The morning times., 1897-01-24
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gentleman. Ideas are writer's stock In
trade. Theft is theft. for a thatl

Bargain matlnees are proving bowling
success at the Columbia and the Lafayett
Every Thursday at the street house ana
every Wednesday at the pretty theater on
Lafayette Square there is a packed mousse.
1t was bargain prices or next nothing.
Hundreds of women who can't afford the
higher prices jump at the opportunity anu
hundreds who can afford dollar ana d
half bite at the ne'er failing bait or re-
duCtion. The girls go in perfect groves
And such pretty costumesl You VIII never
know what pretty girls there are III wash
ington until you have attended the bargain
matinee To he sure, there are some men,
The attraction OF a show and the ladies Is
perfectly irresistible. But the shreWd
managers have overlooked point. what
they ought to do is not to cut the prices
down two. thirds, but have the tickets
printed with 81 so and 81 crossed out with
red ink and 80 cents" marked below. The
bargain hunters would come just as quick.
But how dc, the matinee girls get along
so peacefully together? They come with
their heads capped with whole mountains OF
millinery and no concessions and no com
plaint. Shall we condemn their stubborn
ness or praise the spirit oftne martyr?
The hat question is, by the way, becoming
vital. The men are taking it into their
own hands. The female legislators of
Colorado have not been heard from, but
the aldermanic contingent OF Chicago have
beheaded, or rather behatted, the women.
Mayor Swift sends me a copy of the
ordinance as 1t stands, and the man or
woman who doesn't see the show now had
better consult an UculiSt. The ordinance
provides that in no place of amusement
shall any person wear any hat or bonnet;
provided, however, that the above inhibi-
tions shah not be held to include skull
caps, lace coverings, or other small and
closely fitting headdress which does not
interfere with the view Of the stage Of
persons in the rear OF such wearer. "
The proprietors OF the theaters are Obliged
to enforce it, and the penalty is fine
OF from So to So The milliners of Chi
cago have been enjoying a boom long
enough; 1t serves the selfish things right
to be made to step aside and give the skull
cap petler and lace spinner an airing.
Mayord Ford OF Pittsburg writes me
that the city fathers OF his town are in
| the track of the Chicagoese. They, too, evi
ueillN NfttNeDttHldhlllS iuCit vi AHA tlil oueh
an afgrette and have calmly studied the
aft OF a confection long enough Perhaps
1.-The better half" OF tie Pittsburg bur
| gomasters willntimidateth the half that votes
| but the test hasn't come. Mayor Ford
| is a good sensible man and he says he has
| suffered the nuisance long enough and he
wants to see the hats go by courtesy, or, if
not that way, then by law.
! But the Pttsburg ordinance doesn't seem
to attack the right end OF the difficulty.
| Ifit is passed that town Will be n terrestrial
! sheol for the managers. for they Will, under
| penalty OF fine and Imprisonment, be OBJ
| liEed to see that no patrons wear hats. They
| must provide a retiring room. checking syS
| TEN and attendants. II that ordinance
is passed the municipal daddics of the erst
| selves cut off Of the free list FOR good an(
| ALL All the responsibility is thrown on the
| management S shoulders.
| Fancy that state of affairs in Washington
! Picture If you can dignified Mr.. Albaugh
down in the third row demonstrating with
| half dozen women under fifty-dOllar hats
| that must be exhibited. What chance would
handsome Mana ger Rapley have witha bevy
of matinee charners promising never tC
| do it again. and pouring rapturous en-
! treaties from their dewy eyes? Manager
Metzerott never could. He would simply
! call in an officer and tell himto count heads,
or hats, multiply by the fine. and collec