Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-13
KEW YORK IN A MORAL ASPECT.
Disappearance Of the Old-time Dance and
Concert Dives.
Mem YORK sun

Disappearance of the Old-time Dance and
Concert Dives.
Mem York sun
All the old dives are gone. New York
City is more than ever a surprise TO
men from Boston, Philadelphia, Chlca-
90, New Orleans and other cities which
have heard that New York was reeking
with open wickedness and filled with
all-uight resorts. They come on busi-
ness or pleasure only TO meet with
great disappointment when they get
detective or a cabmsn TO show them
around the town at night There are no
wicked public sights at night TO speak OF.
Eight or ten years ago there were
number Of dance houses and dives OF
various kinds along the Bowery,
Blocker street, around Chatham square
aud upon Sixth avenue. all OF them
are now closed. There are few new
ones, which are mildly existing, Ike
the dance hall down IN the basement on
the north side of Bond street and the
dance hall back from the street at IA
Second avenue, but these are harmless
and innocent, with as little open inde-
cency or wickedness as at Patrlarchs'
ball. There are plenty OF things to be
seen around New York at night, just as
there are plenty Of interesting sights In
the day time, and there is about as
much visible wickedness at one time as
| at another.
A long list these old-time dives make.
There was Billy McGlory's Armory Hall
down on the south side Of Hester street,
oil the Bowery. In the old days, which
was so firmly established and doing sueh
2 recognized business that the people OF
the neiehborhood looked on 1t as they
would at factory or big saloon.
They we're all surprised when McGlory
was sent TO the leland and his place
was closed. He had rules for the man
aQement of his place, one OF which was
that no one should be robbed within
the premises. What took place outside
in the street he was not responsible for,
bnt inside the door man was safe, and
If he was robbed McGlory would COM
pei restitution.
Bowery dives abounded in those days.
There was the Planters Hotel, with It's
hack room and small orchestra. IL was
lively place at two or three in the
morning, and especially lively when
proprietor Condry would lose his tem-
per. The Slide, on BECKER street, on
South Fifth avenue, was as fashionable
place as ArmorY Hall. There were
many curiOsities there which uptown
visitors went TO see. The next house
was connected with the Slide, and the
orgies took place there. A few blocks
away Frank Stevenson had his big
dance hall, known as the Stable. from
its location over a stable. A few steps
from Grace Church, was the Golden
Horn, Oh Fourth avenue. Further
over, on the north side Of Fifth street,
east of the Bowery, was the most In
famous dance hall In New York.
place so vile that no woman, however
low, wonid 60 there.
These places were pretty much OF a
type. Like viTulent disease which
has grown mild through successive in-
EQUATIONS, these old dives have died
out, aud only the basement dance ball
remains. The successor TO the old dive
is rather stupid The casual visitor
will De bored II be sits there over ten
minutes. With the exception Of selling
beer after o'clock aud Of giving what
is called a concert OF and on during the
| night without a concert license, there
f. 10 lawbreaking CT any kind. Even
Of these places only few remain. The
Bond street place. the only one the ay-
/ erage uptown csbman knows about. Is
/ Gown in the basement Of one Of the
! old-time fashionable houses on Bond
| street. The front Of the basement
IS dark and It is not an easy thing TO
| find the right door. To got in ycu 90
down the basement steps into the area.
! and through a door under high stoop,
| and back through the hallway into q
large square room. This room has a
dancing aoor with chairs around IL and
| 4 piano In the corner. NaltZes are
| vlayed on the piano. AID the young
men and young women dance while the
musician plays. Between the dances 8
Young man stands By the piano and
sings about the vioiets thas grew on
/ her grave and Ike songs, which coca
slonaiiy move TO tears young woman
who has had too much beer. There Is
no clamor OF fascination or temptation
50 far as the injGry such place does
except to the general health OF the peo-
Die who go there and sit up late. II
does not amount 70 anything.
It was not so long since dance house
was run in the snb-cellar OF building
a block from the District Attorney
Office and there were two dives within
8 block Of Police Headquarters. Now
there is no open wickediess down town