t been possible to f1irt with the tickets
she would have undoubtedly fitted with
them.
Next to her came a gruff business man.
He thumped down his money like one
who has a personal grievance against the
theater he patroniZes. He accepted the
seats with a grunt and marched out.
flnt hfvarr cnnd
the business man had gone, lis the way
the small man tries TO rise above the
big man. Take that man just leaving
He's worth nearly half a million. SO I'm
told. Yet he pulls out single bii,.
buys his seats and leaves.
Now when the young man Of large
prospects and small salary comes here
with his favorite feminine friend he tries
to overawe us. He wants us to be over
whelmed.
"A little clerk in q store who earns
not more than SO week will come To
this theater. He will get his money
changed into 81 bills and pull out his
'wad' with the air of a Rockefeller. Moth
ing jars linn. And the queer part of IL
is that he usually succeeds in impressng
his 'goil. -
At kernans Lyceum Theater c. III.
Dikenlan. the official guardian of the box
Office, says that his patrons are not in
frequently amusing and at all times in
teresting.
His dealings. being almost entirely con-
fired TO the male element, lack the va
riety perhaps that some of the other
theaters possess. but they certainly are
entertaining. Dikeman gets a chance To
watch the styles OF men who patronage
burlesque productions.
He is author of the statement that his
patrons are almost without exception i'm
hurry for their seats. They seem to
fear that the last seat will be gone before
they get inside
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

box If ne does there are chances that
he will send down word at the close of
the first act that he can't see and he
wants to move over on the other side
where he thinks the view is better. How
ever il comes out / am blamed. L and
my disposition are in league to interfere
with the harmless enjoyment OF numer-
Gus inCffensive individuals.
Believe me when l say that I never
consciously snubbed patron in my life.
It's no credit to say it. If I did some
thing would probably happen to me. Yet
in spite of my greatest endeavors to be
gentle and kind know that / am brand
ed in many places as a disagreeable and
unobliying fellow. II is very discourag
ing
Just to prove that there is a wide differ
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

diately in front and behind him-will think
he doesn't attend frequently. The man
to whom the theater is as dinner quiet
" asks for the best he can get, takes
1t. goes in and enjoys the play.
So much for the general impression OF
the men behind the box office. Their
individual opinions of those whom they
serve. their individual impressions and
stories are varied. for each man sees the
great public according to his own eyes,
and no two men are the same.
At the Columbia Theater there presides
a jolly, smiling individual whom work
never tires or initiates. j. E. Fowler is
his name. He is used to his patrons and
sympathizes with them in their insatia BILE
longing for seats mot farther back than
d and on the aisle"
THE theatrical public" says he, sis
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

them come i'm free for she demanded
II told her I didn't exactly know. ex-
cept that IL added to the prestige o.
theater to be criticised. and she walked
away thinking.
"I'IIsbet a cigar she's still thinking"
At the Academy Theater there are Two
problems that require the particular at
tention OF Fred winters. who Is the oni-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

quirers who infested one of the theaters
and asked anywhere from one to five
million questions before deciding that
they would come back next week and
buy seat-maybe. One OF the ticket
sellers spotted the pair and lay Tor
them. II SO happened that on one partic-
ular week classic show of the rural
odd home amt like IL ulster be- variety
was playing. The two chronic question
ers dropped in
Pretty good show you've got this
week quered the first.
Yep" replied the ticket seller.
Kinder tragic, amt it, asked the sec
ond.
YES" replied the ticket seller.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

set says Coster. although there are
many middle-aged members OF the or
ganization.
"A young man will come In with the
one girl of his heart. He has enough
money to get them both into the vaude-
Vile show, and he is excessively proud OF
that fact. Draping himself comfortably
over the brass railing opposite the win
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

sists on shaking hands. after which he
discusses the weather at length with a
view to making himself solid. The end
is always the same
Can YOU let US have two seats In d
near the center aisle?'
A popular attraction may be at the
theater and the particular seats wanted
may have been sold four days before.
This does not worry the patrons.
Surely you have something in d."
they urge in deeply injured tones
Sorry, madam tor sirD." says the man
at the box office. patiently. but we
haven't. Those seats are sold"
Well" decide the patrons with the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

who accepts MS
icaily passes out two seats near the aisle
please" fails in his sense OF humor.
d \
Consequently. he is apt to unbosom him
self to the young man i'm the box office
with a freedom he would never dare as
sumo toward his barber. his grocer or
even his tailor He will explain just why
he wants certain seats. He will affably
criticise the play while drawing forth
money with which to purchase his ad-
mission. In fact he will say whatever
he feels like saying and offer whatever
confidence may be in his mind. because
he thinks that. after all. there are several
thousand people passing before the young
automaton, and he will be quickly for
gotten.
dozen examples found in Washington the
theatergoer who believes in the automatic
theory has about two more Suesses before
ne is called out on strikes. True. they
respect condolences offered as such and
keep them secret. True also that they
do not ridicule some of their patrons half
as much as those patrons deserve. But
their latent sense of humor and apprecia-
tion of good story makes them thor
oughly human set of young men, under
standing the great public. about as well
a any half-dozen men in Washington.
The man i'm the box Office has about as
much to contend with as any of his fell
lowmen--possibly more. He is supposed
10 sell front seats exclusively and each
seat Is supposed to be near the center
aisle. To plan a theater calculated to ac-
commodate the theateTgoer would be a
problem sufficiently complicated to drive
a contriver Of jigsaw puzzles insane.
The young girls enter the theater. walk
10 the box office and smile effusively at
the box office man. The hail-feilow-well-
met stvle of citizen wanders up and in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

