Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-29
THOSE BRONZE STATUES.
Bessie Stanton Says She Would Not Pose u
They Were Suggestive.

New York. March 2S.-When famous
artists like William n. Chase ana g. u.
Brown spend the greater part OF an alter-
noon in o police court in order that oe-
c.sion may be reached about the moraiity
and decency of young woman appearing
in theatre as a statue with nothing put
a covering of bronze paint, it must be ad-
mitted that it was o remarkable OCCASION
Justice Simms who is very young
Justice, thinks paint cannot cover nudity,
and he held Miss Bessie Stanton, Porhaln
Nahle and Prof. Otto Kahler, the bronze
pictures, and Rudolph Aronson for trial
In s3G0 each on the charge that the exni-
bition outraged public decency.
The eoIlplaint was made by Detective
Sergeants Titus and Rogers of the Cen
tr.l office, who visited the Casino, last
Thursday, and decided that. the perfor-
nance was immoral.
Mr. Titus gave a careful description
of what he saw. He was sure that the
Young woman wore only a thing which
resembled the trunks worn by small boys
when they go in swimming. The re-
nainder of the body was covered with
bronze paint He couldn't see the trunks
with the naked eye. Detective Sergeant
Rogers didn't see us much as Mr.. Titus
Then came William NJ. Chase. The
great artist looked rather disgusted. He
said that he had been an artist for 81
years, and for eight years had been presi-
dent of the Society Of American Artists.
He had seen the bronze statues.
How did the exhibition impress your
asked Maurice Meyer, Mr.. ArOnson's law
yer.
'When the models posed they I'M
pressed me as being very fine reproduc-
tions of bronze statues am familiar with.
They did not impress me rs in any way
suggestive or immoral.
Justice Simms asked rather reproach-
fully if Mr. Chase thought that the exhi-
bition On the public stage OF u young
woman in such condition was not u
menace to the morals of community.
"No more SO than the exposition OF the
human figure in an art gallery" said Mr.
Chase. These bronze statues are sugges-
tive of nothing other than art"
Don't you think the bronze figure
nude:"
II don't see how it can be nude The
figures represent great statues, and it Is
perfect imitation of bronze. There is not
the slightest suggestion of anything OBJ
sccnc Or out of the way"
Then came J. G. Brown, whose street
urchins are familiar to every one in this
country. Mr.. Brown said that he has
been an artist for 40 years. 1t came out
through him how the artists happened to
be in court. Before the public performance
was given, Mr. Aronson invited about ~
celebrated artists to view the bronze
statues The manager had carefully kept
the list of those who accepted the invita-
ton and it was mighty useful, yesterday.
OF course, they had to answera subponea.
"Do YOU consider the figures nude!'
asked Mr.. Mayer.
mot in any sense. declared Mr. Brown
with much emphasis. "They represent
bronze works of art. Bronze has nc
vitality or suggestion of flesh"
"Did you see anything in the perfor-
nance that would degrade the public
morals?'
"No, sir On the contrary, 1 should be
glad if we had more exhibitions of the
kind They would elevate the public
morals and the public taste for great
works of art by masters long dead which
have never been equalled
Won Prettwitz Palm, slender, lo7uaci-
GUS and polite, explained that he was an
artist and the manager. He considered the
bronze statues less suggestive than living
pictures. He added: "The silk tights
worn by living pictures are one one-hun-
dred- land sixtieth part of an inch thick,
while the bronze paint is from one thirty
second to one-sixteenth of an inch thick. y
Miss Bessie Stanton, who wears the
bronze paint, said: "Oh the bronze paint
is ever so much more moral than the flesh
ings four living pictures. There is not
bit Of flesh to be seen.
'Is there anything in the statue that is
suGgestiYc:"
:" Not u thing" with emphasis, then
with an air of injury, 50 should not pose II
there were. -