MISBEHAVIOUR OF THE PIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11713, 24 July 1901, Page 7

MISBEHAVIOUR OF THE PIT.

\ . v " TO THE EDITOR. . Sir,—Our fathers have told us that education would exercise a refining influence on manners, and prevent them from becoming brutal. It was also said by them of old time that even savages were not insensible to the sweet influence of music. Eheu! One by one * these antiquated old-world ideas wither at- tho fresh young touch of modern civilisation. • We are ; losing , faith in the wisdom of the past. But yet, in spite of its besotted ignorance, the past at least was chivalrous. Your urban clown or rustic clodhopper would restrain hie uncouth behaviour in the presence of ladies. Still less would ho make them" the objects for his muddy wit. In this respect, at any rate, he rose superior to your ; up-to-date product of a system of education which attempts to teach pretty well everything of general utility, except politeness and good manners. A London theatrecad is ( vulgar, no doubt; ho is sometimes coarse. Yot ho is often witty. Wit does not palliate vulgarity. But vulgarity without wit is a thing entirely damnable— Rusk in | would say. What wit is there in verbally assaulting ladies passing to their places in a theatre, tin pelting people with paper, pellets, fin. drowning with raucous voice the opening; bars of a delicious overture, played as iwo in • Auckland have seldom heard it played before, or in distracting and disturbing people by suggestive noises at some moment of a scene, intense in its interest both to actors ; and , audience? There is absolutely no wit at all. Yet this is. what was inflicted on us last Saturday night by some occupants of tho pit at the Opera House. People 'will laught at-it; some, as your columns disclose, will even defend it. But the downright crass vulgarity of the thing is becoming intolerable, and should be made impossible. Overture, at eight sharp. K the habitues of the drees circle and orchestra stalls would remember this and take their seats before that hour, it would add somewhat to the enjoyment of those who imagine that the overture is really a part of the opera.-—I am, etc., .. Stalls.