The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-29
MAD ORGIES IN NEW YORK.
The Masked Balls and their Shameless
Revciry-Flaunting Vice Supreme.

bal nlds0Ues which CAME of In that city just be-
fore Christmas at which the worst features wit
messed al similar affairs in Paris abounded, and
to the credit OF the journals generally, they de-
nouncc these orgies unstntingly. The first was
held at the French Theatre, by party calling
themselves the "Societe des Balls dArtistes Fran
cas,'' n name to which, it appears, they have no
right, as there Is a society Of the same name in
the city, composed Of highly respectable class OF
foreign residents. The Herald says:
As the company were set down at the entrance
OF the theatre, there would be storm OF com
ments. "She's buster" "Shoo Fly" ZIP
the wink to Cinderella" Every fresh arrival
served as new text for various comments, and
old friends met and exchanged the mystic sign
from beneath the mask. About the doorwaydhe
crowds were thinner, anu the dlscipllne-thls Is
the name that the sefconstituted placemen
who received tickets would term it-degenerated
into an outrage on courtesy and coarse parod ny
on decency.
editors city government officers noted artists,
merchants, men OF family transcendentasts
and moody dreamers. The gay clement was III
command. There was little or no drinking going
on in the building, and the managers announced
in blue and white "any attempt at disturbance
or lewdness will be rcpresscd with the most eX-
trcmc severity; and sufficient force Is provided
to warrant quetnesS and obedience TO laws"
People palcd at the mandate.
The dancers were actresses, the highest class
Of the denti-mOnde and their galants, mostly in
mask and often in domino A glance disclosed
that the prevailing toilets were legs. The statu-
esque representations made at every turn were
eagerly followed by thousands OF staring eyes.
One of the most attractlye-tO I'll but ministerial
eyes--was the figure OF one masked fair one wh0,'
II plane were passed through her waist, all the
lower portion Of her outlines would be true 10 un-
dressed nature, save perhaps the covering OF q
thin veil, which, symboliZng hypocrisy. was.
doubtless for that reason ironically employed;
above her waist, closc-fltting garment was
drawn tight to her bust, and amid shower OF
spangles she tossed her blonde locks and deigned
to notice some OF her particular friends By SLY
wink.
The other affair, which is said TO have been of q
still more offensive character was got up by La
Cercle des Bellies DANES de rliarmonie," and as
they were not allowed to occupy Allemanla Hall,
adjourned to the Everett Rooms. The costumes
are said to have "been light and airy, but the
room being sufficiently heated, no apprehensions
were entertained lest the fair creatures should
catch cold" At midnight there was high revel,
but no disturbance had then taken place.
From the comments Of the New York press it
would seem that the scenes were most disgust
ing ut these shameless exhibitions. The Times
says:
The theatre was the resort Of the scum Of the
earth. Infamous creatures endeavored to surpass
each other in outraglng every sentiment OF de-
ccncy. And the spectators were citizens calling
themselves respectable. There were civic onclals
present, aldermen and others, whose conduct Is
wretches whose obscene revels had attracted
| them to tAe place. They seized one woman and
flung her from the box. Her thigh was broken
In the fall. The police were appealed 10. Dut de
clared that they dared not meddle with the occu
| pants OF the box, for they were all members OF
! the city government.
Another journal speaks of the scene rs being
"Quite UNPARALLELED In coarse indecency and runl-
| allism by any similar public entertainment ever
held in this city. The lewdncss which was dis
| PLAYED was far too outrageous and repulSive Tor
description in the columns OF any decent neyspa-
per. But by far the worst feature OF the riotous
| occasion was the brutal treatment bestowed on
the frail and scantily dressed females in attend
| anee In which large posse OF deputy sherlirs
| took prominent part. These officials occupied
| proscenium boxes, and behaved themselves in the
most hardened, not to say demonlac manner
The World says: The crowd was manifestly
made up OF the two SUI ge7e'fS types OF character
| which in this city have received the appellation
| of ".oafcrsr and 0unter.umpers." There were
| about hundred masked women present TO pro-
baby five hundred masked and unmasked men;
! the women were dressed III fancy costumes,
| nearly all selected with view to expose as
! much OF the person rs possible by far the
greater number wore trunk hose ana feshlngs;
! but many were attirel In the short skirts OF the
! ballet. When sufficient liquor nad been SWal-
| lowed so as TO produce recklessness, woman
was caught up and tossed bodily into the pro.
