"TAKING IN" THE PUBLIC AT THEATRES.
Ti) THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
Stn—Allow me to call your attention to a species of imposition which pre. veils at our theatres, and which really should not be tolerated. I allude to the practice of issuing tickets, and receiving money for seats, which, it is well known, have been already disposed of.
To persons living several miles from town, and who have not a close carriage of their own, a visit to the theatre is, necessarily, rather an expeusive pleasure ; and involving also considerable domestic inconvenience, is seldom undertaken, and is, of course, anticipated with proportionate satisfaction. Attracted by the fame of VAN AMIIURGH, I accompanied some friends one evening lately to Astley's. We arrived half an hour before the commencement of the pet- formance ; purchased box-tickets; and proceeded, as we thought, to take our seats. No such thing. The box-keeper informed us, not only that he had not a single seat at liberty, but that every seat in the theatre had been taken two days previously. Our application to the box. keeper on the second tier met with no better success ; remonstrance was in vain ; and on our inquiring why the person of whom we purchased our tickets had not told us that the seats were all engaged, the official coolly answered, " He knew nothing about that." To recover our money we found utterly hue practicable ; and in this unpleasant predicament, our only alternative was to place ourselves at the back of the boxes, and get a peep at the stage, when we could, over the heads or under the arms of some of the hundreds of our fellow sufferers who were standing there. And there we too stood, for the term of six mental home, after having paid sixteen shillings for seats ! In mentioning this circumstance, I by no means wish invidionely to particularize Aetley'e, as I know the case is one of common occurrence at the other theatres. I merely suggest, that after the seats in a theatre are all taken, it would be as well to state that fact to any subsequent applicant ; thus giving him the option of seek- ing amusement elsewhere.
I must apologize for troubling you on a subject which you may deem trivial. For my own part, I think nothing in the shape of imposition too trifling to be vexatious ; and if individuals would only take the trouble to resist and ex• pose this petty kind of abuses, they would no doubt soon be exploded. I remain, Sir, yours very respectfully,
A FARMER'S DAUGHTER.
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