Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-28
The ssRfgkts of 'Eheater GOers -
Amin.

Editor Stnr:-The author of the article in your
paper OF Friday, upon the Rights OF Thea
hand by O''Suffererer' from the abuse of
which he speaks-an abuse which Is not con-
fined to theatrical performances, but is such
common nuisance at nearly all public perform
ances in this city that stranger would
DE excused for seriously inquiring, with
elevated brows, whether Washington audi
bad manners or whether most OF the
Well-behaved people didn't stay at homer
fortunately for our self respect, neither Is the
case; people do behave badly elsewhere. and the
DeSt people here do regularly patrOniZe good
performances: but the trouble is indicated in
sufferers" letter! There overwhelmingly
Ior our self-respect- very ill-maunerei,
selfish folk here, who attend public perform
ances apparently for no other purpose than TO
let 1t be known that they are present: who
manifest In the most ill-bred style their disre-
thelr 1eighbors feelings, and who are not
Jro,cned ana Kissed into silence they should be,
ana as they acot,ld be elsewhere
IL rs olscreditable to Washington that so much
mas neen said upon this subject In the past, aud
that there Is still annually recurring OCCASION
to say it all over again. Many OF your readers
Will remember, with sense OF shame for our
IeputatlOn the several occasions In Lincoln
Hall when Nj. Theo. Thomas was compelled to
StOp In the midst Of an orchestral performance
70 request bis audience to preserve silence! The
un ns;1i coming, too, from those whose socia!
nave mace them seek to be standard, of ETH
quette rather than risk being esteemed Doors!
AnOtner annoyance to which concert goerS
9;ns are subjected Is the execrabe tar
9lness OF some people. The Incredible saaq
yroad with Which they enter concert room full
nlteen minutes late, and stalk down the aiSles
with rustling dresses and creaking shoes, and
open the seat with slam, bang! right in the
midst, it may be, of some exquisite andante
p1dntsst1,o passage in symphony, would be
positively Interesting in It's apparent innocence
or 1mpertinence, were 1t not absolutely exas.
perating.
Why cannot sensible folk remember that the
average musical director carefully selects his
programme with view to its occupying just
so much time In the rendering, hence wishes to
commence promptly; that he is dreadtully an
nOyed and embarrassed by noise and movement
about the room, and that musical people not
only have ''rights' {as Sufferer" suggests),
but that they positively suffer when beautiful
music Is spoiled by tardy, inconSderate, Care
less, noisy people, to whom the orchestra is
secondary consideration! There are some good,
kind people who are guilty Of coming late by
hfndrances, which cannot always be controlled
To these we would say with good-natured
frOwn, but with considerable earneStneSS, "D)
please try and reform for your own sake, for
charity for your fellows.' But to the class
which views criticisms and rem0nstrance5 with
sneer, who cannot be snubbed, who don't
mind being Missed. and who are determined to
be coarse, 1ll-bred. ill-tempered, conspicuous
and diSagreeable to the end of the chapter,
we would say: There is nothing made by toying
to compel civilization and refinement to tole-
rate barbarism and bO0rishness. You will GER
tainly be obliged eventually to conform to tho
rules OF good breeding and accepted etiquette,
or else justice will put gentle brand upon you
Which, like an application OF acid to the hide
OF rhinoceros may not be perceptble at first.
but will soon eat into the flesh; and you Will
realize that society can scorch as we'll as en-
dure. ANOTHER SUFFERER.