The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-01
"STIDDY" OLD BOSTON.
Dance Halls Have Become a
Burning Scandal There.

Boston, Feb IA great agitation has
! been inaugurated in Boston against the
dance halls. The Traveller, backed by
a large number of clergymen, is max
ing an onslaught on the dives. It says:
Boston dance halls, so called, but in
reality places of designation, demand
the immediate attention of the police.
Within their doors the law is openly
and continuously violated, and the pro-
miScuOuS mixing of the sexes is of such
a nature as to call forth a strong pro-
test from the self-respecting residents
of the North End
The Traveller then gives a list of the
places and continues:
A description Of one of these dens will
answer for all:
The door from the street opens upon
a bleak and bare looking room about
20x30, devoid of furniture with the ex-
ception of a stove set well to one side.
Around the room, close to the wall, is a
bench, and in the front of the hall is a
raised platform, on which sits the or
chestra CD usually consisting. Of two
pieces.
In the rear of the room is small bar,
usually presided over by the prOprie-
tor. Nothing but small beer, contain
ing less than 1 per cent of alcohol, is
supposed to be on tap.
AS a matter of fact, most of the beer
is large instead of small; but there is
very little kept on hand. The bouncer
of the place, a big, hull1ing fellow, is
kept continually repleniShing the
GROWER uD 10 IL o CLOCK, at winch
time the legitimate saloons close, for
the dance hall proprietor does not take
any more risks than are necessary.
A dance in one of these places costs 20
cents, be it square or round, and they
are not long drawn out affairs. Soon the
prOmpter calls out All promenade to
the bari" and beer is called for, paid
for and drank. If something stronger
is desired, a visit is made to the kitchen,
which is invariably in the rear of the
dance hall
Up stairs there are rooms to which
couples resort at frequent intervals
In some respects things are not as
bad as in the days of the old dance
halls. In others they are worse. Then
each hall had its own particular women,
who were inmates of the house, and
outsiders were not allowed. The pO-
lice knew where to find them.
Now, while each house supports from
hundreds of outsiders who drift in
from the cheap hotels with which the
city abounds, out for a dance and a
nights racket This class is more
dangerous than the regular board
ers."
It is true that the dance halls are no
longer run as open disorderly houses,
simply because as such they cannot
compete with the aIl-night hotels, but
the women who live in the house openly
solicit men, whom they take to their
rooms, while the prOprietOrs of the
places openly sell intoxicating liquors
without license.
The legitimate saloon is forced by the
law to close its doors at IL o'clock at
night. These dens of iniquity are per-
mitted by the board of police to remain
open until II. After that hour such as
have no more money to spend are sent
out into the street. Those that remain
are taken to the kitchen, where they
are freely supplied with such refresh
ments as they desire as long as they
can pay for it.
The saloon business on North street
during the past few weeks has steadily
declined, while that of the dance halls
has been as steadily on the increase.
If the police did not know of the
nightly violations of the law in these
resorts there might be some excuse for
the present condition of affairs; but
they do.
1t would appear that they have no de-
sire to close the places.