LETTERS FROM PROS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 55

LETTERS FROM PROS.

En'pirc Theatre, Sydney, Maii.li 19 Dear Pasqum, — Just a woid m your estr to tell you how we fared on Saturday night. You see by the enclosed clippings that we were excellently treated by the press and public Our two houses have been most satisfactory, and, if applause and general expressions of satisfaction go for anything, we aie id for a long and prosperous season heie. You see by the programme that we have a leal good show. We have two bis; things to fight — first and greatest is the locality and name the Royal Standard boie; end. secondly, our "unknownness," if I may be allowed to com a word, for, although we have spent a lot of money in advertising the show (the actual amount would stagger you), yet it is like a drop in the ocean in such a large place as this, wheie. in the city portion at least, all seem to be bustling for dust. Already we are being inundated with applications from artists (?), and, as Failing

=ays, "I will be ~ettmg my tiawl to viork." Trusting you are well, — Yours ever, BEN FULLER. Dunedin, Apnl 1. Dear Pa°quin,— Herewith forward cutting fiom an English paper. No comment is iieeded, on!y I might be allowed to =ay that I devoutly wish theie were more like -the Yoikshireman "Mr John Bilhngton, who for many years played in Mr J L. Toole's company and has been a life-long fnerd of the veteran comedian, tells the following amusing story anent a visit to Yoikshire, and which lllustiates an horest man's opinion on the system of people who are acquainted with theatrical managers expecting without any le° climate right to obtain frc° admission. Mr Bilhngton, meeting an ok l friend, introduced Mr Tcole to him as 'the managei ' ' Manager, John , dost ta mean a soit of foreman like 'No, 1.0, the manager of the theatre. ' Oh. John, 1 suppose thy maister,' replied he. 'Well, we call him the manager.' "Who pays t' wages?' 'Well, Mr Toole does.' ' Oh, then, John, in these parts we ca,ll him as pays t' wages the maister.' After a while Mr Bi'hngtoa said, ' Have you been to see us?' ' No,' was the leply. ' Then I have no doubt Mr Toole will give you an order.' ' A order, John , what's that ?' 'Why, a pass to see the performance, of course.' ' What, come in and see t' show for nowt.? Nay, nay, John, that'll mvver do. If thy friends come and see thee for nowt, how's thy maister to pay thee thy wages on a Saturday nect 9 Nay, nay, ah shall cooin m and pay my brass, and ah shall expect you boath to be up to the mark. We make a move this week, opening at the Garrison Hall on Easier Saturday for a few nights, with a new kmematograph and a large assortment of new films. We have also airanged for a set of animated pictures of the "Queen's Funeral, ' with which we shall make a quick tour of the Southland district (stowing our illusion show for a time). The films of the various incidents along the route of the pxocession are described by our London agents as very fine. — Yours as usual, HARRY ABBOTT.