The San Francisco call., 1908-09-13

has done more thar any other
person to push it aloRg
Almost as naked as truth. and con-
oealing principally by gauze and ropes
OF jewels extremes which in days gone
by were never considered permissible
for stage display. host Of great dane
ers are going through sinuous move
ments 10 show the daughter of Hero
diss in her extreme moment of ecstacy.
Seldom has a fad. and especially so
questionable a one. spread with such
amazing rapidity
When q year ago last winter the
opera '-Salome." by Richard Strauss.
was barred from the Metropolitan opera
in New York, after only one perform
ance. because the real estate company
which owns the property thought it dis
gusting beyond expression, it was
thought that this country had seen the
last OF the dancing courtesan.
1t mattered not that the music was
written by Richard Strauss. one of the
greatest living masters of the tonaI
art, or that cast Of magnificent artists
gave a wonderful performance of the
work
When Salome danced before her step
father and then as a reward took to
herself the head Of the butehered John
the Baptist, in order. that she might
drain from it the kisses the holy man
denied her in life. the spectacle was
voted so degrading that the limits
where art could be urged as excuse
had been passed.
Therefore Salome was banished
But what q revenge has Strauss,
The new world which would not ac-
eept the Ssione OF art has now riot
ously welcomed the Sslome of the
dance hall. Salome is at present the
popular feature OF every roof garden
without q salome il is foolish 10 at
tempt 10 draw people 10 the summer
places where musical. terpsichorean and
liquid comfort are served.
Moreover. all the new road shows OF
q lighter vein are going TO have Salome
features. Actresses and singers, as
well as dancers, who made their iIv-
ing IN other kinds Of work have found
out that II they want to stay in the
20 DO the salome act
Forgetting for an instant the more
noted salomes. such as Maud Allan.
who has set Paris and London mad.
and Gertrude Hoffman. who is New
York's hit in the role, IL will be seen
that a number OF stage favorites have
been drawn into the sensation.
Dainty Jotta Faust a star of years
with the Weber & Fields combinations,
has introduced q Salome dance into
the Mimic World" She frankly ad-
nits that she had TO in order TO keep
pace with the rivals who are doing the
same act.
With her beautiful feet and legs
bare. and her garb consisting mainly
Of gauze and ropes OF pearls. Miss
Faust recently essayed her debut in
the part. and scored 2 sensation
Eva Tanguay. she who is all nerves.
has also been showing how the wicked
vvriggier danced the head of John the
Baptist Miss Tanguay has long been
famed FOR the possession Of q particu-
lar beautiful body. and she makes as
little concealment of it as possible
while engaged in the voluptuous meas
ures Of this dance.
But the best-or the worst-that the
home saIomes have had the courage
70 attempt paIes beside the work of
the Salomes that first made good on
the other side Of the great ocean di-
vide.
La sylphe. for instance. fairly made
New York gasp on her first appearance
recently, though she frankly admits
that her present performance OF the
dance is much milder than that which
she gave in Europe.
La Sylphe has a complete understand
ing Of the body dance OF the far east.
that oriental performance named
the 'houchee kouchee." which
shocked the country during the worlds
fair OF 1893 at Chicago. but did a whole
lot 70 make the success OF the midway.
Mss Edith LambeIle is the real name Of
La svlphe. and she calls her perform
ance The Remorse of sslome"
La sylphe is extraordinary in slen-
derness. fat has no part in the Saiome
equipment. and she is a veritable mar
vel Of the contortionists talent Sew
eral yards Of pearls seem 10 be her sole
covering OF the midwaist-
La sylphe says she gives as much OF
the muscle dance as she dsres. but that
20 do the sslome dance with accu-
racy II should be done with far greater
similarity TO the dances OF the orient.
Gertrude Hoffman is another heart
breaking Salome. but unlike La sylphe.
who is rather cynical and looks al the
dance from a business standpoint Miss
Hoffman says IL is all real art"
Miss Hoffman's Salome costume
consists specifically Of one pair of flesh
coIored silk trunks. reaching from the
waist half way 70 the knee; one skirt
OF black gauze. gold embroidered at
the bottom. and reaching TO the ankles;
q girdle Of pearls and brilliants. breast
plate and decolIetage of pearls and en-
eralds, with ropes of pearls looped to
the girdle. and necklace and arn1iets OF
,--f1rf.,@e a,S saSa 6fadem and a