Jimmy’s Theatre Treat

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 14, 7 April 1906, Page 43

Jimmy’s Theatre Treat

A mite of a boy. with neatly patched knickerbockers and a pinched look that comes from want of nourishing food, plucked at the sleeve of George Kingsbury. manager of the Hippodrome, yesterday afternoon. '■ Say. mister, are j'ou Mr. Dundy?” he inquired, hesitantly. ” Xo. son," replied the busy manager. “What do you want?” ’’ 1 wants a seat for Granny down where the big bugs sit, an’ one lor myself up in de peanut gallery, but de guy in de cage won’t sell ’em -says I'm toutin’ for de specs on de walk. Oh. I’ve got de mazuma all right,” he added, diving into a pocket and bringing out a handful of coppers, nicklcs and dimes. Mr. Kingsbury was interested and drawing the lad’ out found that his name was Jimmy King and that he lived in Harlem when he wasn’t selling papers on Broadway. You see. it's dis way,” he explained. “ Granny, she’s old an' sick and takes care o’ me an’ I thought it would cheer her up to see the elephants an’ tigers an’ Marceline an' things at the Hip, and so 1 saves me spare cash since Xew Year’s. Here it is—2dol. 50 cents for Granny's seat an’ 50 cents for me own. But the guy in the cage —” Mr. Dundy had come out from his office and heard the unvarnished tale. "Give the boy a loge box,” he told Mr. Kingsbury, “and tell him to take his money and buy his granny something she needs.” It didn’t dawn on Jimmy all at once, but finally he was made to understand and with the box coupons tightly clutched iu his fist he choked, muttered incoherent thanks and disappeared. Every seat and every box in the great auditorium was occupied last night—except Jimmy’s loge. Mr. Dundy noted the fact. ” Fooled again,” he sighed. Fifteen minutes later a newsboy lianded to an usher a crumpled note aildres.sed to Mr. Dundy. On it was scrawled in pencil: “We can’t come; grannv died tonight.” “Don’t sell that box for this per formance.” Mr. Dundy ordered. -“ Nev. York World.”