The sun., 1903-01-06
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

The oldish man with the thirty-One Wigs
has been heard Of before. He has worn
them for 30 many years with no change
In color that most persons who have heard
Of him are familiar with the story OF his
false hair and the way he changes daily,
beginning at the first Of the month and
wearing a wig each day that is little longer
than it's predecessor until the end OF the
month arrives ard with it the apocryphal
haircut that Is supposed TO take place
and necessitates the short wig at the be-
ginning Of the next month.
These wigs are monoto nous. however,
compared with another collection that
exists in New York. 1t is owned by a
woman and is larger by some twenty or
more specimens than the masculine lot.
" includes more than fifty wigs and Is
also much more varied in plan. There
varied STYLES Of coiiure. The colors range
from Titan red to a deep brown, and
the owner wears them all without dis
elimination.
Everybody has known for years that
l wear wig this amiable old lady has
more than once explained to her friends,
-and il is impossible now to conceal that.
So don't see why shouldn't wear the
kind that pleases me most. II ! don't
feel in the. mood for red hair, can PIT on
simple brown wig And II l want to
Nt,tT u gown llldt uptcfl go az GIL WIN
brown hair. all | have 10 do is TO put on
my red wig. It's a very convenient way
Of doing and as i couldn't fool anybody
into believing that this hair is nv own,
am going to wear whatever kind like
Monday audiences at the opera are the
largest and that evening is known as the
smartest OF the week And It IL fact
that it cares only for the least serious operas.
The directors realized the other evening
that Wagner was not adapted 10 the tastes
OF these Monday listeners when after n
performance Of -Tannahuser' there were
protests from the subscribers against the
nee cessity Of their being compelled to listen
TO any Wagner operas at all. r. q. Latham,
who is acting in the absence OF Maurice
Greu. received more than fifty letters in
which the writer's declared that they would
refuse TO take their seats or boxes. as the
case might be, II they we're once again re-
Cuir al TO sit through Wagner opera. OF
course, they will be compelled to 20 through
thnt experience again and more than once
during the present season. But the Incl
dent is interesting In it's bearing on the
difficulties of arranging four months
repertoire at the Metropolitan.
When subscribers on certain nights re-
fuse 10 listen TO Wagner while the public
camors for these operas, il j. not easy 10
arrange n compromise at once satisfactory
to the public and profitable TO the manage
ncnt. Probably the greatest objection to
the Wagner operas on the part of many
srbscrihers Is the h'bit Of turning out tho
lights during the performance. Their pro-
test does not mean that the Wagner bubble
has burst again. Ii only means that they
want to see one another more than the
stage.
Gradually, the Italian barber. once de-
spised by he pat rons of he first class shops
is coming to be more and more appreciat ed
and occasionally there are heard express
sons OF a preference for his work over that
Of the Germans, who have been installed
for so many years in the best places. The
Italian BARRIERS We're for years identified
only with the cheap shops. They were
looked upon with contempt by the other
say Of them. But by degrees, their fit
ness for their work. their lightness Of
'cuch and the natural adaptabiity of the
LaIin races for service of the kind they rer-
der served 20 dissiprte the prejudice that
lad long existed against them. They have
successfully held their own against their
powerful rivals. and it Is not unlikely that
ihev will continue to increase in favor. Tie
present relative popularity of the Italians
and their German colleagues will probably
be reversed before many years have passed.
Isadore Duncan IL the name Of a lean
young woman vino taught dancing in this
city several years age. Her ciassts. which
met at the Windsor Hotel, included the
children of wel-hnown parcnts and the
institution was source of profit to Miss
Duncan and her sister. lsadore. after a
while, took to dancing in public. She
was not skirt nor even a sorpentine dancer
she was dance poetess" and illustrated
and tGrn-icppT lly Her
art was a new one. so Miss Duncan did not
always meet with popular succefs. Once
there was a loss irC m oertai entertain
ment and a row Dtween the dancer aid
make good Miss Duncan soon aft,rward
went TO Europe TO try dancing poems ir
new and possibly more sppreciative COM
nunities. The California dance roetess'
a. sne is called abroad was not mistaken
rs 20 the manner Of her reception in Europe.
thus found abroad the success denit To her
in her own country. VI ere the principal
difficulty was 20 find tho appropriate field
in which to .S.lib!t her talents. Here ii
WAS either the continuous shows or IN,
ballet. In Europe she dances in court the
atres and monarchs watch.
Not long ago a woman who had been
vel known in society for more years thar.
other women who take such a step deciced
to 60 on the stage. Her friends had con-
hdence in her ability and her subsequent
success proved tie wisdom Of her course
Women rarely begin a career at her age,
especially a career that requires a certain
amount Of physical comeiuess. This stage
asrirant possessed that Advantage in a large
degree. But she had no longer enough
teeth In private lie her own nad served.
but in the option Of her friends they
would Tot staLd the searching gare OF
the fcot.ights. which show with cruel dis
tinctress every sign Of age IN spite Of the
popular deusion that women look better
Oh the stage.
II was settled tha, some Of her friends
must attract the atte;hion OF the mature
beginner TO this Ce!ect There were long
discussions as to Whose duty this really
vas. AL feared 10 attempt H.. Finally
one intimate. I.aving courngeously take.
on her shoulGers the painiu duty, askeC
the lacy 10 arive with her. Their conver-
sntion turned toward her approaching
ae1ut as an actress. Without iurthcr
delay and thirkiig how very necessary
the new teeth were the good friend said
And I've something very important to
say to you {. out your going on the stage,
W. ich klo~ you won't mind from an oio
fTic d like me. ! hesitate 10 mention
the subject, but"
-Oh. don't worry, dearest" was tie
unconcerEet. answer. They're ordercd