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

它最初是院俚语， 指是与合法（相对于杂耍或滑稽表演）院相关事物。

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，讲下流轶事，或在法国院看滑稽杂耍，然后欢快地重复时，每个人都称赞和鼓励他。