THE CLACQUE IN" PARIS,

Evening Star, Issue 11267, 14 June 1900, Page 5

THE CLACQUE IN" PARIS,

The Claque in Paris has been hard hit. by a recent judicial decision, but it appears likely, nevertheless, to be "an unconscionable tune dying." An appeal has been lodged against the decision of the Judge in the action brought by a "chef de claque" against the manager of the Menus Piaisire Theatre, in which it was laid down that the custom of hiring paid applauders is unmoral, contrary to the public interest, and • not capable of Taeing recognised by law. Incidentally, sonie' interesting particulari" of the trade were given. It seems that the gentleman who brought the action derived an income from his strange occupation of something like £I,OOO sterling per annum. It should be added, however, thai he is a small capitalist, and that part at least of his earnings are derived from the purchase and sale of tickets. The custom is for rhe chef de claque to contract for a certnin number of seats nightly at a reduced rate.fc The survival of the claque is an astonishing"* fact, all things considered. No one seams to defend it, and certainly no one belioves in the mechanical applause that bursts out at, regular intervals from a compact group of men in the pit and gallery.—«•' Dailv News.' ■ ■' ,