The new era., 1860-11-29
The way they Behave.

BY MAS. GEORGE WASHINGTON wYLLYs.
We went to hear Forrest the other
night
Now don't be misled by this simple
statement, reader. Don't lay down the
paper with mental "Pshaw! nobody
can tell us anything new about Forests
acting" We don't intend to tell you
any hing new, or anything old, either
we only want to "sueak our mind" on
the manner in which women conduct
themselves at theaters, operas, and pub
lie places generally. 1t is emphatical-
ly scandaIous!
This is no new conviction, we are
sorry to say. We have been aware of
the fact, ever since we were tall enough
to look over the edge of the mantlepiece
But the other night, when we went
down to see Forrest enact "King
Lear" the kettle Of our Indignation
boiled over, and as we couldn't box the
ears of the fair aggressors enmasse, nor
chastIse them, la the noble sex, with
pistols aad smal-swords, we resolved to
take the only revenge in our power, and
tell LIFE ILLUSTRATED" all about it
Perhaps they will be ashamed of them
selves when they see their naughty
deeds in print But for mercy's sake,
dear "LIFE," don't let them know ii
was we who told you. We are moder-
ately courageous-we don't object to
meeting any one woman of our size in
single combat, but consider how many
finger-nails and parasol points there
are in New York!
1t was rery exhilarating to stand out
side the doors for half an hour, the CEN
ter of solid jam-to have your bonnet
criticised by somebody's saustic tongue,
and crushed in by some other body's
remorseless elbcw-to know that your
dress was being "crumpled" as if a pa
tent crimpingknife had done the busin-
ess. Still more pleasant was it to say
meekly to acknowledgement woman,
"Piease to take your gaiter-heel off my
foot, and be annihilated with. "Well,
| should think any one calling herself a
lady ,pould be little more accom-
modating!" And then the mad rush
when at length the doors were opened
We mentally drew the dividing line
between politeness-male and politeness
female, when in answer to a faint re-
monstrance for om,the gentleman be-
hind us replied, gayly. 81 re ally should
be glad to oblige you; but | am entirely
at the mercy of the crowd myself'-
Wha: made his wife spoil the genial eff
feet of his pleasant voice by Ginning in,
tartly, "What do people come here for if
they can't stand being crowded."
Dear, am,able soul! if ever we meet
you on Broadway, we will give you the
fright of way" with the greatest pleas
ure in life!
| But the incident of the evening is yet
to be related. We never knew of a
duel between two women, but we can
very easily imagine, after being an eye
and-car witness Of this brisk little scene,
how it would be fought. The parties
were a gray-eyed female-might have
been an old maid, and might not-and a
black eyed young lady. in company
with an invalid gentleman. Grayeyes
had received a push from somebody,
which she (erroneously) charged to the
account of the gentleman with Black
eyes, whom she Immediately assailed
with shower of obloquy. wanting to
know s'if he called himself a gentle
MANI" and "what he, was knocking
people about, iii that way, for?" and
giving emphasis to her words by bring
ing down her kid-gloved fists furiously
upon his shoulders Black-eyes imedi-
ately snatched up the gauntlet, before
the astonished victim could rem onstrate.