St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-16
GIRLS IN TIGHTS.
Another Correspondent Backs
Senator McHale and His Bill.


Your correspondent "a. Co. is so
familiar with ancient lore that he will
no doubt remember the observation of a
famous Roman. who wondered how one
soothSayer could look another in the
face without laughing should like to
be present when A. G.. had finished his
article and was gazing solemly into the
eyes of another A. q. Modern sophistry
can go no farther than in the assertion
that ITO the pure all things are pure:''
that naked men and women are in fact
but visions of aesthetic beauty, and that
all who oppose such views are gross
and naterialistic. Indeed. what could
be more ill-chOSen than a reference
10 the opinions OF the Greeks as to I'M
draped bodies. or the views of Emerson
and Margaret Fuller on the balleto BY
A. G.'S own admission the Greeks re
garded all natural features and proc
esses as pure, ana i'll a measure holy.
Indecent exposure" was to them an
almost unknown OffenSe. 1t may be, as
our sOcialistic friend would intimate
that modern civilization" Is all wrong.
and that the Greeks and the Japanese
are our true models Much can certain
~ be said on his side. But so long as.
in the privacy of the family circle, au
exposure" even partial, brings the
blush 70 our cheek, how can an extended
exposure before miscellaneous crowd
of strangers be purity itself? And if
there is any one so confiding as to be-
lieve that Ito the pure all things are
pure, let them consider the feelings of,
let Us say, a dear sister, on be-
holding, some fine SUNNI er'S day. q
policeman on Bridge square with his
clothes in pawn, Yet our sister is in
lnNnc "a fnl
member of 1.-The finest is generally a
well-developed man. But-you will say.
But-what? Simply, we are modern
Americans and not ancient Greeks. EX-
posure is to us a reality and not name.
With Us. ''tO the pure all things are not
pure. In the mention of Ralph Waldo
and of Margaret we find singular at
tempt to diSproVe rule by citing the
executions. Are such purely intellect
ual temperamentS examples of the COM
mon run of humanity? Are our theaterS
chiefly patronized by Emersons and
Margaret Fullers? As to the artistic
principle: When demure young per-
ssOn in flowing black skirts kicks vio-
slently and repeatedly at tambourine
held high above her head. is this free,
natural and harmonious action? Is this
Z the poetry of motiOn?'' Ii it is
snOt, why do the venerable artists
'in the front row fail TO hiss such
palpable violation of the canons of ar
tistic movement? Where is their 'art
feeling that they can encore the fair
kicker with such marked vehemence?
And. really, though my observation may
be defective. are the majority OF the
scrOWd who worship the skirt dance1
ztte Amazon chorus" and the living
statuary" people of promo unced arts
tic temperament? Is their conversa-
ton touching the charms of Lillian
Russell or of May Fisk's blondes redo
ilent with the chaSte ;pSthetcisn of
Phidias and of Michael Angelo? How
many of them could be hired to pass an
hour in the inspection of the original
Venus of PraXieles? 1t would almost
appear that one must be educated down
to this passionate yearning for ''un-
dlaped loneliness" and, that the more
ignorant and vulgar citizen is, the
more exclusively he patronizes the ex-
hlbitions Of beautiful models" No
reflection whatever is intended
upon the theatrical women. who
themselves are the victims of
this perverted art" Nearly all will
admit for nearly all ire virtuOus) that
they assume these duties and these cos
tunes from professional necessity and
against private inclination. Reform in
such practice is desirable, but wholly
improbable. They are but minor symp-
toms of an extended malady. At least.
however. we can be honest in our state
ments. We can say it is bad but might
be much worse; that though certainly
naughty, it is nice. But, in the name
of suffering common sense, don't don't
attempt to convince patient public
that, solely to crafty the almost re-
ligious aestheticism of a neighboring
city, coterie of coy maids troop forth
each night who wear timid look, Il
bath-tOwel and piece of soap.
G. ". W.
ST. Paul. March Is.