East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-09-24
SALOME DANCE Is FAD
OF EASTERN CITIES.

II has been less than a year since
little Miss Maud Allen, an American
girl. hit upon the idea of performing
a "Salome" dance as an entertain
ment separate from either the Wilde
or the famous Strauss operas. Miss
Allen selected London for her field
o. operation. She burst upon the old
city in an Egyptian dance and the
world began to hear anu to talk
about her and about "Salome." Now
we hear of several who have imitat-
ed her and who are meeting with
the same success in America. These
include Gertrude Hoffman, who Is
now at Hammerstein's; La Sylph, an
other, is now doing the dance at
Keith e. Proctor's. In the Mimic
World. which is now at the Casino
Lotta Faus is adding to her laurels
by giving the Maud Allen version OF
the dance. SO great Is the craze for
this latest European fad that Eva
Tanguay is now giving a version OF
salon" in her vaudeville sketch.
Margaret Taylor. who won her first
recognition as a dancer in London, is
another who has gone "Salome'
mad and she will be seen as "Sa-
lone in Coming Thro' the Rye"
La Belle Zola. a little dancer hereto
fore unheard of. procured a few strips
of gauzc and dozen or so strings
OF beads. which constituted the reg
ulation "Salome" costume, and Sc
cured an engagement at one of the
popular priced houses in New York
and leaped into fame the first night.
Her services are now sought after by
many other theatrical managers How
long this craze will last, there is no
telling. The Merry Widow hats, the
Soul Kiss and the Waltz Dream
dance have been lost sight of by the
inrush of this Oriental fad.
The costumes worn by the many
"Salome" dancers differ very mater
tally. One critic said that a few
beads and a little more gauze might
be worn by Lolita Faust and not de-
tract from the Oriental atmosphere
Of the dance. The press agent says
that the costume worn by Miss Tay-
lor differs more from the regulation
costume an dconssts of fleshings,
yards upon yards Of gau2e, beads and
instead of dancing barefooted, she
wears sandals.
In speaking Of Miss Taylor's per-
formance the Toledo Times has this
to say: Miss Taylor's performance
differs from the original London
dance inasmuch as she wears tights
and sandals. The Oriental costume,
together with that fantastic dance
about the head of John tht Baptist,
that dance which terminated with
the grewsome kiss and swoon so. hor- |
rible and artisticaly portrayed in
Oscar Wilde's play, is indeed a won~
derfu and thrilling spectacle and the
grace with which Miss Taylor per-
forms It emphasizes its classic beau
ty So If you are one of those an
a shock this week, you will !
be disappointed, for this is one that
isn't shock. But It is beautiful |
and it is art"
The story of Salome is a sad one,
as everyone knows. Salome was the |
daughter Of the wife of King Herod.
At his birthday feast she was asked |
to dance. SO pleased was he at the |
art she displayed that he promised |
to grant her the choice of any gift |
within his power. Having no per-
sonal wish, she consulted her mother,
Herodias. The royal lady caused her
to ask for the head of John the Bap-
tist, who was lying in prison. Herod |
at first eXpostulated. but he had |
given his word and he complied with
the young lady's wishes.
The king at once dispatched one
Of his guardsmen to the prison with
the order to bring to him the head |
IF John the Baptist.
The orders of the king were
carried out and the head
presented to Salome on charger. AS
soon as Salome caught sight of the
head she realized for the first time
the gravity of her demand. AS she |
looked at the head the dead eyes
seemed to follow her in all her move
ments and she was seized with ter
ror and remorse and tainted.
1t is this tragic picture which has
set two continents wild with excite
ment. 1t attracts by It's gruesome-
ness as well as grace and beauty of
poetic motion to strains of Oriental, |
dreamy music