The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-10
STUDENT OF SOCIOLOGY
 ATTENDS POP CONCERT.
Herkimer Johnson Remarks on Devious Ways of
 Pleasure Seekers.
ETHICS OF DRESS SUIT.
Pleasure in the Mutual Adaptation of Beer and
 Music.

It took Mr. Herkimer Johnson, the earnest student of sociology, to the concert.
 MT. Comee, the arbiter delicarum the great high priest of pleasure, well comed the distinguished guest with the utmost cordiality and told him two of his choicest stories. Like all deep thinkers, Mr Johnson has little appre- ciation of humor. He gravely asked MT. Comee to repeat them that he might take notes for his colossal work, Man as a Social and Political Beast" (the first volume Is now in press).
 But when there was mention of beer with the music MT. Johnson rose promptly to the occasion and said in clear, bell-like tones: Beer is thicker than water"
 No sooner were we seated than MT. Johnson began as a lecturer: Tt was the ill-fated Maginn who remarked: As for the beautiful mutual adapta- tion Of cold rum and cold water, that is beyond all praise, and indeed forms theme of never-ceasing admiration, being one of natures most exquisite achievements.' The mutual adapta- ton of beer and music is to me still more wonderful. am aware that Bismarck said they that drink beer think beer, and that one Nietzsche wrote bitterly against beer-soaked philosophers, but music is certainly less disturbing to thought when 1t is accompanied by beer, whether 1t be light or dark These glasses, by the way, should be larger. And beer should never be put into glass. There should be steins.'
 the company have already ordered light wines, but still maintain that for an evening like this, beer is more to the purpose, even though the wine were the vintage four years old poured from two-handled Sabine jar"
 An here word about MT. Johnsons costume He wore a pepper and salt cutaway, waistcoat that evidently once went with frock coat, trousers of neutral shade and pronounced bulg- ing at the knees. One trouser leg was rolled up. His cravat was passion ate, fiaring red. His right overshoe was torn at the side, and his umbrella was of the kind known as gamp, or lettuce, bumbashoot. It is only fair to say that Mrs Johnson, the peerless Eustacia, has been out of town for a fortnight.
 q do not object continued MT. Johnson Ito dress suits on formal oc- casions, but I insist that a Pop con- cert should be thoroughly informal Do you remember the club in London to which Artemus Ward was invited by an agreeable stranger? At this club-the Sloshers--the stranger said none of the members appeared in eve- ming dress. He said 1t was agin the rules of the club. Tn fact, if any member appeared there in evening dress he'd be instantly expeld. And yit there's geneyus there, and lofty emotions and intelleck.'
 And Mr. Johnson added: II believe there is literary club in Cambridge that enforces the same rule. A dress suit at once establishes distinction not between waiter and guest, but between guests. It is not given to every man to wear a dress coat with self-assurance. Some are unduy an- xious concerning immaculate quality of shirt front and they drink their beer as though they had stiff arm, and they hold the glass at long distance. Others are so self-conscious that they feel the necessity of preserving an air of unshaken dignity.
 "Again, there should be truly gre- earious enjoyment. There should be no suggestion of first and second glass tickets-no arbitrary division. Yet notice a commendable improvement in this respect, though I should like to hear fuller peals of laughter and more general conversation. There should be less critical attention to the music. The music is after all only pretext for the intimate association of men and women, youths and maidens. Nor do I like any enforcement of attention. Let the music be joyous, rollicking, an unloosener of tongues, an indictment to heels, But tonight is the first; 1t eminently successful, when you con- slider the behavior of unsympathetic nature.'
 Mir. Johnson, like MT. Cheggs in "The Old Curiosity Shop" is bashful in the presence of ladies, yet he could not help observing the display of imposing cultures and picturesque hats. He took coplous notes and on leaving as- sured us that his time had not been wholly wasted. Tt is always profit able to study the Bostonian when he endeavors to unbend in public place, D and with this remark he suggested the advisabllity of still another beer,- Philip Hale in the Boston Herald.