The sun., 1894-10-21
"pRUDES ON THE PR0WL."
LANNON'S TITLE ron THE CRUSADE
OF THE PURIsTs.

~. Proyos.d Rsatrietious Regarded 40 So
Attack On rubiie Libertier-Ths News
ps,er. Flooded with Protests - Mrs.
.r,,t. Leader OF the Crusade, Is che
Most Ab--ed wor,sn In EnSiand-A Talk
with One OF tbe Leaders OF the De~i-
Mouae-John Bru FisbberRssted by
Mr.. Bay.rd's OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the
ser,ptures I.to "Comror LnrGusge" ge"--A
Dangerous swindier Driven Ont OF italy
The Princess or wales Trieyeiing.
LONDON. Oct. 2o.-London, en- masse, is vastly
more Interested In the matter Of domestic
morals than in the ominous events which
threaten To make deep impression on Euro
mean history. The Prudes on the Prowl" cru
snde which began ten DAYS ago has developed
into a burning issue Of deeper concern than any
parkhurst or Lexow committee doings In New
York. Slow going everyday London has sp-
parently made up its mind that the restrictions
which IL has been attempted to Impose upon
places Of amusement are an attack on public
liberties which II is necessary 10 resent to no
matter what extremity. II Is difficult to give an
idea OF the intensity OF the popular feeling dis
played on both sides OF tho question.
The Dtay Telegraph, the most widely
circulated newspaper in London. prints a page
Of letters daily on the subject and announces
chat this Is only tenth Of the correspondence
sent In. None Of the newspapers has been able
10 ignore the question, and some of the litera-
ture on the subject in the public prints is sim
ply amazing. It is unequalled In quantity and
in the sentiments expressed by Mr.. Stead's
Maiden Tribute" which made q worldwide
sensation ten years ago.
The question Is beginning to be clearly defined.
". hall rlol ka ao1
Even the most extreme purist aRitators do not
undertake that herculean task. The issue really
IA; shall the social evil obtain even tacit on
cial recognition In London 2" All of the purists
say No. All London. II one may judge by the
newspapers. says Yes. 1t is universally admitted
that vice haunts itself more boldly. more Of
fensiyely, in the streets of London than any
where else on oarth. Those who are opposing
the renewal Of the Licenses Of those music halls
which are frequented by the demi-monde make
no attack upon this public evil because 1t Is not
recognized BY law. They demand, In effect
that the women frequenting licensed music
halls shall, In some manner, be driven to join
the army on the pavement. II Is on this point
that the battle RACES. Some of the opinions ex-
pressed are highly interesting. This is from T.
p. O'Connor:
II object TO this gospel Of death against fallen
women In the interests of society Etlarge. Make
these poor wrstches houseless, homeless, otarv-
Ing shivering pariahs, and that death you deal
with such lavish hands on them they will nay
back on society. This idea that you tend to
diminish vice and weaken its effects by making
Il loathsome, outcast and diseased Is one Of the
profoundest and most tragic mistakes that the
rulers Of men and women can make. Many
generations of human beings, stunted, ansmio.
neurotic, scorbutic. will have to pass away
as fruits Of this hideous misconception
of the facts of life and human nature. Really,
Il Is about time that men and women of sense
should have n word to say on the tendencies Of
our times. and. above all. on the tendencies Of
certain sections Of the Iibsrai party. ws<Sfe
steadily getting 10 point ridiculous enough to
raHks Us the laughing stock Of Europe. and
tragic enough to make the jud.cous weep"
Jerome X. jerome says: IAN that these mud
dlers have done Is 10 insist that drains shall
be closed up, and the sewage of the city allowed
IN foad its thorouyhfnres. The evil exists. So
cicty can either regulate u, and force IL TO keep
within tho shadow OF its own corners, or II can
leave It to haunt its face under every ges lamp
in the street. To suggest that the regulation Of
vico Is to he shriekcd at immoral IL u leave IL
a FREQ hand"
The leader Of the assaiants on the music halls
is Mrs. Ormiston Chant, who. to-day. Is the
most abused woman In London. One newspaper
p,ints large picture of her in evening dress
with the apparent implication that a decollet9
costume is inconsistent with her crusade. She
Is not so fanatical Is charged. for she says In
~ interview:
when music hall ballets offend It is because
oi the motive that is suggested. I don't object
10 tights. know When you dance vigorously
you must not be impeded by clinging petticoats
ablut the ankles OF even about the knecs. am
not one OF those who think II q shame TO have
legs. II is the obvious suggestiveness which
makes the thing evil. When you know that
tights are bnt a medium whereby the bodies Of
women are exposed for the inspection of the
libertine and roue. then the thing Is bad and
wrong II Is all very well 10 say that ballet girls
think nothing of 1t. II they do not. they have
lost something which humanity cannot AFFORD TO
lose"
Perhaps the most extraordinary Of all the
weeks literature on the subject is an interview
with leading member OF the demi-monde,
who visits the Empire Theatre almost nightly.
printed In the Telegraph She says;
Because l don't happen TO wear a wedding
Eing and don't see the morality OF selling my
body and soul TO man don't even care for. In
return for Q high position. wealth. and all the
rest of IL, am to be downtrodden into the mire
md compelled 10 face an early death by prowling
about Piccsdilly until the small hoursf What
y
outcast and spoken of fcontemptuously as fallen
sisterf am perfectly honest, well conducted.
and. though l say 1t, lady. Then why drive
me into the gutterf Why oblige me TO become
. wretehsd slave OF some mercenary taskmastsF
and swell the dreadful class which Sir John
Bridge talked about the other dAyT Let there
be no doubt about 1t. say my calling is Just as
necessary to the world as any other. But am
not begging for your sympathy. All that ask
is To he let alone to enjoy my freedom and not be
made good against my will.
"IfI am a social blot you mustn't blame me.
am what l have been made. have not got
time to wo-ry Il out why nature made me a
woman, nor do blame men. Ii Is very absurd
to hold them responsible for my frailty. lwon't
have that word. ! am not frail. On the
contrary. enter my daily life with eyes open,
and 1t is the same with every other woman
know.
Would you. IL the door were open 10 you,
adopt = better life ? gentleman asked me the
other evening. and | answered him: i don't