The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-09-20
'PA7deAKERs FOR sALoME
PROPAGANDA OF UNDRESS NOW
FIVE YEARS OLD.
The Public Prepared for the Present
Dances by . Course Including Peeka-
boo Waists and Decoliete Gowns
Vogue OF Lingerie Has Helped Too.

The Public Prepared for the Present
Dances by O Course Including Peeka-
boo Waists and Decoiete Gowns
Vogue OF Lingerie Has Helped Too.
1t is doubtful II the New York public
would have received the SaIeme dances
with 80 much equanimity had IL not been
for the propaganda Of undress carried on
steadily for the past five years. not always
aggressively, but continuously The Sal
ONES were useful, however. In demon
strating the extent to which people have
be come accustomed to look with fiber
ality on the habit Of appearing scantily
clad in public.
OF all the women who wriggle and
writhe in the name Of the daughter Of
Herodias the most deoorous In appear
ance dances in a continuous theatre
devoted to polite vaudeville for mothers
and children. The eloquence Of this fact
Ia irresistible. Her audiences are made
up chiefly OF spectators unaccustomed to
the glories of the parterre row at the
Metropolitan or the smartest Of summer
lingerie. So they take their Salome very
much yelled
The Salome who stands at the other
end Of the list in the matter Of costume
is showing herself at a theatre frequented
by the most blase Of the Broadway theatre
crowd. Her spectators are familiar with
ev everything hat happens or is prophesied
to happen between the circle and the
square. Whether 1t Is the cause Of Mrs.
Leslie Carter's present retirement or the
chronological order Of Lillian Russell'a
husbands, this crowd lie informed about
it. SO their Salome wears fewer clothes
than any Of the others, and In the point
Of frank divulgence, she compares favora-
bly, with Isidora Duncan, who dances in
q Broadway playhouse. charges 81 a
ticket and looks upon vaudeville as i'm
polite wherever it is attempted. 1t must
be said, however, that Miss Duncan's
dancing bears no relation to the athletics
Of her imitators.
undisturbed contemplation Of the Salome
dances, although there are those who
claim the distinction for the b~arefooted
women who came in the wake of decadent
Trilbyismus. and perhaps the originator
Of the idea Is not important in view Of the
constant efforts to keep the public educa-
ton in the right way.
Every season brought its aid. In
summer the insidious peekaboo kept the
mind Of the man In the street fixed on the
subject. In winter 1t was the vogue
Of the low cut gown The administra-
tons of these two sartorial aids were
equally public in their methods. Even
the display Of the low neck gowns was
no occasion for class feeling. Anybody
who could get into either opera house
with essed them without trouble, almost
without opera glasses.
Usually these exhibitions were wit
messed with no display Of feeling on the
part Of the audience. Sometimes q mild
thrill of excitement might make itself
felt as a young matron In stepping down
to her seat in the box turned to the specta-
tors q fash of white back as frankly Ok
posed as any poor little Salome has dared.
At other times a young prima donna and
her sisters who seated themselves In q
box revealed a devotion to the decollet<
90 simple hearted and thorough that nc
| stage sensation GOULD excelit.
Nor hive the theatyes been idle. Womer
have been shown Is they were in the day.
Of the living pictures Yet IL is doubtful
II they did as much az the others to helE
along the thin clothes movement.
Women on the stage wear costumes
and costumes arc the tools Of their trade
to or not and they must show themselves
because they are paid to. Other women
do it because they think 1t is the thing
to do. >.
Dear me- exclaimed q dowager. as