The evening world. Newspaper, January 2, 1904, Page 9

Ue Ee ee ee # HOME » MAGAZINE Throngs of Happy Tots at Extravaganzas This Week Parked a New & AUSTIN FAPU177. ALIS + Agnes Ardock ATMA GLEG/P Vedtre. WELZ TLL. a Little Folk Flock to Spectacles tn Un- precedenfed Numbers—Inferest So Inferse that Juveniles Can't Keep Their Seats — Sympathetic Miss Comes fo the Rescue of Siammer- ing Singer—March of dulian Mitch: ell's Toys a Poser for the Young: Sters—Great Bravery Displayed in Onslaught on Gift Tables. T was in fact. It marked a new era in holiday history for New York. Never before has there been in this city such @ flocking out of juvenile theatregoers. The rea- sons for this are simple and patent. For the first time there have been datly mati- nees at one theatre and more than the ordinary number of matinees at another, in both of which are given entertainments especially attractive and suitable to. children. Then, too, the theatres of this town never of- fered anything so clever, unique and ingenious as “Babes in Toyland,” and nothing so gorgeously lavish as “Mother Goose.’? And while the ushers were lonely in most of the other houses, the Majestic and New Amaster- dam wore filled from front to rear by the most appreciative audiences of the season. Manager Gray, of “The Babes in Toyland” company, took me into his confidence and his office on Thursday to show me a box-office state- ment which went to prove his proud assertion at “Wednesday's business beat all matinee records.” The figures which he so kindly let me look at were indeed imposing, but—huh!—who cares for money ax holiday time? And who has enough left to be worth caring about, anyway? T tried to be duly impressed by the properous showing of the sheet, but what I Teally wanted to ask Mr. Gray was; If you put down eix and carried two and then divided the wiole sum by seven, would the result HIS has been a great week in the the- atres for the children—bless their thumping hearts, Quite the greatest week that ever come anywhere near showing how many little girls and boys were represented in that record- breaking total? a a a a a T the New Amsterdam, on Wednesday after- PRG vata: Mipeulcocdtiies o becrtise relent from the box-office point of view to see muscular mothers holding emotional offspring in their arms in order that the delighted darlings might see over the wainscoting. They couldn't buy seats so they took “standing- room.” And “standing-room,” when you have children to support, is terribly trying on the arms. However, it wasn’t long before thoughtful at- taches of the house found some sort of seat for every stich mother in the house. ‘The way every one connected with the theatre hustled around to make every one else comfort- able almost made one think the occasion was a “party” instead of a show where you “had to pay to get in.” Hassocks were placed on seats for little folk #0 ‘that Master and Miss Mite could see the stage Just as well as Mr. and Mrs, Mature. It’s a question who enjoy these children-graced performances most—the youngsters or the grown- ups. Under the spontaneous spell of childhood—pre- suming you are an unfortunate grown-up—you see everything that happens with new eyes. That funny, finnicky horse which came clat- tering, bumping and humping in with Mother Goose was, for instance, never so funny, It seemed to be cutting up something extra because the children were looking and laughing at it. Everything and everybody were funny—even the comedians, rod od Cd a Cd RARE pleasure, and one which Is like a draught of the elixir of youth (we must Suppose a whole lot, you know), {9 to sit away back at one of these matinees where you can hear, but can't see, Sit there and hold your ear to catch the sound of children’s laughter. It is as soft and swoet and fresh as a breeze from over a field of clover. If you have children of your own that sound will make you'happy and proud. And if you haven't you will perhaps knock your heels dis- consolately against the wall and wonder what you're on earth for, any how. There {s moré music in that gladeome murmur| | than is dreamt of In all the philosophy of Heln- It surely found {ts way into the hearts of all) Water’ in Aatherine 2yYMore, Marcy 3; }7. Beg: Lew Dockstogenr Viton “Mother Goose” an tfuquisitive tot at the New Amsterdam, including the performers, turned on her hassock and asked: who worked as if it was all play. Pd a a a a YOUNG woman, in describing her sensa- A tions when she found herself for the first time facing an audience, said: “I seemed to freeze. It wasn’t the women, but the men, who frightened me. The audience looked like one great