Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-01
Theater Nulsances.

To the Editor of The Evening Star: "Ad'+a
I do not propose to discuss at length the
queatinQ raised by Women In Mondays
Star, as to whether stage-obscuring hats
worn by tho female sex q think the term
''ladieA' rather too complimentary to be
applied generally to those who have no
consideration for the rights. comfort, or
feelings of others) or the habit hard-drink-
ers have of going out between acts, is
the greater nuisance to theater goers. 1t
seems to me more profitable to pay atten-
ton to the point as to whether both cannot
be suppressed
AS to the stage-obsc curing hat, I do not
believe it can be suppressed so long as
there are women vain and feolish enough
to blindly follow every whim Of fashiona-
Bile folly sent across the Atlantic by the
joint efforts of the millners, actresses and
demi-monde women of Paris, and proudly
parade it at all times, whether it is be-
out Of place for the particular occasion or
place where 1t Is worn. The only way to
stop it Is by the action Of the theater man.
ayers themselves. They owe it to their
patrons to require all ladies to remove
their hats before being shown to their
seats in any respectable place Of amuse-
meDt. There would be no more hardship
or difficulty in enforcing this rule than
there is in the observance by men of the
uEwrftten law that their hats must not be
worn in a theater. And such a rule, If
laid down and announced publicly, could
be enforced without difficulty. That is the
rule in the first-class places of amusement
In England and on the continent, and if
the managers there did not enforce 1t the
audience would very speedily see that 1t
should be carried out. Let Messrs. AL
baugh, Allen and Rapley therefore get to-
gether and agree upon and announce such
a regulation for the first and second floors
of the places of amusement controlled by
them respectively, and public sentiment
off al hofr
efforts. The result would be much more
attractive looking audiences, and peace and
comfort prevailing whore there Is now dis
satisfaction and cursing, deep If not loud.
AS to the habit hard drinkers have of go
Ing out between acts, that is not SO easily
checked while debasing human appetites
are SO hard to control. Fortunately, how
ever, that nuisance is occasional, and lasts
for few moments only, and usually when
nothing Of interest is transporting on the
stage, whereas the stage-obscuring hat is
a. continuing interference, lasting during
the whole performance, and usually most
But the running put nuisance ought to be
suppressed. all the sane. The evil could be
greatly lessened II people with an uncon-
trollable thirst only had consideration
enough for others to always secure end
seats. Or, If thefeR are not end seats
enough, they might join together and col
onize themselves in one section Of the
house, so that their outgoings and inconl-
ings would not disturb or Inconvenience
those who are able ,tD Stake their thirst
with a glass Of watefdpassed about by the
water boys. If neither OF these plans COM
mends itself to tho hard-drinkers, then peo-
pie who are annoyed by their movements
have partial remedy In their own hands
They should Invariably and sternly refuse
to rise or make any Ot,ler effort to allow
the bar-seeking contingent to easily pass
from and to its seat in the middle Of the
row. This method could of course be en-
forced only at some expense to the corns
and dresses Of those who decline to rise,
but II faithfully followed. the H.-D's
would. 1t Is believed, learn to control their
expe1ient OF carrying a pocket flask. from
which they could recruit their failing ener-
gies when the lights are low.
A VICTIM OF BOTH NUISANcES,
March 81, 1896