Typed as spelled and written
Lena Stone Criswell

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT
Thirteenth Year - Number 37
Marlin, Texas,Thursday, November 13, 1902

THE STAGE.

       Notwithstanding the hard times in Texas there are more first class attractions coming to the state this season than ever before.  Shows carrying car loads of scenery and baggage come every day.  The legitimate attractions are getting good patronage but the bad ones as a rule are suffering as they should.  In the near future Texas will get nothing but the best to be had as the "barn storming" companies are beginning to realize that Texas is not the Mecca for them that it once was.

       A certain citizen who is along in years, remarked the other day, that his life had been prolonged ten years since the opening of Marlin's Opera House.  He said that his "laughing strings" had all shriveled up, his face had set with wrinkles, his blood had begun to run cold and he had become cross and crabid, but now he was happy once more; he had laughed again, had loosened the "tension" on his nerves, had awakened his brain and set the blood coursing through his veins and dispelled the gloomy side of life.

       We are sorry to learn that some trouble is being had with the date of the Grau Opera Co.  The demand from the larger cities is so great for this popular opera company that the smaller places are being left out, however, Marlin has had the best so far and we hope she will not lose the Grau as we are sure Marlin people are hungry for a good opera and would doubtless crowd the house.  The date will be definitely decided in a day or so.

       The next attraction for the Grand Opera House Lyceum course will be the "Wagner Ladies Quartette."  These fine singers are now on their tour of the south and will be in Galveston on the 24th and here on the 25th of this month.  Manager Oltorf has arranged with the Wednesday Matinee Musical Club to take charge of the entertainment and it will be given under their auspices.  This will be the finest quartete ever heard in Marlin and will be a treat.  Non-theatre goers should take an interest in this class of attractions and encourage them by giving them a full house, if they want such class of amusements.  It was for them the lecture course was arranged by Mr. Oltorf, and iof they are not patronized this season they will be omitted the next.

       Chas. B. Hanford in "The Taming of the Shrew" is playing to crowded houses all through the southeastern states.  He is headed for Texas and will be in Marlin on Dec. 5.  It goes without saying that the opera house will not hold the crowd at $1 and $1.50 per.

       Quinlan and Wall are coming south this season with the best and largest minstrel on the road Al. G. Fields not excepted.  They play in Marlin Nov. 29th.
                                                         PUBLIC OPINION.

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Copyright permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing
by The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas