The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-29
AT THE MIDNIGHT THEATRE
The Bellies Hold Nightly L<vees at the
FashIonable Vaudeville C7ub.

The Bellies Hold Nightly L<vees at the
Fashionable Vaudeville Cub.
The very fashionable ladies who attend the
midnight performances OF the Vaudeville Club
are SO thoroughly ut home in their semi-the-
atre and demi- club that they have positively
NO rule as to how they shall dress when they
60 there One comes direct from the play,
another rides up from a railway train that has
Just come in. q third leaves her home just as
she has been dressed for n auie. night With
out callers. and others come FROM eysfy pOs-
sible employment and enjoyment exceot fash
ionable dancing. which they are more apt to
take up after than before the vaudeville.
The consequences OF this 10 a very homeliks
effect and feeling at this unique club. There
one sees q grand dame In full evening dress
beside q woman in q cloth gown and near an
other who has not taken of her outer wraps.
Some OF the women take OF their hats. aud
others keep them on. 1t Is q free-and-easy as
far as dress goes. and as far as the women are
concerned. 1t is JUS: as free in the matter OF
conversation. though many OF the perform
ances are too interesting for any one to want
to talk while they go on. for the Vaudeville
Club is the means by which its members get
the very best variety performances while they
are in their own quarters. at their ease.
The visitor to the club. il he is on foot. sees
q 10. OF carriages drawing M one after another
at the curb near the corner Of Thirty-ninth
street. II he is In q carriage. he and il wait It's
turn In the line. 1t is then IL O'Clock or q
little later. and the members are beginning to
arrive. the women all enveloned In winter
wraps:. the men all showing evening dress
when their overcoats arc unbuttoned.
minzting at a eioak. room and a Digit 81 stairs
The cloak room Is for the men VINO put away
t sselr f bss.. ss Il s sney T ias : = d' sS ss sn1 ,h i.s.ai IN
the theatre. which is not the. case Instead.
they put them under their chairs. The ladies
ment. The stairs end at the clID room or
theatre. 1t is a large square room with u
with n raiicd-on space for the orchestra h..fors
the. stage, with - score OF round drinking
tat!es and groups OF Uent-wood chairs on the
into boxes. overhead.
The ilaes looks like a miniature theatre.
rary one. I'll. stag. is very littis larger than
a billiard table. with what the ladies' would
royni red rupisins. which are wsrlsd llE sr tho 10,
ieur.pos; Seds,esi. The eject Is NOT ss'G GsG.
The orchestra Is composed OF sixteen pieces.
and is far better than the average Theatrical
Ink is the gallery: The selling is too low. and
the people mp there in the boxes'hars their
heads altogether too close tn the ceiling, in a
stratum OF air that must be hot and sliding.
Down on the main floor there are women as
wei rs Ulcu. Dut mueN VI AS WoIuou IT u v tuo
boxes and most of the men are down around
the tables. smoking and drinking: The men
de- both things for both sexes. The women
drink very little aud very mildly. Edibles are
brought in. and here and there are seen men
and women eating q light bite of midnight
luncheon while the performance goes on
Meals and drinks are served 10y typical res
tsurant walters in the usual liyery. each with
a NAPKIN over his arm, The check. or billet;
with the cost OF the drinks upon II. Is not paid
in money. hut is signed by the, member who
gave the order. as In n cluo. Visiting goss on
continually, the ladies' keeping their seats and
the men. making the rounds fran one mstrr,n
or belle 70 another; The P@ret,i1st girls hold
The sensations OF each evening are made br
the dancing girls The most cold aud impas-
sive women in the boxes. who have not deigned
to turn AS they have sat with their Lacks to the
stage while the song and dance men and, the
Iugglers have been at WORK, are lure, at least
To twist their neeks so as to look a. the !rtskJ
and ffower-like women in floating silk who
show them what Il Is that attracts crowds ~
dancers are as much appreciated there MS
anywhere else. but whea ] O'clock comes the
musicians leave their chairs. encore or NO
encore. and the club night is ended.