New-York tribune., 1895-01-26
MILLINERY and MTSk.

Tho bill introduced by Asscmblyman Gutter
thc other dav 10 promote innocent amusement
and wholesome recreation by removing tn" oh
sirctions with which the dcvotecs ~ barbarc
fashions interrupt a view ~ the stage In the
,,rical entertainments will 10 doubt commend
itself 10 INany patrons Of the drama who have
endured thc cxaspcrating experience OF sitting
behind a bobbing bird. or feather. or floral deco
ration or other shmmcring finals OF the mi
liners art during dramatic performance. For
,h,sc ,dornmcnts which are intended To excite
the admiration of mankind. serve only To pro
woke wrath and rond in cuss words the deep
foundations Of the heart when they ln'crpose
their nuitcring futfncss between The spectator
and the stage II is In the thrilling moments
of the drama. when the heavy trag'hhh N's
nrone upon a level with the stage doing death
asonics that have To hc watched closely 10 p'
,uprcriatrd or the skiri-danccr s fiinging her
foot aloft In Il manner that taxes the attention
~ fh. baldhcadcd in the orchestra scats-it ~
then that the carnal man rises In wrath an"
saws. There ought 10 be a law agln H.
II may l,c that Assemblyman Cutter has some
fine sat I'm the rear ~ this sort OF exasperatihg
millinery when things were going on In front
which hc had paid AMI L g'ea,ly desired T." sec
And IL may he that he has seized the hrst "p
por,uniry to 20 for the offending mllineI! Win
IN. .xtcrminatng bcSom of a he II enacted
And II we are 10 change our present system
II government aud adopt paternalsn rs is
mai, f.oiurc as some members ~ Congress are
proposing Ia do by forcclosng III" Hen Oh 'h'
Pacific Roads and cmbarking In the trausp"r'n-
tion business there seems To be- no good reason
why the State should not take chnrge oi 'h'
theatres and other places ~ amusement ana reg
uac by law the height of the hats ana perhaps
the amplitude of the sleeves Of spectators. MI
Cutters bill provides that any person purchasing
n seat in "A place Of amusement VINO snail III"
his view obstructcd 10y any cause within the
control of the proprietor or manager of me en-
tertainmcnt shall have the right to demand the
return ~ the price Of such seat unless the op
s,rlc,iou be Immediately removed REFUSAL to
re,nrn thr money shall render the manager liable
,o a fine Of four times the amount paid. and IN"
ncrson causing the obstruction shall be deemed
cuiltv Of a misdemeanor and subject 10 "A fine
~ $40 This is certainly heroic treatment Of the
millinery question 1t will doubtless evoke ap-
nl,usc from "A great many sufferers who believe
that wherever there is grievance or an incon-
ycncnce n law should be enacted to remedy It,.
And II n Government sets out 10 assume pater-
nal functions there Is reason why II should
not soc that everybody who buys theatre
ticket gets his moneys worth.
There Is one other abuse which we hope Mr..
Cutter will remedy by law as soon as he gets
the millinery question settled satisfactorily.
That is the practice INDUCED in by certain per
sons Of both sexes Of drenchng themselves with
the pungcnt perfume extracted from gland or
sac of the musk deer. II Is a very offensive
and Ia some Il sickening Odor and 80 pcnetrat-
lug and pcrvasve that 1t makes its presence
known to the passcrby In the street and sntu'
rates the atmosphere almost to sufoca'ion when
the pcrfumcd person enters n room or n street
car If Mr.. Cutter would introduce a bill pro
vidlng that any passenger In streetcar whose
sense of smell Is offended by the entrance of one
Of these musk scented individuals could demand
that his fare he refunded or the individual be
put off under suitable pains and penalties he
would be following up the millinery business
with n most sautary reform. Other reforms
may come along In their order the system
Of patcrnalism develops. but the abolition Of the
high hat and musk nusances will be an uncom-
monty good beginning.