The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-20
Horace Barnes in March Munseys.

Horace Barnes in March Munsey's.
 T@ HE music halls of the worlds (0 great cities afford a study of
 human interests and character istics to be had in no other way. ms is not so true of New York where so- called vaudeville is not more than an incident in civic life, and its standards are never fixed and dependable, as it Is of Paris, and above all of London.
 In New York the music halls are by no means the foremost and most popular re- sort for amusement seekers. In Paris they are the French pulse. In London they are the English heart itself.
 In New York the vaudeville houses are very much of a makeshift. In Paris they are recognized diversion of a known standard of excellence. In London they rise to the dignity of an institution.
 When "big'' name does appear on the American vaudeville posters--a name that stands for 15 minutes or a half-hour or real artistry-whence has the wonder come? Either from the London halls like Albert Chevalier or Harry Lauder or yesta Victoria, or R. G. Knowles (onee
 
 mate" field
 The redeeming feature of vaudeville In New York, and throughout America. as contrasted with Paris and London, Is its comparative freedom from vulgarity. The Americans are careful to relegate down. right indecency to the cheapest grade or touring burlesques, whereas in Paris the finest music hall stars are not above em- ploying it, and in London there are few who are not more or less guilty of 1t. If one medium of music hall expression in England were to be taken as the most characteristic type it would prob ably be the song containing at regular intervals word most obviously rhyming with some other word impossible to speak in decent company. and having some to- tally different, harmless and non-rhym- ing word showed in the place of the naughty one.
 Chevalier, in late years, has lost much of his grip upon the British public. They assign it to his long absences from home. In my opinion, there is another reason- he was too clean for them. Vesta Vic- toria is another of the rare exceptions to the general tendency toward vulgar ity.
 Where the average New Yorker turns to his every other minute afternoon news paper for his humors and his ideas, the Londoner betakes himself. night after night and year after year, to the halls, The costermonger of the Mile End road tightens his dirty crimson nuffler about his throat dons his voluninous cap, and Jugs his lady" beraggled feathers and all into the London. Shoreditch-one of the three halls controlled by the London county council. The young West End clubman has his man put him into his evening things and drops around to the Empire, Leicester square. From the lout to the lord, there isn't Londoner who doesn't look upon the halls as his very own-his solace when all others fail, his comfort in darkest gloom, and-according- ly as he picks his London or his Elm pire-the chosen club of his caste.
 For the cosmopolitansm of London ceases when 1t comes to the halls, taken individually Each hall has its specific audience, its quota of regulars, its own peculiar feeling and atmosphere In keep ing with its environment.
 Marie Lloyd-"Mahrie," Londoners pro- nounce it-may sing song tonight at g o'clock at the Oxford Oxford street and Tottenham Court road. We'll say that it's her pet. typically English one "She Didn't Like to Tell Him What She Wanted If you take a cab. when you have heard her. and follow her bougham