A new "draw" hae been tried by American theatrical manager. Free "Merry Widow" hats were advertised as the souvenir to be distributed at a certain matinee. The management judged that there would be the usual percentage of men in the audience, and only intended to give these expensive souvenirs to the occupiers of the higher priced seats; so they laid in a store of 1,200 hats, each of which was ight inches in diameter, exclusive of the large hat box. As there was no room for them inside the house coupons were given to the women they entered, and it was intended to hand out the boxes after the play was over, Somehow it leaked out that there would not be enough hate to go round, and after this those women who had obtained front seats persisted in standing behind the last rows. Then one or two slipped out, obtained the hats on a "last train" plea and departed with elation. Someone saw how things were going and a ran began; the age was neglected and the rush women souvenir hunters broke down the barricades and swept to the piled up boxes. Four policemen proved inadequate to grapple with the problem and reserves were hastily sent for to rescue the remains of the hate and the fainting women who went down in the affray.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.