It started as theater slang for things associated with legitimate (as opposed to vaudeville or burlesque) theater.

它最初是院俚语， 指的是与合法（相对于歌舞滑稽表演）院相关的。

When, however, he was reading novels, relating indecent anecdotes or seeing droll vaudevilles in the French theatre, and afterward merrily repeated them, everybody praised and encouraged him.

但是，当他读小说，讲下流的轶，在法国院看滑稽的歌舞，然后欢快地重时，每个人都称赞和鼓励他。