The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-19
SOCIAL ENGLAND.
Towns Where the BritOns Enjoy
Themselves Most and Least.
London Mail.

Themselves Most and Least.
London Mail
1t might be thought that a people happy
IN thes enjoyments of comforts beyond
those Of most other countries would find
in the tranquility of home just that rest
required by nature after the work of the
day.
Were we a more slothful race we should
doubtless devote our evenings to sleep, but
the tide of life seems to quicken rather
than to ebb in the veins of the city dweller
as the day nearS its close, with the result
that finding that nature has denied his
town the skies of blue, he turns to man.
In the days which have gone the drama
and songs were luxures, they have
now become necessities conseuuentIy
there is now hardly town in the United
Kingdom which has not one or more places
OF amusement. But just as no two human
beings are ever exactly alike, so no two
towns in matter of taste, are ever quite
the same. In fact, when we remember that
we are practically one people, the diver
sity of taste exhibited even in theatrical
amusements is something remarkable
There are plenty of towns in the midlands
which not only pin their allegiance to melo-
Drama but like the play all the better if
1t reprOduceS some of the phases of their
own life. The belching black furnaces
which blacken and lay waste as if strick-
en- by fire and pestilence, the land up north
create an environment in which are to be
found eccentricities who when put on the
stage and woven into the story of a drama
are practically welcomed by the local pub
lie. But Leicester, although it extends a
mild patronage to melodrama with or with
out dash of local color, only wakes en-
thusiastic when it is regaling itself with
comic opera or burleSQue. Leicester APP
pears serious town, but the people choose
burlesque. Bright music and pretty girls
welded to a highly-favored plot will fill
either of the Leicester playhouseS for a
week. Leicester also shows it's Partially
for song over the drama by supporting
three music halls
One would think that in a fiourishing city
like Norwich, with a population of about
thp9tprS
well. They do not, however. Norwich re-
CARDS itself as very superior city. 1t will
spend thousands when its musical festival
comes round but it looks askance at the
drama and the song, only one temple for
each being tolerated. Bristol is also another
city with lofty aspirations Having de-
clared itself 10 be extremely musical in the
higher sense of the word it contents itself
with supporting only two pIayhouses. Why
there are plenty of little towns like Keigh-
ley, for instance, which scores of people
have never heard of which support no
fewer than three places of amusements
The fact is that from the moment a pro-
vincial town welcomes a Patti or Pader-
ewski it seems ashamed to patronize the
drama or music hall. Ashton must be a
lively place to live in, for, Notwithstanding
its smalness, a trife over forty thousand
nhabitantS, it contriveS to support four
places of amusement.
Liverpool is not quite so large as Man
chester and Stafford combined, but it is evil
IDENTIFY more addicted to pleasure, for 1t
maintains seven theaters and twelve music
combined have only seven theaters and six
music halls but lest the latter town should
resent this structure their pleasure-lov-
ing instincts it should be stated that many
of the public houses in Manchester have
sng-songs attached, these being very pop
ular.
Two or three years ago Meath a small
town in Wales. with a population of less
than LOO, required no fewer than five
places of amusement to satisfy its inordi-
nate cravings for pleasure of an evening.
But Meath has of late so Quieted down that
il manages to rub along now with one
place of entertainment. But. whereas the
moderation Of Meath is compulsory that of
Belfast is not. Belfast could go it if she
of that city contrive to kill their evenings
is a mystery. They certainly cannot all go
to the theater. for till some two years ago,
they had only one. Now they have two.
Neither can they make for the halls of
song, for there is only one.
Dublin may not be wealthy as we
should like to see, but surely the capital of
habitants should be able to support more
than two theaters-the Gaiety holding
COS and the Queens only G100 Dublin
has its Leinster Hall, but this is frequently
closed.
AS a rule the smaller northern towns of
England have a great affection for the
music hall, but there are exceptions.
Consett has two theaters but no music
hall. Warrington, Bury, Goole, Greenock,
Ipswich Lancaster. Leigh. Lichfield and
Longton have also to be content with
plays; but there are others, like Hanley,
where the drama is at such z low ebb that
the only theater is utterly put cut of coun-
tenance by three halls. New Castle must be
a rollicking sort OF place. There are no