Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-08-29
NEW YORK.
The Drama Depraved Moral Tastes
The Theatrical season.
Publisher and Proprietor,

The Drama-Depraved Nor al Tastes
The Theatrical season.
Special cor. st, Louis Times.
NEW YORK, August "a.
There is a play now running at
the Union Square Theater which
all the critics agree in pronouncing
grossly indecent; in fact, the most
libidinous and salacious play that
has yet been produced in any
reputable theater in New York. Its
title is "Pink Dominoes," and its
story is one of moral lOoseness from
beginning to end. Well, although
this play is presented in the midst
OF the dog days, when people do
not usually like to go to the theater
at all, the Union Square is well
filled every night to see it. And
not, mind you, by the demi.monde
and the fast young men about town.
On the contrary, the audiences are
made up chiefly Of men and women
who claim to stand wellin society
respectable people, as the phrase
goes-who would be greatly offend
ed if their moral character was i'm
pugned, even in the slightest de-
gree. Women who plume them
selves not little on strict pro-
priety, and men who probably
average" as their neighbors, 60 to
see this play and almost reyel in it.
twenty years ago no manager Of a
respectable theater would have had
courage to produce such a play.
Now it is not only presented with
out a blush, but hundreds of young
women, some of them unmarried,
laugh over it nightly without think
ing of Il blush. They do not even
lift their fans to shut out scenes
which no truly modest woman
would look upon. 1t may possibly
be social progress that has brought
the woman OF the period up to this
point of moral hardihood, but,
whatever it is, she certainly is none
the better for its influence.
But truce to preaching. 1t is
dull work at best in newspaper,
and more of it might pail. Having
spoken Of the stage, perhaps | may
rs well give paragraph or so to
the general theatrical situation.
Considering the almost unbroken
dullnesS that still prevails in bust
ness and the social world, it is
somewhat odd that the stage is in a
state of activity all around. The
Union Square has been open a
week, and, as already noted, is doing
quite well, full houses attending
every night. Wallack's was opened
Saturday night, to present Lydia
Thompson and her blonde bur-
lesquers to Gothamites once more,
and the Gothamites reciprocated
by giving Lydia and her B. BIS a
hearty welcome. The troupe will
occupy Wallack's stage till the be-
| ginning of the regular season, IN
The early part of October, when a
new play by Bopcicault will be
produced. "Ah Sin " still runs ut
the Fifth Avenue, but with only
moderate success. DAILY announces
tIle opening of the regular season
! Cor Seplembor 4. He will "inau-
gurate' il with . new drama of
| his own, which he Oalls H0pr
City--A Peoples Play" and no
promises a number of attractions
through the season. Jefferson is
to appear there after bis three years
absence, and Fanny Davenport Will
also flash across the Fifth-ayenue
foOtllghts as a star Of the first mag
nitude. The Broadway was opened
last night under its new manage
ment (that Of John @. Duff, for
merly Of the 0lympic) and Joaquin
Millers maiden play, eThe
Dantes,' was submitted to the test
of a first representation. The Eagle
Theater, which has been closed
ever since Anna Dickinson packed
up her traps and left in high
dudgeon, will again throw open its
doors on Monday night to all who
want to enjoy good laugh 1t Eler-
ence's Judge Slote and his lively
wirc's Mrs Gilhory. "Baby" con-
tiuues to run, though rather weakly,