Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-22
CHEAP DANCE HALLS
ARE TRAPS FOR GIRLS
YOUNG WOMEN ARE LURED
FROM HOME
Disgusting Sights at Saturday Night
Gatherings Held In Downtown
Sections OF the
City

Young girls, ma them in skirts
reaching scarcely to their ankles;
young women with faces marked with
lines of dissipation; women who,
though scarce in middle age, impress
one as having lived an entire life time
and many of whose arms show the
marks of the needle they have used
, so often when taking morphine; young
men of all descriptions, from the gay
care-free youth anxious for adventure,
to the rough, low-browed Mexican
laborer who has washed his hands and
donned a clean collar fol the purpose
are the classes which serve to make up
the crowds which congregate at the
down town cheap dance halls Saturday
nights.
In the crowds can be seen girls who
should be passing their days In a
school room and their nights in some
better place.
Remarks unfit for decent grownups
to hear, let alone for girls of tender
years, are frequent and instead of
bringing forth reprod3 are usually an
swered with laugh.
Many Of the girls go to these places
without any escort-but few leave
alone. Generally they are accompan-
led by some man or youth they have
ances formed in this manner can have
but one ending.
To indicate the character of the
place only the signs which hang about
the hall are necessary. mo tough
dancing allowed" is one of them. This
the managers evidently insist on. but
nevertheless they pay no attention tc
enters. Neither do they pay any at
tention to whether they meet in the
hall or how they meet.
Rules Joke
Faces must be kept apart during
dances" is another sign, but 1t is more
honored In the breach than In the OBJ
servance. Che.k to Cheek couples gal
lop over the floor, while brazen-face
girls laugh and Jeer from the ratings.
20, he's got her cinched," said a
gum-chewing, staggering girl to an
Saturday night as Mexican youth,
proud In the possession of patent
leather shoes and gaud ytie, waitzed by
with his arm around the. waist of q
eet-faced American girl, apparently
about sixteen years Of ace.
At the door of the hall city police
man passes his time on the nights
when dances are held, the manfusers
evidently fearing trough house" may
start at any moment and an officer of
the law may be needed.
The dances such as are held at the
Central dance hall, 535M South Main,
and half a score other similar places,
might be a credit to some parts of the
Bowery of the old days, but they are
no credit to Los Angeles or any self
respecting community.
Wine Rooms Near
Surrounding the hall on all sides are
lodging houses of the lowest type,
while saloons with wine rooms at
tached are also to be found within a
short distance.
"Come on, let's go get drink" said
rough appearing fellow to a neat ap-
pearing girl Saturday night. and with
out a remark she turned and followed
him.
From o'clock until midnight the
dances go on with only moments in
Permission while the floor is cleared
again strikes up the center Of the
room Is Immediately filed with dane
ers who have gladly pail their five
cents for the privilege.
A person walking around outside the
railing can hear many remarks re-
f1ecting on the characters Of the girls
who are dancing. as well as about their
escorts
Saturday night one girl shouted
across the room to a friend, I'm going
down town." she said. and passed
through the door.
"Hope she don't get tanked up"
said the girl spoken to. Both girls ap-
peared to be of the average in intelli-
gence, and IL 1t were not for the Satur-
day night dances might reflect credit
on their parents and themselves