The theatre--that's the word." "Take her to the variety show at the Orpheum.

There's a good show there this week; you'll have to take Mrs.Sieppe, too, of course," he added.
Marcus was not sure of himself as regarded certain proprieties, nor, for that matter, were any of the people of the little world of Polk Street.
The shop girls, the plumbers' apprentices, the small tradespeople, and their like, whose social position was not clearly defined, could never be sure how far they could go and yet preserve their "respectability." When they wished to be "proper," they invariably overdid the thing.
It was not as if they belonged to the "tough" element, who had no appearances to keep up.

Polk Street rubbed elbows with the "avenue" one block above.

There were certain limits which its dwellers could not overstep; but unfortunately for them, these limits were poorly defined.
They could never be sure of themselves.

At an unguarded moment they might be taken for "toughs," so they generally erred in the other direction, and were absurdly formal.