Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-12-22
GLEANINGS IN GOTHAM.
THE LANGTRY LABOUCHERE
EPISODE

York is not place for scandal ike London
where journals almost live upon it. That tn,
town should go wild over a lively bit of GOSSIP
is pardonable in view of the fact that sucl
events happen so infrequently. Deep Interest
Is taken in the affair by all classes. and as
wrote you last week, everybody is talking
about 1t. Where there are three heads together
at the club, the topic of conversation is Mrs
Langtry, Mrs. LabOGchere and the young mar
in the case, although it is two weeks now since
the English beauty took her departure fol
Boston, and Mrs. Labouchere is on her way
across the seas. You go into a shop. and if tho
shopkeeper knows you well enough he will
bring up this topic before you get out Of the
door; while the barber is scraping your face
he talks in your ear about
Langtry and LabOuchere; vour
friend, wherever you may meet HIM, alludes
to the subject sooner or later for the thirtieth
or fortieth time, as it may be, and inquiries for
the latest development. The dustman would
also discuss the subject with you if he had the
opportunity. 1t is amusing TO note the differ
ent points of view taken on this all absorbing
subject. Some look upon the scandal with
horror, rolling their eyes to heaven until
nothing but white is visible They talk OF
Mrs. Langtrys intimacy with the Prince OF
wales with the most knowing mods and wnks
and say over and over again that former sus-
piCiOuS art NOW IneY IfN nHrfi I0
paint the English beauty black, and succeed
to their own satisfaction at least. Others seek to
deprecate her in every possible way. She has
not been admitted to society, they say: also
she Is not an actress, never will be one, and
that she Is not the great beauty that she was
reputed TO be. All, me! What changes are
wrought by time! A few weeks ago this
beautiful and fascinating woman was a de-
lightful vision. She was the embodiment OF
every grace and virtue.
Enough persons have figured in this drama
in real life, from first to last, to make a COM
plete caste in comedy. Emily Faithful, the
English refOrmer, who is chaperOnIng Miss
Pattison, of the Langtry troupe. felt it her
duty to say word about her prOtege, which
was quite nice in the amiable old
lady, but also quite unnecessary as
Miss PattisOn's name had not been
mentioned in connection with the affair.
and was not likely to be. Sergeant Ballan-
tine, the English barrister, happening to be in
the city, was dragged in. When you have
met Sergeant Ballantine you have seen a
representative type of LOndoner which Thack-
airy took great delight in depicting AL
though professional man of enough reputa-
tiOn to have been frequently heard of on this
side, he has many of the characteristics of the
man about town. He is rather stOutly built,
with dyed hair and WhslIers and voice un-
certain and husky, bespeaking high living.
Some one has described his speech as irregular,
like the running down of an old worn out piece
of clOckwOrk. He talked quite freely about
the scandal and spoke of the principals in the
most familiar manner, calling them by their
Christian names. Manager Abbey has come
in for his share of abuse He is charged, in
the first place, with having lowered himself
from his high position as a legitimate theatri-
cal manager to the level of a Snowman in
bringing a woman to this country who is not
an actress, but merely beauty. Some people
persist in the opinion that the uprOar was
nothing less than a shreWd device to put curl
Osity on tiptoe in Western cities. This cannot
be true. as Mrs. Langtry's reputation has
without HOnbt hpau SapionaIN- irstu turoH H. I,o
scandal. The talk has not all been against
Mrs. Langtry. She has many ardent admirers
and champions. All the men about town
who had the fortune to meet her while
warmest manner. They almost choke with
Indignation when word is said against her
character or motives. SorOsis had meeting
the other day and the Langtry- abouchere
satiOn. Jennie June, who presided, defended
the fair English woman with great fervOr, and
was vigorously supported by the other mem
bers present. Most women. however are
against her. The position taken by Sorosis
may be accounted for from the fact that the
women who compose this club are liberal in
their views, and take delight in opposing all
other women,
New York is rapidly becoming as great a
city for amusement as frivolous Paris. A
great share Of the daily gossip of the leading
journals is made up of amusement notes. the
atrical and musical criticism and chat about ac-
tors and singers. The publication of dramatic
papers is becoming one of the leading features
OF journalism IN the metrOpOlis-the latest
venture being that of a daily musical and the
atrical paper. There are no less than five new
places of amusement in course of construction
or in contemplation. The new Casino, which
was formally opened a few weeks ago in an
unfinished condition, is now approaching COM
pletion, and Will be opened early in January
1t is one of the most original houses in the city
and will combine the attraction of the theatre.
