The Washington herald., 1908-05-10
SOCIAL QUESTIONS ANSWERED

l. Question-Cannot you influence the theater-
going public 10 better behavior when they are al
: the plays This is how my enjoyment was suoied
at performance Of The Mummy and the Hum
ming bind the other night a Young woman behind
me prodded my lame back with the toe of her
FTcrCh slipper until ms flesh fairly quirered with
pain woman ON my right. the moment the lights
were lowered and the curtain rose began 10 eat
candy which she took out Of a rstliug raper. and
then chewed It loudly that ! wonder the
Mummy did not hear her, a couple down In front
talked through the whole performance, and a man
two OF three seats To the right Of rs went ont dur
ing every act seemingly indifferent to the feet he
crushed in his progress CT the gowns be mussed-
They say Washington audiences are the hest behaved
and most cultivated Of any in the United States.
May the coed Lord help the others, I say
A LOVER OF THE DRAMA.
Answer: This is not the first criticism
by any means that the Arbiter has had
/ regarding the behavior of people at the
theater, but since we have no official
rules regulating the conduct Of people at
/ the playhouses. what is to be done? There
| is one thing I can dO-express my heart
/ felt sympathy for your sufferings the
/ other night and 7 can assure you il is in
/ telligent sympathy, for I have suffered
/ in like manner. I have long advocated
4 the giving OF lectures on etiquette In the
public schools, and I think if such
I
excellent effect upon society, for people
/ commit social sins from ignorance, from
/ want Of thought and not from want of
heart.
2 Question-Is it proper for a girl 10 60 any
where chapeTuned Cnly by her brother2 understand
that It would he an right for her 20 20 alone to
| the theater with him. but should she 20 under MS
| caaperonage to a ballt
| AnsWer-A brother is under all circum-
stances a suitable ehaperon for his sis
| ter, provided he Is Of mature age and
sober character. In fact, he is the ideal
chaperon for his sister, since being near
/ her own age he more readily understands
| and sympathizes with her than would an
! older person, and can take an active part
in her pleasures.
3 Question-Wiu you kindly tell me something
| 10 serve at the beginning Of q dinner instead Of
! oysters and the ubiquitous grape fruit Of which
! am heartily siCkf ] never saw either oysters or
! gTaps frIit served at a foreign dinner. Why then
is it necessary Tor rs to invariably start ont our
banquots with theml
/ Answer-There are many dishes that
can be served instead of grape fruit or
oysters at the beginning of the dinner.
| Some are Little Neck clans, cayiare. oys-
| ter, clam, or crab meat cocktails, aIliga-
tor pear with French dressing, cold caul-
| flower with mayonnaise-this dish is a
great favorite with Misunderstanding.
anchoyy tcast, Yarmouth bloater toast
and a score Of others. No. it is not neces-
sary to begin a dinner with oysters, but
it has become the habit to do so In Amer
/ lea, and Of ali people on earth Americans
are the worst slaves Of fashion, so this
custom VIII die hard. For myself I pre-
fer a hot soup for the first course at din
ner
l. Question-I have had a really gsy and frivolons
winter; day after day have devoted simply hsr-
/ iHg a good time; now / am going to Canada for
the summer where / shsIl have great deal CT leis-
ure and / want to do something to improve ms
mind. Can sou put the right track to
reading? MISS SOCIETY.
Answer-It Is impossible to advise per-
son what to read when you don't know
what she has already read, what her
tastes are what her ambitions. But on
a venture ] should say il you really want
to improve your mind and acquire knowl-
edge read the history Of your own coun-
try That l have found to be the weak
point of most American young people;
the majority Of them know nothing or
next TO nothing Of the land in which they
live and yet its story is as exciting and
absorbing as any novel Nearly every one
can tell something Of the Revolution be-
cause that struggle fiatteFs their national