The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-26

society" department in the Telegram has for
several years been written by Maurice Minton,
a nephew of Mrs William B. Astor.
ADJUSTMENTS AND POLITICS,
New York was never in merrier mood. The
dizziness of mercantile business, the depression
in speculative finance, and the asperities of the
presidential canvass, seem only to whet the ap-
petite for fun. We have nineteen legitimate
theaters now open, and in only two Of them is
anything not farcical announced for the ensuing
week Every serious play yet brought out TINS
season has failed. The stages hitherto most ia
nous for intellectual per formances are occupied
by insensate Glowing. Actors accustomed to
gravity are compelled to go into horse-play, or
lose all employment. l was curious to ascertain
how much laughter was essential to the success
of farcical piece. Selecting one which is as
prosperous as any, and which has not single
element of entertainment other than jolity,
timed the duration of all the spells OF laughing
which any considerable part of the audience in
dulged in. The aggregate was thirty minutes
out of the two hours and seven minutes that the
curtain was up NY observation convinces me
that less amount will not do in case there is no
other divertng quality than that of mirth One
of the laughers was General Grant 1t was the
first time l had seen him in theater since his
ruination mot so complete, | am told, as former
ly presumed) by the Grant & Ward robberies
l kept separate tally of him, and it footed up
to within several minutes of the general total OF
and ex-Presdent of the United States is up to
the New York average in frivolity.
The town is hubbub of President-naking,
and the mixed features of the canvass make it
impossible to much more than guess the lean
ings of ones friends; and yet the discussions
heard on every hand are more chatting than bit
ter and even from the bar-rooms do not come
the sounds of unusual rancor The most resent
full feeling have noted was at the Eden Musee,
an establishment purportlng to be similar and
n famous IOnSSand show
in London, but which falls far short of it.
The presidential nominees are therein presented
as current feature, and with no intention
to caricature them, but yet with results so
dreadful that, were there any impartiality. the
management might reasonably be accused of
having been subsidized to injure the prospects
of the originals. Blaine is an understood, slab
sided I'D fellow, with a thin, struggling beard
indicating mango a face CHASTITY with pallor and
the expression of martyr tortured to the point
of death The Republican who looks at him gets
angry instantly, and finds solace only when he
comes across Cleveland, who has an attitude of
tipsiness lacks the weight of more than thirty
years and could pose for the ideal of a sancti-
monious fraud, so sleek is his hair and so droop-
ing his moustache. But the greatest outrage is
committed on Butler. He is Dick Deadeye,
from "Pinafore," to a nicely, and, were this a
perfect likeness, none but pirates would vote for
him.
However, there is one good thing in the Eden
Musee. On the railing of balcony leans girl.
She is handsomely dressed, and her figure as
seen by those who pass back of her, presents
those outlines of contrasted slenderness and
distension which are oftener attempted than re-
allied in flesh and blood. She holds a catalogue
in one hand, and an eyeglass to her face with
the other. She seems to be intent on somebody
on the main floor below, and everything about
her subtly suggests Irritation. The illusion is
nearly perfect The amount of fun to be gained
by taking a seat at viewing distance, and
watching the Washers try to attract her atten-
ton, reconciles the visitors to the atrocities of
the show in general They pass and repass her
in the fond hope that she will finish her scrutiny
and turn to nearer objects; they ahem at her,
and cast oging glances, and, finally discover
ing that she is a dummy. get away with astonish-
ing CELEBRITY.
Well doubts disturb the minds of the impress
sionable admirers of a girl who. for the most
part is unqaestionably alive. She is in the Ca
sino chorus. Until week ago she never uncov-
cred her arms or the stage, and the surmise, of
course. was that they were unsightly. But now
that she has barred them they are seen to be an
uncommonly fine pair perfect in shape and tex
ture. But the front-row youngsters firmly be-
lieve that the beautiful surface is but painted
rubber everything the natural foundation.
NAPoLIS