The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-26
BELLIGERENT BLONDES.

Lydia Thompson, the ''shoyel-Nosed bark Of
the Sea Of Vice." et. all, VS.. the Chicag"
"Times.o
The following article from the Chicago Times,
entitled 1.-THE Blondes in Nutshell" )" was the
melting cause of the grand combined attack of
the blondes and their male creatures on Mr..
Story, the editor of the Times, and In which
ARRAY the combination came off second best.
Unless the entire community is mistaken in Its
opinion, this is about the last of Lydia. She is
effectually ''played:"-
II there is any subject entirely repulsive to the
public, 1t must be that which forms the refrain OF
this article; and IL further reference is made to it,
IL is done in the same manner and for the same
reason that gambling and prostitution are discussed
in the columns OF thus newspsper-that the evil may
heRdway has already been made towards the ac-
complishment OF this purpose, and we venture to
will be spared the disgrace OF the worst possible
form OF the leg drama, or, If not, that such exhib-
tiOns will fail TO secure the attendance OF any re-
spectacle man, as they have already driven away
every respectable woman.
The public may not yet fully appreciate the justice
OF the crusade inaugurated by the Times against this
abandoned crowd. The present troupe have not yet
played In an American city, unless 1t be in New
Orleans OF Sunday nights where they have not been
stencil in the nostrls of the reputable community.
In New York, the women have been openly de-
nounced 10y the newspapers for their lewd demeanor
in public in st. Louis, they played to empty benches,
the press forewarning the people of that city con-
cerning the character OF the exhibition; in In
pliabe public, they met the same opposition,
grounded upon the same sense OF decency. II it
were in Chicago alone, or from the Chicago Times
alone, that such disgust manifested, there might
be some to think that the party and their
performances had been misrepresented and abused {;
but when the same treatment Is meted out to a
greater less extent everywhere, there cannot be
any reason to doubt that the blame rests entirely
with the troupe, and that it is really as disreputable
as it has ever been represented to be-
That this batch OF women should make an appeal
to the public under these circumstances, is simply
| tnqultnQ to the DubiC Judgment That thpV have
made an unnecessary and lewd exhibition OF their
persons such rs would not probably be tolerated by
the police in any bawuy house; that they have made
use OF broad low, and degrading language, sucn
men OF any self-respect would repudate even In the
absence of ladies; that their entertainments have
been mere vehicles for the exhibition of coarse
women and the use OF dlsreputabie language, unre-
| eved by any wit or humor; these things and much
more can be proved by any one OF respectabity who
has attended any OF their performances. These are
the charges that have been made, and they now
reiterated. The women against whom they are
made have male protectors with them, who, IL they
were sensible OF any injustice, woHld take imme-
diate and direct means for vindcatIon and retribu-
| tion, instead of making any weak and senseless ap-
| pc ais 10 the public in the name OF women These
| women must either concede the justice OF the
| charges or change their protectors-one OF whom,
styling himself manager, allowed himself to be pub
licly whipped by newspaper man whom he had in
| suited in New York, and afterwards whningly ad-
| vertised his disgrace before police Justice.
That the people have become pretty fully aware OF
| the ndecency of the crowd now giving their peculiar
entertainments at the Opera House was prsved by
| the fact that very general distribution OF free
| tickets on Monday night only half-hlled the house
and that there were just thirtyeight women in the
audience, not one Of whom was recognized as be-
| longing to respectable and intelligent society. The
| Tribune respectable and influential journal that
could not Afford to misrepresent matters any more
| than the Times commented upon the attendance
| and performance Of Monday night as follows:-The
| audience, it is said, "was made up almost exeu.
| sively OF men, and certain parts OF the house were
| quite literally 'papered.' There q painful at
tempt now and then at applause, but as whole the
| piece fell fiat and dead Chicago audiences are
famous for standing good deal Of imposition but
how long they will stand such stupid stun as this bur
esque is made Of in its present orm remains to be
seen. The piece is purely and simply fraud, and
| the hackneyed, dawdling manner in which the
blondes drag themselves through 1t is only unutter
ably silly" The course OF the Times has had the de
sired effect in waking up respectable people to the
| duty of avoiding the Opera House so long as this
style of entertainment shall prevail there. AS to the
| present disreputabe party occupying this house
! they can secure immunity from just exposure II
| Chicago only when they
''Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And silently steal away"