glaring shirt-front.” Tf this young woman had made her debut at a children’s matinee ehe might have been saved the scare which came at the sight of so much starched linen. For children—unless they be heartless gamins im an east side gallery—make the kindest audi- ence in the world. This was amusingly fllustrated when Lella Mc- Tntyre was giving her “baby imitations” in “Mother Goose.” When she appeared on the verge of breaking down because of her pretended inabil- ity to récall the next word of the rhyme she was Msping a sympathetic tot leamed from an upper box and piped the wanted word. a a a * a HILDREN are apt to take things seriously when least expected to do so. You'd imagine, shouldn’t you, that the march- ing forth of the human toys in the extravaganza ‘at the Majestic would arouse exclamations of de- Well, it didn’t do anything of the kind Thurs- day afternoon. There was merely a low murmur of wonder- ment, followed by the most intense, silent interest, » that I ever witnessed in a theatre. Shining, staring eyes took in every “toy” and watched every evolution as if beholding a miracle, The wondering witnesses, it was plain to be seen, couldn't quite make up their minds whether these| |; were real animated toys or “just make believes.” * Many leaned eagerly forward; others slid to the floor amd stood half in the aisles, but hardly one!® uttered a sound, Julian Mitchell has been given a great deal of praise for that scene, but no praise like these! children unconsciously gave him, Here were competent critics—ocritics who knew toys when they saw them—only this time they! CASINO woman on her other side, captivity.” DRESSES, DIAMOND DYES We hay and will, ant dyeing. Send Direction | MINER'S! weren't quite sure whether they did or not, rd ad cod cad cd | NVIABLD is the faith of children, yet some- |v E times it le mixed with a grain of doubt. | sex ‘When the Indian maidens were hopping [thy Ronetet ent the Mnaben! Upon aet sanpttion Se eatin 06 Ame od, pees CONE PINGS a BELLEW "itaiemeh 3 BACRAM 'T OF JUDA |MUSEB VAN STUDDIFORD Kazt.Nieh. | MARL “Mamma, do Indian ladies have blond hair like dolly?” she whispered; then added to a “when they are born tn “Yes, dear,” # Rad a oe a a T was a sight for old eyes to see the children receiving real toys as they filed out of the Majestic Theatre. Their heads were full of toys, and now they ware going to get their hands full, |the tables where the mysterious packages were handed gut! Great, broad brims of felt were flattened over bright dancing eyes, toes were stepped on, and little fur muffs were all but knocked into cocked hats. Yet thero wasn't a whimper. The battle went bravely on. There was an I'll-get-a-toy-or- die-in-the-attempt expression on every ,pet little face, and a perfect explosion of “ohs!” and “atis!” out in the corridors when the prize packages were opened. | Rich and poor were on an equal footing, though that footing was at no time too secure, against it. ure. uttered a After all, was gospel shout of joy as he captured a woolly shi squeaked as if hurt when another boy Beside this son of fortune was a pale, little girl removing the wrapping from her When a “Kitchen cet” was rapturous “oh!” then, catching mother’s hand, hurried breathlessly out, as afraid some one would take it from her. every word of that song of Tom Tomttwl truth: “Toyland, Toyland, Little girl and boy land, Once you pass its borders You can ne'er return again.” And, anyway, who wants to? And what a courageous crush there was about| John Jacob Astor's little son Vincent gave a DARNTON, SLU oes ss aoe ses Amusements. | Amusements. Amusements. 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NOVELTY. | y AT ACTS 0 | 1, Night--Grand © row AND Ant MAJESTIC, Uway vo BABES = T0HLA.D : : | BELASCO™: a sat st |p CROSMAN - é Shaw | Ah ERY We us gay MEBER A FIELDS ARE | ar hoop-Dae-0 le Wa MALI nid a Bais Coneain. | o-Gaa’ @ Huan, W 00 warrime.” aap R. oa] Hu Theatre, Le Lexingto mnUITOY SEATINER TO-DAY. ibe. other paper, een NEW EMPIRE iicadwar ina som LAST MATINER. LAST NIGHT, Maude Adams TEE ln, HERALD SQ. % TMT OR PSG ava NEW LYCEUM "erent a, Wm. Gillette ™ 7% same s| DALY’S® "yay "30.309 Sat A RTHEL BARRYMORE “Ru! BAVOY7EATRE Bromtaey, one Shen me |Skype FITCH'S 3 GLAD OF TT ‘i MILLIE JAMES and Cast of 0. | CRITERION ® ‘5 AvausTus I Ate cous, GARRICK MEAT WHITEWASHING Juul GARDEN * iam nee : |ELEANOR ROBSON ,ae88H,. | HUDSON Marie Tempest Vaudevile ** * CHARLOTTE WIEHE, ii Sse pace Brooklyn Amusements, UCN: TAUK. Rou He, ath pub ures of the American News Go that the regular daily New Yor jcirculation of The World ig thoussnds gi@ater Pond that