New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1893-08-16

home newspaper. TheChicago Fair Hip
Dance is not ike the slip Dance
which Paris and London have seen. It
I is Il s.Hip Dance" exaggerated and car
ried to an extreme.
Il never saw anything that approached
it in groveling filth, even in the vllest
dens of New York city" said Anthony
Comstock. Il blush with shame when
ever [ think of it. remember how [
sat there and saw it for the first time,
overcome with confusion, almost doubt-
ing my eyes, wanting to cover my face
with my hands and rushlout as hundreds
of other innocent victims have fe.t But
there is almost no way Of getting out of
those places after you once get in until
the vile performance is over
Anthony Comstock covered his face
with his hands again, so vivid was the
recollection.
"It is all horrible in its vulgarity. There
is not shadow of art, or grace, or skill
or entertainment to apologize for it. All
this time the mob of loafers drawn by
the exhibition crowd down IN the front
chairs and make vile remarks and jests
about the woman and what she is doing.
She works herself up to a disgusting cli-
max, and then falls upon the stage COM
pletely exhausted"
Anthony Comstock illustrated some Of
the motions of the s'Hip Dance" as he
spoke. ... r
"Did you see any women and children
in the audience?'' was asked.
Good Women Horrifed 4
eyes, and heard that they wan der
into these awful traps by the hundreds
every day. Yes, saw innocent young
country girls and pure-minded wives go
in and sit down. As the shameless 'hip-
dance women began their performance
these innocents would look on with start
led amazement. Then they were horri-
fed, and would turn crimson and cover
their faces with their hands. Some would
brave the jeering crowds of loafers and
run out. Others did not dare, for the
audience sits facing the entrance, and
they had to sit there in their shame all
through the spectacle"
Anthony Comstock said that the wom-
en- who aid the 'hi p dance' in one of
the three places were much more lightly
clad than the average burlesque artist
Those in the ether two wore short shirts,
with shoulders and arms bare.
''What will you do?" was asked. .....
II Cont want to do anything if can
help it. want to let the fair managers
do everything themselves. I believe
they will. Possibly the managers of
these hideous resorts have some protec-
ton, for they make great deal of money
and have to pay certain per cent to the
fair treasury. There are some who are
ooing everything to make the fair a fin
ancial success, but [ can't believe that
they would countenance that. If they
don't abolish the wild performances, 1
am willing to make a few affidavits. It
is my duty. 1t is what the Society for
the Suppression of Vice wants me to do.
There is law enough to shut off every
such exhibition which corrupts the morals
and minds of our women and children,
Anthony Comstock has written letter
to President Higinbotham describing all
he saw in the Midway Plaisance, II
supplements the interview between the
two last Wednesday.
81 deem it my duty to Law aside all
other work till this crowning evil is
overthrown,'' said Anthony Comstock,
as he got out of his chair and walked
down to the reporter.
The danse du ventre, or the uHin
Dance was brought into fame by the
Mohammedan girl, La Belle Fatima, at
the Paris exposition. It is carried on in
the Turkish and Algerian parts of the
i { - y K
Midway Plaisance, the Cairo street and
other sections. Even the Orientals ad-
nit that none but men should witness.
It, and express much surprise that thea
ter doors should be thrown open to
women and children. Director General
Davis has promised to abolish all Of the
danse du ventre antics this week.
A man in this state or Iowa, we forget
which, suicided last week. He had been
left q fortune by father who advertised.
This man conducted the old m ans busii-
ness but tfelt that ad dvertisino wasn,t ~ 4