opera, concert hall, beer garden cafe, and
other forms of ont Tba 7
Opera House, which is building opposite is to
be a pretentiOus edifice. and will do
much to advance the interests of music
in this country. There was talk
some months ago of the Opera House
being managed by Gye, of London Then it
was reported that it was to be conducted bv
Col. MaplesOn, who is now usually spoken of
as the man who never keeps his word. The
ease with which Col. MaplesOn makes prom
ises and the smiling urbanity with which he
breaks them over and over again is a subject
of universal comment, and exceedingly inter
esting as psychological phenomenon. There
are evidently some men who delight in telling
lies. Inasmuch as Col, MaplesOn has estab-
lished this reputation, he is not desirable as
a manager OF the new opera house. The latest
rumor is, in effect, that the manager will be
Henry r. Abbey, who has rapidly achieved
reputation for executive ability by his fearless
enterprise. 1t is said that William H. Van
derbllt is IN favor of putting the house in his
hands, which is almost the same as saving
that it will be done, for William III. V. leads
the other members by the nose. The Alcazar
formerly known as the Casino-which has
gone through as many changes as the house
which Dickens once wrote about.
has again passed into new hands. The
present manager, who is full of dreams
proposes to convert it into theatre with nm
holstered chairs and horseshoe gallery
Regular accommodation plays will be pro
duced and popular prices charged, making the
house practically new theatre. Mckee
Rankin Is taking steps to put up new thea
hfy.fsa
not far from Madison Square Garden Steele
Mackay is still working at his designs for n
new theatre, which will contain many new
devices, and be wholly unlike any other play-
house in the world. As yet he keeps his
plans secret, but he allows enough to escape
in his conversation as to lead to the expecta-
tion that 1t will be as wonderful as Aladdin's
palace.
Somebody made the discovery the other day
that crime in New York has decreased rap
idly within the last ten years, OF this there is
no doubt, and II Is surprising that this fact has
not been formulated before, This decrease has
taken place In all forms of crime, from daring
bank robberies down to the petty tricks of the
sneak thief and pickpocket. The gangs of
roughs and thieves which infested different
parts OF the city years ago have almost en-
urely disappeared. One of the most famous of
these predatory bands was the 'tDead Rab-
bits" which hOurished at the time of the
war. 1t was so bold that it became ter
ror to all classes. The members of this gang
Dravado as band of outlaws on the frontier.
they were constantly On the lookout for those
who received bounty for enisting in the SER
vice Of the United States, and would attack
them and rifle their pockets without mercy /
may here, say in parenthesis, that one of the
eading members Of this gang of outlaws now
mas very considerable ''intiooence" in the De-
party, andrecently made an effort to
become an Alderman. Another noted gang
was known as the ''Short Boys" Their system
If operations was similar to the other in some
respects. A man who was intoxicated in the
street was their natural prey. Most Of the
members were young boys between sixteen
and twenty-young in years but old in crime
Jne of the most desperate bands was the s'Sta-
Die Boys" which infested that part of the city
which lies along the North river, near New
Ork bay. They also waylaid drunken men and
several murders, but the police fin
lily succeeded in dispensing them. This trans
has been wrought by various causes.
Much is due to the vigilance of the police and
he detective system which has of late becOmea
,redit to New York. 1t was found that the
'nly way to defeat criminals in their attempts
o prey on society was to learn their
habits thoroughly and know a thief when he
vas seen, and to put watch upon him when
lis actions were such as excited susDicion
This has been carried to such great perfection
hat there is not a thief Of any note at
III who Is not known at sight, and whose
movements are not kept track Of The chief
lificulty which the police have now TO con-
end with is the thieves and sharpers that
.ome from foreign countries, whose identity
loes not become known until they have been
detected in some crime or cOnsOrtinp with
hieves who are known, Another fTuitfni
ause of this decrease in crime is the WORK
hat has been done by the Children's Aid
society, which has been rather a preventive
han a cure. This society has taken the neI.,e-
'oys, bootblacks and other waits who pick
Up their living ON the streets, and have pro-
By this means they have nre
Tented them from becoming Criminals.
The women sufragists are ON a new track.
hey are about to engage in a crusade against