New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-07
EVIL AT COMFY ISLAND.
A CIERGYMANs PERSONAL INVESTIGATION
OF THE THINGS TAMMANY PER
MlTS THERE.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Your editorial Coney Island. published
q Few DAYS ago deserves great deal OF aIteh-
tlon. and I shall add my own personal experience
as proof II behcovcs me TO make confession
and in the confession lies the proc; when warrants
your editorial. and an even stronger one. hope
the facts state VIII appear all the stronger be-
cause I am not fanatic nor an opponent OF the
stage. but IT'S admlring friend
Nv confession IS that went 20 Coney Island
place referred 10 the peoples pleasure resort
and place which ought. therefore, TO De as free
as possible from intentional vice MY wire anu
peeped into everything that permits a peep and
though We saw much that was crude and III
artistic. We saw az first nothing that was worthy
OF continuation unl-~s one had set his IDEAS uh
reasonably hich. Buc at the door OF one Deauy
show We listened 70 an address "hicn Tor ihhuenuo
and limited vice certainly touched the top notch
Though the price to 10 in % cents was within
our limits we declined TO need the persuasive In
vitaton 10 go in and investigate the reality winch
Law bevond mere suggestion. We moved on ana
again Were summoned OF the sdeW'lK' win d
second gaping crowd. 20 hear the seductive Pedu
ing % another overflow orator who presented
without the gate q number OF female attractions
who he said u ould be shown 70 much better erect
inside after paying only a ptufu! dime. 30 IN we
went
+ shall not plead the desire TO study human
nature. II I did desire that had my opportunity
As nv wife was along l think that may assert
a. was NOT any baser desire than II ought to have
been A. any rate. did with 70 see Just "ha'
cor. 20 a-nusameut IS provided Tor the people who
must have their pleasure, but VINO cannot pay
the prices OF 'swelier' places. AL was Hslshlh-
cant enough until that which had been described as
Tho French Passion Dance" the fascinating sue
cessor OF the Devil Dance % other years came
IN II v-as a. the announcer outside had said
the coochee-cooohec only. as ne also aEhlt'eu'
in suggestive word and tone, much more. Here
down Oh Coney Island. the peoples resort nina
YOU saw the culmina tion-no. not the elimination
FOR that denotes possibly elevationI saw the point
nearest the bottomess pit Of all vile RIGHTEOUSNESS
and beastliness to which this original dance OF the
nations had driven us. No words can describe the
degradation OF II all.
stop here Decency forbids further remark
The excited cries OF drunken men responded 10
the perfection" OF the act A decent set OF peo-
pie sitting back OF US led perhaps by me same
curiosity got up to leave the moment this woman
came on The reason they left Is a proof that the
MANAGEMENT OF this den know what they are 90
ing man In the party went TO the ruhhe'-'N
and said we have young unmarried woman
with us. Il there anything she ough.n't 70 see
The official answer was, You'll be saIe 10 stay
till the coochee-coochee or passion dahce-
What shall be done about II? Il II possible mat
a civilized continuity Will continue 10 al'o" 'ie
utter corruption OF its best place OF cheap resort
for the people Can II be that speeches. sGJh as
are made outside these dens. with ~ sor. Oi t
faced hints az vileness: that exhibitions tnS nan.
even hardened sinners hang the neac hhu hur.S
the step they pass oHt, tnat sneeg saiitS, ,bat
hui the natural result Of " ldespreau Jeiei .N
tie rulers themselves h9t o .t,r.ss,n,ha,e5 am no
part Of such poisoned atfnosphtitt 81. n.. -,
pessmist nor DO l join in the common c T5,s oI
'reformers'' against the police; but II mis- Sonsy
Island exhibition is sample OF that MnlSn ny
say od h PfTb the city that SO ra. people
New-York Aug. 4. iSss A CLERGYMAN.