Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-03-30

Fellows Hall. Those, therefore. who have M.
yet seen thisbeautifu work of art ought by all
means to visit the saloon to- night
III Perhaps place affords farer criterion
OF the manners and breeding of a populace, than
the pit y-house. There all classes and conditions
congregate together; there much of the restraint
usually imposed by society is thrown off; and
there consequently, the popular foibles are per-
mitted to stand out in bold relief
An intelligent stranger, we fear, would receive
rather sad impression of the manners of our
people, by visiting the Marshall Theatre, on Sa-
turday evenings, for instance Upon entering the
"dress circle" las George Jones, Tragedian aud
Lessee, dubbed the first tier of boxes) he would
discover n flaming placard requesting genaemfn
not to wear their hats in the boxes He would
naturally conclude that the Richmond gentleman
must be strange animal, indeed; because, in his
simplicity he had imagined that no well-bred
man could be induced to remain uncovered whie
seated in box with ladies'. His attention would
then be called, probably to the habit some pat
rons of the drama occasionally indulge, of talking
in loud tone of voice, to the serious annoyance
of those around them. 1.-The happened to occu-
py front seat, lie would in all probability find
that his coat skirts were used us mat by the
neighbour in his rear--or, what was equally
agreeable, that that neighbour had thrust his
huge feet upon the seat, and was in the act of i'm.
parting to his nexpressbes the concentrated es-
sence of all the mud which had been gathered
in day tramp through our muddy Streets
Now these things all Pleasant enough 10 their
way, we suppose, and may be borne by person
gifted with equanimity of temper; but to our con-
cepti,n they would not fail to impress stranger
with the conviction that there were some patrons
OF the drama in this city who had something yet
to learn. But these are mere trifies when COM
pared with other sometimes witnessed at
the 'Marshal" The whoops and yells OF the oc-
cnpants of the second tier-the boisterous merri-
ment of those who nightly congregate there-are
really disrepntabe to any community less
to this, wherein, in times past, we ,reckoned so
much refinement and intelligence to exist. The
senselsss cry pf ''boos" and anon bursts from
the second tier, and is sometimes echoed FROM
the parquette; half grown lads, who mistake
pertness for wit undertake to assist the business
ofthe stage by responses to the actors and at
played most especially to the second gallery, is
called for with strength of lung and an earnest
ness and pertnacity wonderfulto behold. Find.
ing that nothing short of disappearance wiquel
the uproar in pandemonium, the favorte &C tor
steps out, bows his thanks and is retiring, when
all the boys shout out, with one accord, speech
Speech ~ Sometimes, too the speech is given
but this is generally an inhiction which the
actor in mercy spares the larger portion of the
audience. As an illustration of the absurdity of
this line of conduct, may be permitted to men.
ton an incident which occurred during the en-
gagement of tho sisters Rousset. 1t is generally
known that they were French opera dancers,
fresh from Paris, and therefore wholly unac-
qnainted with our language. AS usual after the
close OF the performances, one of the young la
dies who had played in apantomme, we believe,
was called out by the boys, and after gracefully
acknowledging the compliment, was retiring,
when volume of voices shouted out ''Speech"
We only wish she had responded. During the
same evening" gentleman wearing white hat
happened to enter the parquette-straightwa
the boys in the second tier shouted out "whte
hat in the pitt" to the manifest annoyance of the
wearer thereof. Now, all this shows want of
manners-want OF taste-Mant of proper respect
to the ladies who may be present, and impresses
strangers sojonrning in the city with a false i'm
preston of the public manners of our people
Such proceedings may be admissible in circus
but they are wholly unsuited to the Temple ofthe
MUSES..