Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1883-03-15

the rule, In public or private, is simply
vulgarity:
''Men and women exhibit more or
less vulgarity in all the various classes
into which social laws divide mankind.
Many are measurably excusable for
vulgarity, because they have had little
or no opportunity 10 become anything
better; but even among those who have
been denied the advantages of culture
or refining associations there are many
who, however uncultured, are never
vulgar
1.-THE vulgarity that is most conspic-
uous and least excusable is that often
ostentatiously exhibited by men and
women who have enjoyed the advan-
tages of what they call the best culture
and surroundings; who claim to be gen.
tlemen and ladies par excellence. 1t
would be most unjust to say that exhi-
billions of vulgarity are common among
cultivated men and women; but it is
undeniably true that some of the most
offensive exhibitions of vulgarity are
made by men and women who assume
10 be leaders of refined society.
Zone of the most common and unpar-
donable vulgarisms is that exhibited by
fashionable men and women at places
of public amusement. There is hardly
week that some of our best theatres
are not disgraced by the brazen vulgar
ity of fashionable parties. Sometimes
they occupy the boxes and by their loud
and incessaht conversation and excla-
nations deprive full hundred quiet
spectators from hearing or enjoying the
play. Sometimes they take prominent
row of seats md disturb actors, audi
ence, and orchestra with their loud con-
versation, vulgar criticism, and more
vulgar exhibition of contempt for the
better people around them. Sometimes
the vulgarity is heightened by men, mis-
called gentlemen, who are intoxicated;
not too drunk, but just drunk enough
to be entertaining to these women, mis-
called ladies, and excessively annoying
to scores of people around them. I'M
fashionable people don't exhibit such
vulgarity, for the very good reasons
that, as a rule, they have too much self
respect TO be guilty of it and they would
be admonished or ordered ont by the
ushers if they so offended.
another fashionable vulgarity exhib-
tied at places of public amusement is
one that is common only in America. In
Europe no lady is permitted to enter a
theatre or opera house wearing bon |
net or hat that may in any degree OBJ
struct the view of the stage by those
who sit behind them. In this country,
and especially in this city, it is not UNI
common for lady to wear flaring
hat or poke bonnet that practically |
forbids Il score of spectators from seeing |
the stage except by bobbing around the |
sides of the obstructive head-gear This |
nuisance is not confined to fashionable |
people, but well-bred women should |
know that it is Extensively vulgar, and |
if they would Danish the flaring hat or
bonnet and appear AT the theatre and at
opera in suitable head-dress, the imita- |
tors of fashion would speedily follow |
them in the reform. 1t is simply an ex-
hibition of vulgarity for an intelligent
woman to appear in public with hat |
or bonnet that interferes with the enjoy !
menr of those around her Respect for |
high or low, is the first attribute |
of the gentleman or lady, and any vio-
lation of the rule, in public or private,
is simply vulgarity.'