Theatrical Receipts

"Edwin Booth Iu London" is the title of au article iu The Oentury by E. H. House. Mr. House tells oí an interesting meeting between Booth and Charles Reade aud reports the following conversation relating to the appearance of Booth and Irving together: "Is it true that the prices will be chauged?" "Doubled, I believe. Irving saysthcy raust be. That is one of the risks 1 speak of, but he is full of confidence He does it more tor in y sake thau auythiug else. " "Tben I hope it will turn out well. What are the indicatious?" "Yery good, I hear. I caunot judge myself. The conditions are all different from what I ani used to. ' ' "I understaud. We are too slow - and thrifty, 1 suspect - to run the swift American pace. Yet I eau 't see why there should be such an amazing differente iu your theatrical busiuess and ours. The stories we hear of .New York profits sound fabulous. I should say they were fabulous if I had not seen the returns of Wallack's when oue of my plays was produced there. A hundred a night is nothing to you, it seeras. " "Two or three hundred would uot staggerus," said Booth, smiling, "nor four or five for a very great and special attraction. For several years the prosperous houses in New York cousidered $1,000 a fair average the year round. 'Stars' traveling through the country, for whom the regular prices were raised, could soinetimes draw ïnuch more. " "Were you at all prepared for the lower receipts here?" "Mot really prepared. I was told what to expect, but paid no attention. Clarke said I should get uothing aX the Princess', but I did not take his 'nothing' literally. I thought I might couut upon $1,000 a inonth at the very worst. He was right, however. ' ' "I can 't niake it out, " said Reade. "Your theaters are not larger thau ours, and the prices of tickets are about the same, yet I see the Adelphi or the St. James' packed, without about one-half the result that Wallack's shows. It beats my arithmetic. You can't get more people iuto a place than it will hold." "We do that, too, sometirnes, " laughed Booth, "but, as I say, you must come and flnd "out all about it for yourself, Mr. Reade. Your audiences will be larger than the halls can hold, so you can study the problem under the best conditions. " "No, uo. You tempt me to my destruction. " But the coniplimeut greatly pleased the author, who liked to hear such things said, though he affected a lofty indifference to praise.