The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-24
ALL ABOUT WOMEN.

called Leg DrHinRs
FTOpl Pdckard's Monthly for July
There were always great evils attaching TO
the theatrical profession 1 have always de-
plored them deeply. Some of them have
made the theme of previous magazine arucies.
No one who has read my articles VIII say tnat
i have not earnestly defended the theatrical
profession, in spite of these evils, at tne same
time that 1 said honestly, how loathed
them. In this feeling of loathing have ex-
r,ressed tbe sentiments of n large class of
neonle who were like myself, bred to the
atoGa but who could not shut their eyes to
tbeevils which have cursed it. Within afew
wears these evils have grown to appalling di-
mensions Decency and virtue have been
crowded from the ranks by indecency and
licentiousness. A coarse rage for nudity has
spread in all our theatres until it has come to
be the ruling force in them. Seeing this truth,
l have shuddered at it, Seeing its effects, /
have mourned over them. In every place
where / have spoken of the stage 1
have denounced this encroaching shame, but
have always coupled with denunciation of it
defense of the drama. At the Womans
Suffrage Convention in New York, on May 1,
1 denounced this thing again; but, as l was
not speaking at length upon this subject, but
only touched upon it in passing, and by way
of illustration. | did not, usual, defend the
drama At once there rose so wild yell as
all the fends from heaven that fell were
furious at my course. Certain portions of the
press attacked me. and accused me of SANDER
ing the profession to which 1 once belonged
Anonymous letters poured in upon me at the
office of the Authors Union in a sort of flood
vilifying me, ,upbraiding me, covering me
with course and gross revilings. / was asked
to explain such base conduct. 1t was de-
manded that 1 should take back my rash and
reckless statements.s l was requested to re-
member that l had once been very glad to
11f4 4l,o si,ao1
dared 1 say couldadvise no honorable woman
to turn to the stage for support?
Turning the matter over in my mind care
fully, L have come to the conclusion that 1
have in my hands an opportunity for doing a
great deal of good by the simple course Of
making my defense. And l conclude also
that my testimony in this matter has peculiar
weight as coming from one who is of dra-
matte family, and may be presumed to speak
from close and immediate observation, if not
from experience. This is true. Though for
years l have not played part in a theatre,
have not been altogether separated from asso-
citation with its people. The ties which bind
me to these people are strong and close. 1
never expect to sever them wholly; but they
shall not prevent me from giving my allegi-
ance to the cause of morality, virtue, honor,
and integrity, though, as consequence of
this, the theatrical heavens fall.
They curse of the dramatic profession, for
which editors, critics, authors, and managers
struggle to find fitting name, is my general
theme in this article; which is, at the same
time, my defense against the charge of SLAM
dering the dramatic profession.
What the Irj5uHe calls the Dirty Drama,
the World the Nude Drama, the Times
the Leg Drama, and other journals various
other expressive adjective styles of drama,
call the Leg Business, simply.
Does any one call the caperings of tight
rope performer the Aerial Dramatic tricks
of an educated hog the Porcine Drama?
There is a term in use among ''profes-
sionals' which embraces all sorts of perform
ances in its comprehensiveness to wit:-The
Show Business
In this term is included every possible thing
which is of the nature of an entertainments
with these three requirements:-1. A place of
gathering. >. An admission fee. 3. An
audience.
This remarkably comprehensive term covers
with the same mantle the tragic Forrest, when
he plays; the comic } ierson, when he plays
the eloquent Beecher. when he lectures; and
the sweet-voiced Parepa, when she sings. 1t
also covers with the same mantle the wander
ing juggler, who balances feathers on his
nose; the gymnast, who whirls on a trapeze;
the danseuse, who interprets the poetry of
motion; the clown, who cracks stale Jokes in
the ring; the performer on the tight-rope, the
negro minstrel the giant and the dwarf. the
learned pig, and the educated monkey. There
fore, it includes the clog-dancing creature
with yellow hair and indecent costume.
All these things being included in the show
business, you see it is almost as wide a world
as the outer world. 1t must be a very wide
world which should include Mr.. Beecher with
the learned pig.
1t must be very wide world which should
include Rachel, Ristori, Janauschek, and
Lander with the clog-dancing creature of in
decent action and attire.
But by as good right as you would call
Mr.. Beecher and the learned pig performers
in the intellectual sphere you would call
Janauschek and the clog-dancing creature in
terpreters of the drama
How, then, does it happen that, in attack
ing these yellow-haired nudities, l am COM
PEELED to say that they disgrace the dramatic
profession?
In this wise:-These creatures occupy the
temples of the drama; they perform in CON
junction with actors and actresses, on the
same stage, before the same audience, in the
same hour They are made legitimate men,
bers of our theatrical companies, and take
part in those nondescript performances which
are called burlesques spectaces, what you
will. They carry off the chief honors of the
hour their names occupy the chief places on
the pllls; and, as | said in my speech at the
equal-rghts meeting at Steinway Hall, they
win the chief prizes in the theatrical world.
A woman who has not ability enough To
rank as passable walking lady" in a good
theatre, on a salary of twenty-five dollars a
week, can strip herself naked, and be thus
qualified to go upon the stage of two-thirds
of our theatres at a salary Of one hundred
~l,lIa IL