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Show HE STOPPED THE BELL. Applicant Had Good Right to Demand a Free Seat. Tho requests for theater fnvora In tho small towns arc very troublesome, says the Chicago Inter Ocean. Evory person of locnl standing feels that he has a right to admission nt least, whllo the trustees and tho constable fool that they are entitled to prlvato boxes. Some of the requests aro decidedly unique. Recently a company played In a small Southern city. The manager was taking tho tickets nt tho door of the theater, nnd the nntlves were struggling to get in. "Buddenly," ho tells, "a long, thin, bushy chinned individual in-dividual divided tho folding doors with his shoulder, whispered confidentially: confiden-tially: 'I stop tho boll.' I asked him to repeat 'I stop the bell,' ho said again, ln a hoarso whisper, 'You will have to see tho opera house manager and tell him whnt you stop,' I said, reaching for tickets. Ho tripped up several ladles whllo backing out. Soon tho manager of tho house enme In, saying, 'He's nil right, ho stops tho bell.' I allowed him to go In, nnd after af-ter tho people wero seated I asked the local man whnt bo m'nnt by lie 'stops tho bell.' 'Well,' snld he, 'this mnn Is tho Jnnltor of the Town Hall, right opposite, nnd on "show nights" he does not ring 9 or JO on the town clock. You see,' he snld, 'it would disturb dis-turb tho performnnco,' and so tho poor people do not know what time It Is until 11 o'clock when tho opera house is open. If I had turned him down he would havo rung out 9 or 10 every half hour to get cvon." |