The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-09
MUNICIPAL.
HAS A SPECTATOR THE RIGHT TO HISS
IN THIS COUNTRY

One day last week an interesting CONVERSE
uon occurred In tho mayors parIor. high
dIgntary Of the police force actively partici-
patlng IN 1t. The question was whether d
spectator at o theatrical performance had the
right TO express his dissatisfaction of a per
former, the play itself, or anything connected
with the entertainment. by Kissing without
subjecting himself 70 election from tho
theatre. Whilst IL was admitted that kissing
was Legitimate and right purchased at the
entrance door Of the theatre MS Moliere has
said, no conclusion was reached as tn the
limit Of the exercise Of the privilege or the
character OF the objects that might be Kissed
Or frowned down by one individual q the en--
tire audience. Cases I'm point were z iven and
logic advanced 10 show however, that there
was no doubt Of the right Of even one person
TO express his dlssatisfactlon audibly,, pro
vided, however, his act did not amount 10 a
disturbance Of the audience.
70 was asserted by a knowing person that
the action Of managers had on certain oCca-
EIons been arbitrary ana even violent, and
that the election Of spectators for, Kissing
only once or twice during a play had oc-
Cured and under circumstances that were
far from jlstiiabe. We are ignorant Of tho
cause which provoked such q conversation;
but il IL quite evident, considering the high
official character OF the persons engaged I'm
the conversation. and their harmony Of sen
timent. that something Is contemplated to-
ward preventing any abuse Of power on the
part Of theatrical managers upon their pat
rons.
Everybody knows ttat In France the right
of Kissing Is recognized, whilst tbs manager |
Of q theatre II afforded Iull protection against
the prejudlCes Of u small cOterie or Of cranky |
individuals. The custOm operates with the |
greatest impartiaIity. 0bstreperous indivI- |
duals, however high ther rank might be- or |
great their Influence are not only elected, but |
the election carries Incarceration With IT, and |
a certain fining the next morning before ma
gistrate commensurate with the oilensn On |
the other hand the manager Is held to o. strict |
compliance with the implied provisions OF his
contract with tho public; inability to fulfill |
which, In sometimes the smallest particulars.
must previously be announced from the stage
and an offer be made that the money paid at tho
door shall be returned 30 those who may wish
10 withdraw. A failure to observe tho law in /
this respect would close the doors of tho
theatre send the manager 10 jnil place tho
receipts Of the evening in the hands of pc
lice magistrate. and in CaGe the ofTrnSe II Mt
tributahle TO the within 81 an actor or actors.
the execution Of the law Is extended 10 him OF
them.
Very curious and racy anecdotes are told in
connection with this subject, but we will give
only one to-day in the way Of illustration A
coterte Of twenty or thirty young Hfcrnffurs,
led by one Of the sweetest poets Of France.
having reason. imaginary or real. To be-
displeased Mt u certain play had already been
Imprisoned once or twice for disturbing tho
peace Of the theatre al which the play was
being produced with somc success. notwith-
standing their efforts. Several other expa-
dents were then resorted to on successive
evenings to "kill'' the play, but in vain. until
the poet imagined novel method To achieve
their object. On the evening Of that day the
twenty or thirty gay youngsters were oecr,-
plying as many Of the centre balcony seats Gr
the auditorium attlred in The most outre
mourning costume and displaying banker
chiefs Of black Grape or other black material,
which were allowed TO lilo I'm the shape of n
drapery over the railing Of tho bal
cony. With sepulchral faces and sombre
mien they sat there, night after night. for n
whole week, and the play had to be iinaIIy
withdrawn from the stage and buried arnnnp I
the musty archives Of tho theatre.