The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-12-20
HOLD YOUR TONGUE /!
THE TERRORS OF THE THEATRICAL
CHATTERBOX.

MY DEAR LOUISE: The question OF the
"right of sight" at the theatre is beginning
to be quite a subject of newspaper dis
cussion, but, SO far, 1 have not seen anything
advocating "the right of hearing"
speak feelingly on this subject, my friend,
for have lately had a severe trial of patience
and temper caused by my unfortunate D -oxim-
ity to dileaged chatterbox at a perform
ance for the enjoyment of which l had in
vested 81. 80 in reserved orchestra chair The
bsbbler suffered from came in with party OF
i've or six women of assorted ages guarded
by one solitary man Chatterbox evidently
bossed the party, and after placing them
esconsed herself next to the escort 1t was
some minutes before she got well settled in
her chair. Then she gave reins to her tongue,
and this infection was simply intolerable.
just fancy being compelled to absorb such in
teresting facts as 1--WE need another man for
our dinner party. Oh, l want golden dish
for fish-just to be kept for fish. l don't
know whether l like yellow decorations or
pure white. Just see that lovely English girl
(this was Anna O'Keefe); isn't she fascina-
ting, and so English. There she goes off the
stage; never mind, she'll come back again.
How L love short hair-think pl have mine
cut. Who is the man in front You spoke to
during the intermlssion He didn't seem to
know you All, been abroad. Well that re-
minds me of Miss G. who tried to make
mischief between Miss Blank and myself
about my wedding; said Miss Blank was say
ing mean things about having to wear yellow
gown, and when, to pour oil on the troubled
waters, l went to Miss Blank to tell her she
had my permission to withdraw, 1 found Miss
G. had been spinning yarns to make
trouble between Miss Blank and myself
Oh dear They are going to sing that
thing. Well, they ought to have pretty good
voices for that. 1t is quite we'll sung
Wonder how would look in dress like that
English girl has on. What fine stage
presence | could make few alterations in
the style of that black gown. Mrs. T is
living abroad, that perfect life where one has
the whole morning to oneself-we are going
to have buckwheat cakes for breakfast; |
used to think they were unwholesome; don't
now-that ideal French way Of living, only
cup of coffee and roll, then the whole morn
ing to dress and do as one pleases. Here it is
impossible to get away from people," agreed
with chatterbox in this, for every chair was
taken and could not get away from her.
Her friends maintained well bred quietude
during the long acts of the play and possibly
in their secret souls, were as much annoyed as
was. There are women who believe that
"not to know me argues yourself unknown"
consequently, by this very shallowness Of
worldly knowledge, they are lead into con-
siderable indiscretion of gossip. The world
is very large and very small at the same time
but this paradox does not seem to enter into
their calculations, and, in public places-not
recognizing around them any of their own
little particular clique-they unhesltatingly go
ahead with their gossip, giving names and
every detail. One of the most pathetic in
stances resulting from this ll-bred thoughtless-
ness came from a street car talk, where a very
young girl heard conversation carried on
between two women seated on opposite sides
Of the car. The subject was domestic trouble
in the family Of the very girl sitting near them.
1t was fully gone over by tho two gossips.
The unhappiness had been carefully and
lovingly concealed from the child, but she
was quite old enough to ask questions When
she got home, she told the substance of the
street car conversation and it was no longer
possible to hide the family skeleton from her.
The buds are blossoming out In rapid sue
cession But older women shake their heads
and predict they will bloom in an "Adamless
Eden" The scarcity OF "dancing men, is
something to weep over. The White Squad
ron cannot be brought here to make up for
the vanished men OF the dancing class, which
is now defunct for want of male material
1t looks as though the debutantes would
have to hang their harps on willow tree
before the close OF the unusually long season.
What does all this indicated? Never were
girls, even back numbers, prettier or more
fascinating. AS for rosebuds and dew-there
is an abundance of the very first quality. But
the naughty, naughty men prefer the comfort
secret Ever yours, ALICE.