Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-11
BREAK UP LOVE SONGS
Sneeze Powders and Bombs
in Theater Audit0riums.
JOKE LOVERS ENJOY THEM
Remainder of the Audiences and the
Proprietors Object.
APPEAL TO THE AUTHORITIES
Demand for Remedy Against MUS
ance From Small Playhouses.
New Law Proposed.
JOKE LOVERS ENJOY THEN
APPEAL TO THE AUTHORITIE'

A serious menace to the business OF the
f1ve-cent and ten-cent theater business has
been discovered and the proprietors Of
several OF them have demanded Of the
District authorities the adoption Of regu-
lations that will afford relief.
It's just this way. A large audience
was gathered recently in one of the
amusement places in the vicinity Of Penn
sylvania avenue and 9th street An ex-
citing scene was being exhibited on the
curtain. The express trains headlight
was looming up in the distance as the
villain finished tying the beautiful girl to
the track.
"Cachoo" came from fat man in the
front row. It sounded again in the CEN
ter of the theater like an echo; then 9TH
ers took up the sneeze. The chorus
swelled to mighty volume and the hand
kerchiefs that suddenly appeared made it
look as II the audience was giving a
Chautauqua salute The sneeze epidemic
continued for several minutes, then sud-
denly subsidized.
The next night the tender notes of a
love song were lost in the midst of q
chorus of ''cachoos." The manager took
all precautions to prevent another out
break, but he found that at nearly every
performance his patrons would suddenly
Of the show could not compete with.
Reason Discovered.
There was a reason, and the proprietor
discovered it after repeated Investigations.
Some Of the patrons with an over devel-
oped sense Of enjoyment Of the results
had used some 'sneezing powder with
telling effect.
About the same time the proprietor of
the same theater discovered that tcning
epidemics varied the program. After
learning the cause of the sneezing test.
the proprietor suspected a similar reason
for the prevalence of itching, and found
that there are itching" powders as well
as "sneezing' powders.
The situation was made worse by the
explosion in the theater of smell bombs. y
and the proprietor suddenly saw his bust
ness threatened with disaster. The sneez-
ing and itching became later the feature
of performances in other theaters.
This menace to the business of the es-
Establishments was brought to the attention
of the Commissioners by A. Julian Bry-
lawski of the Colonial Amusement Com
pany of 927 Pennsylvania avenue. Health
Officer Woodward and Commissioner
Mcfarland have already expressed
disposition to apply remedy.
Classed as Grievous Nuisance.
'As resident manager Of several amuse-
lawski wrote the District officials, II re-
spectfully wish to call your attention to
the existence of a grievous nuisance, now
being practiced in all of the local theaters
the throwing on the floor and in the air
of several kinds of sneezing and itching
powders, all most deleterious to health
and eyes, and annoying to audiences; also
to the use of so-called bombs. a foul
smelling chemical substance which Is
dronnod cpcrot2d about a theater and
which no effort or vigilance on the part
of the employees of the theater or of the
police seem able to prevent.
ITO which end it may be suggested that
IL a way could be found to suppress the
sale of these and similar substances. the
nuisance might be abated, as 1t can read
lily be seen that in a crowd it would be
next to impossible to detect the perpetra-
tors"
Health Officer Acts.
Deputy Health Officer c. r. Holman
obtained and submitted to the health Of
ficer samples of these powders and
bombs. and explained that they are sold
chiefly to boys and young men.
Il have not deemed it necessary to have
these substances analysed" Health Of
ficer Woodward told the Commissioners
use except to serve the purpose of graft
flying the waims, and possibly the malice,
of evilly disposed persons.
II recommend that the matter be re-
ferred to the corporation counsel, with
instructions to report whether there is
any existing law or regulation under
which the sale of these substances can
be prevented, and with instructions that
if he find no such law or regulation, then
that he submit to the Commissioners the
draft of regulation or, If necessary, of
a law to forbid their sale and. If neces-
sary, their USE"
Commissioner Mcfarland has approved