New-York tribune., 1900-12-09

any others; now we sell more French. and Span
ish is coming up. French conversation classes
are no longer a fashionable fad; they are taken
much more as matter of course"
The matinee young woman is likely NOWADAYS
to read her ''LAiglon" at home in the original
and without an English version TO help her out
THE LONG INTERMIssIoNs.
still. the Garden is not quite Paris. even yet
The humping Of the stage manager, somewhere
"a the unseen, to give warning Of the rise of
the curtain, and the family heard proclamation.
I'm scene, Mesdames ct Messieurs,'' even yet
occasion looks Of surprise and inquiry, betraying
uhiamiIlarity with French stage ways Then,
again. hese well dressed people, whether COM
l"itaOiy seated or standing, leaning over the
Dacks OF the last row, certainly have not the
air OF taking things easy which one associates
WIN merely pleasure seeking crowd. The long
entractes are regarded in France as a right of
the public at least as much as of the play ers;
the public are at the play to enjoy themselves
are not in any hurry and insist upon a heapng
quarter Of an hour 10 walk about exchange crit
icisms, salute acquaintance and taste ''sirops."
here these prOtracted waits are complained Of
as a grievance, but il is TO be remarked that the
matinee women at the Garden have the appear
ance of needing them sorely to recuperate after
considerable strain. The broad flight Of
carpeted stairs leading down from the second
foyer and the narrow double flight leading up TO
nowhere, apparently, literally patronized
during the intervals. rows upon rows of pretty
toilets crowdng them so as 10 leave only
narrow passage in the middle, and a deep
silence reigns over the sitters; they are taking
thorough rest These entractes are also the
golden opportunities OF those who have no kew
pons," as the ushers who have neglected their
opportunities in French stin call them, entitling
the holders 10 numbered seats and little steps
and hooks in the aisles are ereedily seized upon
10 afford rest to weary ISLANDERS. The ushers
good naturedly tolerate this little irregularity
until the curtain rises, and then go about
their ungrateful task OF requesting one woman
after another TO get up and stand at the
back, please In every case the usher is met
with a black look Of resentment and sometimes
he hears an icy feminine voice murmur, You're
very nude" His lot is a happy one; he
would like TO be regarded as friendly by all
these women, but they cannot be made to
understand the stringency of Fire Department
regulations, which oblige him 10 keep the aisles
and their approaches clear, and hardly any one
in the audience sees the big with the silver
badge on his cap who stands back and
sterny watches all that is going
Up in the family circle there is an entirely
different class. taking il as a class. Here and
there are toilets just as extensively simple
as anywhere else in the house but the rule is
inexpensive simplicity and dark shades, though
the absence Of shabbiness and the prevalence
OF Gallo good taste are remarkable. The occu-
pants, sitters and ISLANDERS OF this part of the
house by far the most interesting. 1t is
easy to guess who they in general way.
They come in droves along Twenty-siXth-st.,
from the Madison-ave. cars. in plenty of time.
No doubt they represent the better class of the
French petite bourgeosie Of New-York, and
comprise a large number Of governesses and
ever nursery goVernesses. 1t is safe to say