The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-08
WOMEN AND DUDES.
They Are the Principal Popula-
tiOn of New York.
Such is the Opinion of Play
wright Harrison.
A DEPRAVED TASTE.
Amusement of the Richest Peo-
pie in Variety Shows.
Depew Can't Tell Stories Better
Than ANY Old Thing"

SAN Francisco, Oct e-"The man
who thinks he would prefer to live in
New York rather than in San Francisco
is simply fooled on account of the size of
New York. Quantity does not give
quality in that case. New York is
simply vast aggreg ation of high I'M
couth buildings, and the people are
about on the same lines"
This is the opanion of VIM. Greer Har-
rison. Marine Underwater. patron of the
manly art and playwright whose play
"Runnymede" was such dismal failure
in New York. He sat in the Bohemian
club talking TO numerous friends.
$50 give you an idea of what is con-
sidered the proper thing in New York"
said Mr. Harrison 'let me tell you of a
visit | made to Roster & BiaPs. Now
that is considered one of the swell roof
garden shows of the metropolis.
They give variety performance which
was worse in all respects than the
worst show ever given at the Bella
Union in its older days. Yet this is not
a place where the lower classes may be
presumed to go, for it is not a cheap
show. On the contrary it is an expensive
place
The kind of entertainment given shows
just what the people of New York want
and what they considered correct. There
were some women with legs and no
voices and some men with neither legs
nor voices who INDUCED in a lot of horse
play kind of acting which seems to APP
peal to the people. The stage
is semi circular and is sur
rounded by numerous mirrors.
When a handsome woman with a
good pair of legs come out she is trans
formed by the numerous mirrors into
thirty-six women with thirty-six pairs OF
legs, fact that is greatly appreciated
by the spectator who has paid to see
only one pair of legs.
1T is this appeal to the righteousness
and the various passions of men that is
noticeable throughout New York. The
farther play departs from the accepted
standard of morality the greater seems
TO be its success. There is no apprecla-
ton of literary merit, nor any uader-
standing of what may he considered
the higher art The same spirit pervades
everything in New York city.
"The Roster & Bal performance is an
evidence of the condition of the mind of
the average New Yorker.
"Gentlemen Invited me to dine at Del
monico's. AS far as was able to OBJ
serve the literature OF the newspa-
pers is the only literature known
in New York. There are two things a
New Yorker wants above everything
else, for these two things he lives and
slaves-coin, and his wife's social posi-
ton.
"On account of the press upon the
/ men, two-thirds of the New York
audisnces are made up of women and
dudes. There is no appreciation what
ever for literary excellence nor for what
rr-c u f4at- f--h
and culture are entirely lacking Those
plays that appeal to the passions; those
productions that are vulgar without dis
guise, or that lift the corner of the veil
that hides utter epulsiveness, are always
successful There is no place in New
York for anything that is not common
place. for the people are uncultured and
unrctned.
| 81 met some gentlemen there WHO
were interested in art, but they were all
| Germans and came from abroad The
typical New York man knows nothing
| but business. Such is the general de
pressive effect of the struggle for wealth
that the work of the artists shows the
| influence of it and bears the impress
| of The dollar. In Chicago, notwith-
standing its greed and vulgar aspect,
| in many respects, art and architecture
are years ahead OF New York. The
! grand boulevards aud drivewsys in and
about Chicago show that in that great
~ there is an appreciation of the beau
tiff H."
Mr. Harrison criticised the New York
| clubs and described a visit TO the Metro
politan club. Then he said: "Chauncey
II. Depew is reputed IN New York tc
be a grand story teller, and he does
tell stories remarkably well, but there
are fifty men in the Bohemian club thai
can tell them better too. l went TO tbs
Lotus club. the riding club, the Univer-
sitv, the Lambs, and others. At all these
clubs l met pleasant men. but with them
all there was a disinclination to concern
themselves on ony subject not strictly
|