sccnIum box, where she is caught and dragged
| by half dozen brutes In over the Sill and iurnl
| ture in such a manner rs to disarranSe as mnch
| as possible what small vestige OF ralment therc
| il on her This feat Is highly enjoyed, and an
other follows a young woman, rather pretiy
and dressed in long skirts, Is throwp up and falls
| back into the arms Of the crowd, who turn her
| over envelOp her head In her own skirts and
| again toss her up temporarily denuded. Thc
| more exactly this proceeding outrages decency
| the beltcr II il liked. The crowd, now drunken
| with liquor and its own beastlineSS, whrS r0und
and round in mad ecstacics: The painting wo-
men, in the dclirium OF excitement their eyes
flashing with the sudden abnormal light OF phy-
| steal clation bound and lq7p like tgresses-
! they have lost the last sense or prudence, ana
safety. The can-can at length commences, but 1t
Is no longer a dance, but series OF Indecent eX-
posurcs and tumultuous orge.
The Journals nearly all call loudly for reform in
this haunting vice. The Express says:
One of the az it would appear, inelaceable
stains that opera boure has left in its train Is the
sanction given to public eSposltlons OF lnuecency.
| Five years ago scenes such as we're last night
| transacted in q respectable theatre were cohnucu
| To the dens and slums OF vice-hld themselves
| away in cellars and dark, rccklng sailors dance
houses Now vice haunls its braZen features IN
the face of society," and society accepts the haunt
ng in good nature smiles at VICE, III iaca' .nNeS G
| her hy the hand and calls III the strong arm ol
! the law TO give her aid and protection Ill plying
! her wickcdness. And but few dissenting voices
are heard. 49,. .
called, were Introduced into the City OF New YORK
The public was somewhat startled NJ ilrst, at tne
| braZcu clrrontcry OF the thing. but then thcy
/ were new anu ulIIUNp, anu 81 tiCy "SiC iNPSte
c( Repeated, too, under the sanction ol tile law,
! for here were biz, stalwart policemen, ready NJ
any emergency 10 quel as tne circular WHICH
| was circulated last night naivcly says, "any AT
| temnt at disturbance or lewdncss' For Il Driel
| time all goes well The throngs oI painted cour-
! tryaus DISPLAY their charms win Il laVlshnesS
| thli becomes disgusting, and clustering around
| Them may be seen young men about Town, lOulE-
| rrs artists LAWYERS, gamblers, all mixed t0gclh-
! or i'm Il heterogeneous mass. Later the cham
! n1,rnr hrcins To have it5 effect Ihere Is ne
shrIer of Il woman-shc Is wildly drunk, mat II
| nil carry her utii a sculllc now, AMI man IL
| led or from the lO0r, his face mass Oh o!0ou.
Yell, and rat calls are heard from every quarter
of The housc-somc poor intoxicated loollS eXc
hjhiiur herself TO glOa'ing eyes in the maZc5 0l
| ihc car.can. And so II goes on, un,ll the rcVel
lere. s.ckcned 10 safety with their deha"chery
sink ous into the darkness oi the night, tlc
lights are put out, ami New crE mas lad anOther
stain placed upon its fair escutchc0n.
Ii The officials OF New York are dcrclict in this
matter, there is but one agency and one mode by
which to crush out so grca: and ultimately de-
strc,ye an cv.l-and that is FOR The press TO take
hold earnestly, vigorously and unsparingly, eX-
posing and denoancing all who in any way give
these shameless moral monstrostlcs the least
couptenancc II is cunning device of those
WHO wish 10 make money and flourish on these
lcprosics to induce officials, mayors, aldermen,
councilmcn, police boards, ana even judges to
visit them per invitation, and under special privi-
lcgcs 1t Is thus they design to gain inpunlty Tor
their exhibitions. Should il prove necessary, tho
49,. ,nf1 rng = n