!, OCTOBER Il, 1900.
OUR actors are
taking part in the
latest Grecian dra-
m "a kin g. a
crown prince, an
ex-priIne minister
and a soldier. The
soldier. Col. Tor
has. head OF the
"Omcers' Union,
is the man OF the
d ay at Athens,
where the scene Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

y all probability IT
has frequently &C.
Cured to the thea
tergoer that the
man in the box Of
flee of q playhouse
is automatically
devised. He who
buys tickets to a
play seems to cher
ish the fond delu-
sion that the grav-
en- : faced young
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

the present state OF affairs Rather
than do that we will face civil war,
foreign occupation. anything Ehher
the nation will be delivered or she VIII
perish completely. We will destroy all
the parties who strive to ruin our KING.
for we must save our country ana set
our people free. because they are more
enslaved than the Young Turks were
under the old regime. We know per-
fectly we'll that we have transgressed
the law and that our coup d'etat was
unconstitutional. But what are we 20
do? Extraordinary circumstances cali
for extraordinary measures. For the
rest. King George has given us rea-
sons and approved or them In IormihS
q new cabinet
Constantine. Duke of Sparta. the d'a-
doque. was born in Athens forty-one
years ago. His wife is Sophia. Duchess
of Prussia. He is said to be fan more
OF a German than a Greek In his tastes.
Indeed. lie is only a HELENE. inasmuch
as he was born in Greece. for his father
is Dane and his mother a Russian
lie is now i'm Germany. where the OF
ficers Union SAYS he should remain
for at least two years. But a Brindisi.
where he stayed for a short time On
route for Berlin. he told the representa-
tive OF a Roman paper that he fully
intended to return to Greece when the
some officers who went to bid him
goodbye:
IT have always worked for the good or
the army. IF have been strict at times
it was because discipline required ii.
But the fact that the whole army has
revolted proves that it has some just
grievance. Time alone will show where
the truth lies. They accuse me of having
favorites. I wish they would show them
TO me. as we'll as those to whom l hav"
been unfavorable or unjust"
When he left Athens, after his OK
pulsion. he stopped at the islands of
Patras and Corfu. He made speech.
in the course of which he cried Long
live the king" This cry was taken up
by the people. and excited him so nue.,
that he burst into tears, and, turning
TO some officers. said: The people will not
let me go, Don't you hear Them" At
Corfu where he also saw 81. TheotOkis.
much the same scene was enacted, and
the DIALOGUE publicly declared that I've
would he back In Athens in three days.
This message was telegraphed to Athens.
and Col Zorbas was SO angry when he
heard II that he told the minister the
DIALOGUE must leave the country at once
or he would not answer for what fol-
lowed.
The union demands that he should
be deprived Of his command, and the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31
ROWN PRINCE OF GREECE REVOLUTION

answered in the affirmative King George
asked:
What have and my children done to
arouse such evaporation amongst the Of
fcers?' The officer assured him that tho
movement was directed neither against
tne KING nor the princes: at which the
king said:
But these things could have been done
quietly by means OF committee of Off
GERS, who could have come To me and
put me in touch with their demands and
the situation. Those who informed me
or the movement represented il as of no
ihportance-a thing confined to a hun
dred officers and by no means represent
ative OF the whole corps. They a~e at
iauit inasmucn as they did not bring
their complaints to the commander-in-
cnief. i nave always done all I could for
the country. | hope that the new cham
Der will adopt all the measures that the
government will present to IT, I prefer
TO abdicate rather than push the nation
toward a catastrophe
Those who are i'm a position to express
an opinion say that the removal OF the
crown prince from the command of the
army and the virtual Punishment of
Princes Nicholas and Christopher have
lett deep impression upon the king. 1t
is understood in court circles at Athens
sonal feelings alone were to be consulted
But tie uncertainty of what might follow,
has also been impressed upon him by his
own family and caused him to seek the
advice of certain powers before taking
such step. The same authorities state
that he has not recovered from the shock
caused by signing the DEGREES that sent
his children away for several years. a;
the same time the union" constantly
declares its loyalty. not only toward the
king. but the whole Of the royal family
Even the DIALOGUE. except as COM
mander-in-chief. is popular with the Of
ficers.
In Russian diplomatic circles IL is said
that King George has often spoken of his
abdication lately. NJ Theotokis. who has
been his majestys adviser for so many
years, has thrown down the gauntlet to
the army by declaring that he and his
party will never vote for the abolition of
the commandership-in-chi
"Al these reforms he says. ARE but
midsummer madness. They will fade
away as soon as the autumn session
comes. 1t is impossible to find millions
by magic-and how else do you intend to
reOrganiZe our army and navy? This
statement was noised abroad and pro .
duced letter from a Gen. Botzana
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-31

v on enforced iease OF absence Hom 1reece
good deal more for him. The king has
only spoken once, and his subjects infer.
from what lie says. that he has been kept
in ignorance OF the true state of affairs.
The occa sion on which he spoke was this.
\ distinguished naval officer was received
by his majesty. One OF the first ques-
tons asked was whether the officer ap-
proved of and had taken part IN the
recent coup detat. When the omcer