Indianapolis, Ind., U.S.A., October 1

Otago Witness, Issue 2436, 21 November 1900, Page 55

Indianapolis, Ind., U.S.A., October 1

Dear Bis, — I take great pleasure m again sending a few lines to let you knew how things are piogressing on this side of the pond. The theatrical season is -now m full swing, all the theatres are open, and many novelties have already been pioduced and others are piomised during the fall. The greatest success up to date is the comedydrama, ''Shore Acres," written and played by Jamea A. Herne and Company, a play that may be compared with 'Caste." I had the pleasure of seeing "Shore Acies" performed in San Francisco, St. Paul, and Milwaukee. As it is a play of merit one can witness it many times without tiring. Although the weather is far from cold, yet the evenings are inclined to be chilly, consequently the attendance at the parks is nowfalling off considerably. In my last letter I think I gave you a description of the railroad collision given as a draw at the State Fair grounds' on the" 4th July. Since then anothei novelty was presented on Labour Day. This was a gas explosion ; an attempt to destroy a cottage built for the purpose. The result was not a success, the electric spark failing to ignite the gas, and aftei a long delay a train of coal oil was'laid and fired, which, pioduced the desired .explosion and set fire to the debiis. The file patrol was on hand and proceeded to make short work of the fire, and thus the chief attraction of the day ended. By the manner the public are induced to attend these out-dooi entertainments it ax> pears to me that very soon nothing less than a lynching will attract the crowd. On September 13 a special car attached to a tram en loute to Caiio, Illinois, was completely wrecked, killing nine members of Duncan Clark's Lady Minstrels, and injuring every person on the car, about 25 in all. Chas. H. Hoyt, playwught, who some time ago was pronounfced insane, has been released from the asylum in charge of a guardian. This affair caused great comment in theatrical circles,' the leading, members oi which would not rest until Mr Hoyt's release was secured. It has been my intention for some time past to write of the orderly manner m which crowds condur^ + hemselv.es in this countiy; I mean, particularly, in awaiting turns to purchase tickets at any entertainment. The iDeople form up in single file and take their turn in line as they arrive;" should an individual attempt to usurp a position to which he is not entitled, he has very poor chance of obtaining his ticket, as the crowd will compel him to fall back -to his pioper turn. As the ticket offices are open fiom 9 a.m. till 10 p.m., and tickets sold as early as two weeks in advance, it becomes a simple matter to choose a seat foi any particular performance, without losing one's patience waiting an hour or more, just before -he show. As every seat is numbered and every ticket sold corresponds with seat numbers, there is no chance of having one's seat jumped. The only time 1 have seen scrambles lor seats has been at the summer parks, where the crowds are so great that it is next to impossible to keep them in any order. The street cars are built to accommodate 75 persons seated and 10 standing, but it is v very common thing to see from 160 to 180 faies lung up on a single trip fiom the parks. Next week the Fall Carnival is announced for this city, and according to all accounts it will be the most gigantic affair ever produced in tliis= Stale. All- manner of amusements aie on the list, of which I shall s&nd j ou particulars in my next lettei. Tlie gieal craze in tliess leform daring the past summei has been the shirt-waist man and the duck-trouseied woman. ' The former has been common all pvex the States, whilst the lat-

ter has* been conspicuous at the .seaside an 3 summer lesorts. For my part, lam in favour of some dress for me? which will enable them Lo discard cont and vest during the hot weather and be cool, as the ladies appear to be is their thin garments, and I think the shirt-waist fills the requirements. Of course, as in every new fpFhion, things are overdone, and this always brings about comment. It is really funny to lead the difl'eient aiticles written about the subject. Not enly has theie been the ridiculous side of the question, hvl there has also been a tenons one presented, as the following case in,' point viil show- — A prominent gentleman in Chicago entered the dimng-ioom of the P?.lmer - House in a shirt-waist, minus coat and vest. The moprietor icfused to serve him a meal, and • o dcied the man to leave the room, which ha did, aiicl went straight to a lawyer and entered a suit against piopi-ietor for 10,000dol damages. Although this amount may not be awarded, yet there _s e n- er\ picb.ibihtj o£ damages being allowed, as in otaes States the courts have already passed opinions to the effect -that shut-waists, " • aie articles of dress which supply, a, long-felt ~. wa.ul. Individuals -were somewhat shy in rnakrag them a popular institution this last summer, but there is no doubt that the next season will open with them in full bloom. The fashion for Fomen has been decollete dress, with sleeves and shoulders covered only by the flimsiest net, and the following lines may give you an idea : — The shirt-waist man and the net-waist girl Go hand in hand to-day, And the people, year, aftei year, keep, on Thi owing their clothes away. The coat and the vest aie laid to rest, And where is the fleecy shawl? And clothes get thinner and fewer. Wha-' Will be the end of it all? Oh, what will the shirt-waist man take ilex' From the things ho has to wear? And what will the net-waist girl throw off From her shoulders, now half bare? The shiit-waist man and the net-waist girl Go rollicking down the way. Have we started a -tiend that's going to end In the old fig leaf, some day ? An adveitisement appeared in the Indiana I>alis News some weeks ago, calling foi a full • company of burlesque artists, chorus girls, choius men, etc. Answers came lolling in ' fiorn all parts of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, with the result that some 40 persons were engaged, to be in this city on a certain date. They airived, started rehearsals, ptc, and then the manager approached each one with a request of from 10do! to 500dol as & guarantee and deposit on the costumes to be provided for the production. Having succeeded in obtaining the amounts, the said manager lost himself in, a crowd and has since beor "'non est," and the company was left to get out of their hotel bills and railroad expenses as best they could. This ir: quite a common game in the States, and one can scarcely obtain an engagement in any but fii-st-class companies without putting up 50dol to lOOdoi. By this means it will be noted "that managers take veiy little financial risk in starting 'on tour, ' and if the ventvre is a failuic, or - even il a success, Mr Manager often clears off with the proceeds* of the company, and as a." ■' week's salary it, always kept in hand, it will "be scon that a "moonlight flit" is more profitable than the legicimpte business. At an early date I am leaving Indiana ioi theWest, Kansas Citj, where I shall remain 9 • while, prior to making St. Louis my headquarters next year. I shall send you descriptions of those cities as I become familiar with them, trusting they will prove of interest to .you. The Old Reliable com"as regularly to hand, and I scan the columns eagerly foi news of those I , am acquainted with in the profession. Nell ©Wynne's lettei is always of interest; as is also that of the only Bis. Fondest regards and bcs. J wishes L.O all the boys, not forgetting Pollard*! Company and yourself .—Yours truly, GEORGE V. BECK. [Permanent address : Milwaukee, Wisconsin. U.S AJ Court Hotel, Perth, October 30. Dear Bis, — Just s few lines to let you know that I am still alb-e. Little Geo. Calleitder has been busy all the week billing ; ere this you have i eceived his letter, I hope. I think Hellers will have a fair time here ; they arrive tornoriow. per s.s. Ppi-00, and open on Saturday at the Cremorne Theatre. Brough closes oj. the Friday. There is nothing fresh to report to you, old boy. Payne's go out pgain shortly, I believe. lam pretty comfortable, as you can see I am in no lrurry to take on to show business. Dick Shepherd — baritone, and a good one — i<= Hkelv tc go your way soon. There_ is a very de^er bo*- f ovpi here — Arnold Jarvis. in another few months he will be out of sight. lam in a great hurry this week, as I have to kill a chow. So excuse your old jay. — Yours tiuly, JOHN J. HODGE.