The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-27
THE LONDON MUSIC HALLS.
Mrs. ormiSton Chant Ahandons Her
Social Purity Crusade.

london Letter in New York sun.
The ignominious retreat of tho social
purity crusaders - the spectacle when
London has watched this week with some
scorn and, on the whole. With satisfaction.
The campaign against certain london
music halls which a year ago attracted
worldwide attention under tie popular
designation OF "Prudes on tho p'rowi.
has come 10 it's logical conclusion The
hand of zcalots who. under the leadership
Of Mrs Ormiston Chant. induced the radt-
cal county council 10 close the promenade
OF the Empire music hall and forbid the
sale OF liquors In the auditorium, TINS
week abandoned the fight. and all tho Tor
mer privileges have been granted 10 these
places of amusement by the licensing corn
mittee. This complete reversal of policy
hy tho governing authority Of the metrop-
oils Is a highly interesting and signiilcnnt
event I'm the history Of municipal politics.
The real reason for the change cannot
honestly he ascrihcd TO a sincere belief on
the mart OF the council that 1t made mis-
take in attempting 20 regulate the class or
patrons OF music halls It Is simply due 70
the fact that tho people OF London have
twice expressed at the polls this year their
condemnation Of the hypocrtical policy
which tries 10 supervise the morals of au-
.{enreS IN places of public amusement.
while il permits vice 10 fa3tnt itself more
openly In the streets Of the city thnn any
where else in ChriSteudom. Public resent
ment found such emphatic expression that
nobody IN the council committee who
cherfshes political aspirations dared TO
raise his voice This week in favor of a con-
tinuance Of last years policy. Every APP
plicatiou for an amusement license was
granted without restriction.
No explanation has yet been offered.
however Of the abandonment of the heid
by the social purity advocates whose agi-
tatfon caused the Commotion of A year
"a
f,Itcation before the committee. Mrs.
Chant sailed for America six DAYS before
the time appointed for the hearing. There
are. naturally, many sarcastic things be-
ing said about this Tho Pail Mall Gazette
especially IS cruelty severe in Its treAtment
Of this good woman. i says;
cit is significant that Mrs ormiston
Chant who looted most OF the notoriety
out OF last years campaign. has not even
found the sac red cause worthy that she
should postpone her occurring tour 10
America IN its interest The inference Is
obvious and deplorahle. She has had her
boom she pleaded before the council for
her weaker sisters and her younger
brothers and her relatives generally. Now
having become p person OF some name,
she has LEFT her young brothers naked TO
the strange woman and has gone 20
America "a tFansmute that name into dol
lars SO that is the end OF Mrs. Ormiston
chant"
There was interesting testimony before
tho council committee regarding the moral
effect OF tho restrictions imposed a year
ago. Tho managers Of music halls said
they had been put 90 considerable incon-
yenieflce and some loss Of profits, hut ths
character or the audiences was not
changed and there WAS no fnateftHi dltn-
mutton in the amount 81 liquor sold A. the
bars instead Of In the seats. Probably tire
proflts OF rival music halls where no re-
sfricffons were imposed had Increased.
Meantime the streets of London never
were go bad as today | DO not pretend
IN saw that n is because Of the attempt 70
close certain places Of amusement against
the class Of vomen who throng the pave
menf bat every one who has occasion 70
go t1pon the streets Of isaudon a. night
knows that the great army OF unfoFtu-
mates WAC never 50 numerous, never so
bold as NOW.