In the course of the evening some little incidents happened, which served as a proof of the truth of the old proverb, which declares that glittering things may not be of the value they seem. It happened thus. Colby and myself, accompanied by a friend of my friend’s, whom we met at the drinking-room, determined to go to the theatre that evening, and accordingly did so. The house was crowded. Beautiful women and elegant men—moustached dandies and lively youth—brilliant fashionables of all varieties, combined to render the scene exhilarating and splendid. And the music from the orchestra, now soft and subdued, now bursting out with notes of thunder—how delicious it glided into the ear! The curtain drew up and the play began.It was oneof those flippant affairs, that pretend to give a picture of society and manners among the exclusive. The plot worse than meager—the truthfulness of the scene a gag, which ought not to have excited aught but ridicule—the most nauseous kind of mock aristocracy tinging the dialogue from beginning to end—yet it was received with applause, and at the conclusion, with vociferous and repeated cheers! The manager had printed upon his bills that London was pleased with it, and that one of the scenes represented life as in the private parlor of an English Duke—with the curtains, carpets, and drapery of the parlor, as good as real! I blushed for the good sense of my countrymen.
(Franklin Evans 31)
I grew up hearing that very same line, “Everything that glitters is not gold”. At one point in our lives we have heard this saying and it is usually said when we want something we should’nt have, Franklin evans found that out on a night out. He and some friends decided to go to the theater after a few drinks of course. When they arrived the place was magnificent and full of people. There was basically energy in the atmosphere, very uptempo. When you go out for excitment, especially after drinking, you want that energy, noise, lights and people that feel the same way you do. That keeps the high going for all parties interested. The music seemed of more pleasure to Franklin evans than the play. Apparently the play depicted a society of people who are well to do, that have the best of manners and mannerisms, High Society at its best. Franklin evans found it nauseating, as would have Whitman. The fact that the audience applauded thunderously made it worse, to know that people enjoyed watching the ridicule of this type of society turned Franklins stomach. But he smiled anyway so as not to affend his fellowman. I don’t think Walt Whitman would have just smiled. He probably would have commented in the paper the next day about the whole affair, from the ambiance to the people and the acting. Franklin Evans was obviously not expecting what he saw. I question what he might of hoped to see. But I know it wasn’t that.