Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-03
"BAB" TALKS OF LATOH-KEyS.
They Grow In a Boys Pocket
Never Meant for Girls.

why berhharut is mol POpuinr--NeW
York's Croton Is About Like au Irish
Stew--why are Things Thus.
Special Correspondence OF Gazette and journal
New York. Nov. 27.-They have been
taking up a curious question in England,
which shows most beautifully the diff
ference between the English and Ameri-
can boy. 1t is; "At what age shall | give
my son a latch key ~ When l read II, to
be. very dramatic, ! laughed until the
rafters rang. | don't know how rafters
ring, and mine are not visible to the ordi-
nary eye, but STILL don't you like to say
things that sound we'll? But the latch
key, Who ever heard of giving an Ameri-
can boy a latch key? Nobody gives 1t to
him; it seems to grow into his pocket some
day. Fancy maternal parent prancing
up to her son and saying: MY beloved
boy, you have now reached your 18th
| year and you are entitled to the freedom
| of the house, and | present YOU with q
latch key y Wouldn't She look like an
insufferable donkey2
FASHION AND THE LATCH KEY.
Whether boys inherit their latch keys,
as they do their vices, from their fathers
or not cannot say. But do know this,
that during years Of personal acquaintance
with several brothers of my own and
several brothers of other women, never
heard the giving of latch key considered
a formal affair, like blowing up Of Hell
Gate or the opening of the Brooklyn
Bridge The latch key is not in favor
among the Four Hundred. The select
society Of snobs prefers to stand and
shiver with the cold and ring the bell so
that people may know that they have
plenty of servants in the house to answer
il. Of course there are advantages at
tached to this; one Of them is, that il 385
should happen to be particularly full OF
the contents of the cup that cheers, he
can be assisted upstairs BY the genial door
keeper. Talk about American liberty
talk about the freedom of the press-talls
about women's suffrage or temperance, or
al the other fads, if you will, but keep the
latch key always TO the fore. II is the
sign and symbol of the superiority of
man over everything else.
WOMAN AND LATCH KEY.
A woman and latch key are incoupati-
Bile. Occasionally, she may borrow one
and be harmonious, but that she should
possess one of her own and WELD it with
care and precision is not natural 1t in
variably makes . hole in her dress pocket,
and nine times out Of ten it falls through.
She never can get 1t in right, and she FUN
bles and fuses around the keyhole until
you do begin to wonder if whatever she
has taken has gone to her hands. After
orally finishes up by ringing the bell.
Now, man walks up the doorstep, finds
the key without any trouble, puts II in its
proper place at once, opens the door as If
BY magic, puts the key back where itcame
From, and the whole affair has not ocou-
pied more than half minute. TO save her
soul, woman couldn't do that; she would
carry the key in hand until she got up.
stairs, and then put it on table or in with
her crimpins irons, because she likes all
tho heavy things to so together; but as TO
returning it to her pocket, unless she is a
creature advanced TO wearing ntra-mascil-
line shirt fronts and keeping her bank
account correctly, she will never do this.
why DERNnARDT is UNPOPULAR.
The presence Of the divine Sarah in this
city has created very little excitement; in
deed, scarcely any interest. l don't think
i Is hard TO discover the reason of this; it
dals about ber it isn't tlat they don't ap-
preciate hef art, but It Is that they arc
tired Of the long waits, miserable scenery
and the poor company. The most perfect
picture in the world needs to be properly
placed; and, even with her genius, Nine
Sarah cannot make endurabie the annoy
ances have spoken about. 1t is all very
well to hear that ssrbfadame is resting
haven't that same opportunity. Is orchestra
chairs do not expand Into comfortable
lounges. And then, too tho audience are
inclined to think that madame might have
done her resting dnring the day, and not
have chosen the time for which they arc
paying. IL Is about the year when the
rights OF an audience should be regarded
a little, and if managers can't control stars,
actors.
THE PUBIrc's RrGHT AND THE ACTOR.
Who hasn't gone to matinee, and seen
an entire company slur the play, chat
among themselves, and have good time
generallyY At the. expense of what2 At
the expense of the public. And why
should the actor have any more right to
slur his work than the painter, or the
writer, or the carpenter, or any other
workman? There has been entirely too
much leniency shown him, and it is ex-
cused OH the idea that he is creature OF
genius, and his whims must be catered to.
mat might be possible if people were in
vited to the theatre to see the performance;
but when the actor is willing to make it
work, TO accept money for ii, lie is bound
to give in full for value received.
ACTING AS AN ART.
Personally, don't think the actors life
is an easy one but / fully agree with
George Moore, when he says that acting Is
the least Of all the arts, il it is, indeed, an
art &C al. You can teach child three
years old to act. This accomplishment TO
q degree can also be taught TO dogs and
birds, but the Child does not make poetry,
nor does the child paint u picture. Tie
little child who begs you to be permitted
to put on your skirt for long train, that
she may play lady" is only showing her
first. knowledge Of acting, which IS an
INSTINCT with her. So, really, fail to see
why the actor should be SO catered 10,
privileged 50 much in the way OF careless,
ness and poor work, when, after all, his
chosen profession Is by no means the most
dithcult2 CONFUSE Well, suppose some
have had it, but | honestly believe that
genius Is simply delightful mixture Of
personal magnetism and adaptapility.
MONEY AND THE DRAMA.
Don't you think, with me. that 1t is
quite time we didn't have to submit to ill
rehearsed plays, or to the caprices of men
or women who offer us bad work in ex-
change for good money! This does not an
ply to many who are on the stage, WHO
are honest, good workers, but it does an.
ply TO number of idle drones, who think
hat the public will take what they choose
TO give them, and not mind. Ii is lust
possible that they don't ''mind,i but the
lack Of iainding' will be found ont when
the receipts in the box office are
counted. Vulgar, torefer to moneyin the
drama? don't think So The better PLAYS
we have the more money will the actor
mike, the better will he be able to live.
move and have his being, and, feeling an
independent man, lie will be able to do
his work better. It seems to nc as If I
had been. writing an article Tor one Of the
reviews, but haven't, Eve been telling
the truth; and don't you agree with me?
Sometimes one. docs get a little of the
frivolous, but then We come back 10 friy-
olity Just as VIC do to sunshine.
NEW YoRK's LAcK or WATER.
They are moaning in New Yorl, that
there is no water; at least they say there Is
going 10 be none and in fin i,,aonti,,,o Ii