New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-10
THE THEATRE-PARTY.
A METROPOLITAN NUISANCE.


The curtain had been up ten minutes, ana tho
play had advanced exactly that far In lis couse,
when in the middle OF n well-rounded sentihfhs
from the leading man, the vestbule door banged
Not satisfied with banging once, 1t let OH suo'
cesson OF reports, which were connected WIN ,
string of such explanations as Don't he IN such
hurry L girls yan @lns as and
1.-THE loud patter Of high-heeled boots. lhen
came rush of still skirts down The centre
aisle, and halfa-dozen very chic siris, WIN iawn-
tennis compilations and superior air anu inan-
ners, under the escort of u very ample anu got-
geous matrOn took possession OF Tie AUDIENCES
eve to the exclusion OF the play and players
These are our seats said one, IN positive
10. miss" corrected the usher, who, with
vast deal of supercivity and physical supple
ness, had marsballed them down; the next row
What nonsense: / know they are ours
and what are those people doing, sitting IN
them :. ..;. ,v, sea,s miss insisted
the usher: see, yours are Row d.
This gave rise TO a lively discussion, in which
the evidence of the coupons was sc3rhiu p re-
iected Finally it was agreed to take Row y,
after n fashion, under protest, one OF 'it PdrV
lemarking, tli.gustedly: Dear me c2ui .na..
they have put lis among the mislcians' whie they
Now dcars. remarked the chapcron in .
loud voice get your places IT.
The Young women filed into their seats ihe
last one remained standing in the aisle, star ri4
M the Ieading-man on ,hc stage. to ms NslDe
discontinue, until the cbaperon pushed her into
her place and sat down herself linen ioiio"e9
vast rustling OF ffnmmery ana o%Ia I'LL r. anu
shutting of seats, until some one OF the party
remarked: ,,,. ~
There, we've all forgotten the PROGRAMMES;
How foolish" said the chaperon, waving
her hand malesticaly 10 an usher. from whom
she commanded them in martial tones -.
The programmes being duly delivered by thls
servitor of the house who had extra lafge lses
and wore very creaky boots, it tool. 1--WE minutes
10 get them folded properly by which time every
one on and off the stage was ready 10 INVOKE
the blessings Of the Inferno upon the intrudefs,
They, on their part, remained quite coo' u"'''
"Oh. Liz in a shrill eighteen-year-old voice.
they've got Jack Buster playing tile Viilaih
Yes. indeed. Here it is on the bill"
"Pshaw. that's the play for next week. you
''" go it is. How awfully silly of me- Don't
Ent the girls did laugh, until the chsperon com:
manded Now. dears. do let a body hear helsea
think" at which they turned their passing at'eh,lo9
TO the stage For the space Of perhaps, hundred
seconds silence reigned, and the audience hao
begun to breathe again when 1 the current coH'
mentary broke out IN a new dlfecu9n ,o. ou
Isn'r that Mrs Wimbledon in the box yonder y
"Oh. where" in chorus. .
There. And Tom rryhard with With her =; u,hio,
" WinllIet0n." Casino very convenient ar
rangement." might be made ont. until the chap.
awakening TO an appreciation Of .ne Pcria a,'
thortv and diverted her charges attentions 70
the stage again Then the chatter took another
turn. . ,;,.,n
20" Nice enough t. eat.
Wen. / don't like that suit be has ON
It's English, y'know." -,
"1e-he! Ha-ha ha!" etc, ad lib;
What a blowzy creature that leading actress
is"
Quite washerwoman isn't she?", :.
And such a vulgar expression. wonder II
that is her idea of lady of the stage ?"
During the intermission, The conversation WIS
conducted in discreet undcrtones, which gave
place to the higher notes when the curtain wehs
up on the second act. ~ tins period, ahother
party made It's entrance. II was mixed party
nf Young men and women, who looked the dinner
from whose discussion they mad evidently come.
The interest of the first party was, of course,
Immediately diverted from the play
There's Belle Blazer cried one.
And Dick ky;er with her
soc such rights
" 1t it isn't their fault, poor things. They dress
and paint enough. 10 be sure. -
More tehes ana ine Ss ea don f be too
PERSONAL By this time, the other party, who
hlled row of seats on the other side of the house,
had got started and When 9e 4Se end pesan TO
second act was reached il was on the border OF
a revolt. which broke out at the opening OF me
third The Fyf%n is sf %es for the
bonetrt OF every under the theatre roof, while
the players were struggling with sentimental
"a
Hats of in 'front.'"
tad" growled an old gentleman, with very
rcd face il had better be heads of"
The Flyaway girls turned and regarded him
with a stony stare. which so wrought upon ms
nerves that he dropped his heavy cane. which fell
with a loud bang. In moment an usher was
" Can't you be more careful with your stick ?"
" En- = gasped the old gentleman. What
If YOU don't stop disturbing the house. you
will have TO so out" interrupted the usher,
severely. - A.
Flyaway girls continued their conversation. and
the other party got limbered up for another cot
loquis iannt The voice from the gallery again
made itself heard.
Give us a song and-dance.' it shouted.
This set the house in roar, and halted mo
performance on the stage. The two theatre-par-
ties favored their neighbos with one superior
stare OF aristocratic disdan, and riot broke ons
in the gallery, where two officers were dragging
the shouter out and vigorously rat;aning every
one within reach with their free hands.
BY Cad cried the old gentleman. jumping
up. This is outrage"
Sit down" shouted a voice in the rear
Cork up" yelled another from the dress
circle
I'D like - began the old gentleman.
He had no opportunity 10 state what he would
like. for two ushers laid firm hands on him. ana
before he knew il he was in the lobby. BY ms
been thrown down stairs. and captured az tho
street door by a policeman. who ran him in on
the general charge Of creating disturbance OF
the public peace. The theatre parties. thus VIM
dcated resumed their contributions 20 the enter
tanment of the evening. and the actors did the
best they could under the circumstances till the
curtain fell.
lawfully nice evening" said member of parry
number ole to one Of party number two. when
they mot in the aisle, going ont.
Quite too delightful" was the reply.
Such sweet play, wasn't il ~
quite too sweet. BY the way. did You notice
how il endeI?'
No did you 81
mo. BIT some. Of the girls did, and they can
tell rs. | suppose"
"Oh. of course"
And they drftcd toward Demonico's. amid
hurricane of small talk. compounded Of dresses
divorces. engagements. dances past and 10 come.