The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-22
BLAMES fashions
FOR RACE SUICIDE
CIubwOman Declares Exponent
of GreCian Dancing Is Great
est BenefactOr of Women

OAKLAND, Jan Elm an address
with the art and the personality OF
Isadora Duncan, the exponent of Gre
clan dancing, as her text, Mrs. Charles
C. Boynton OF Alameda spoke at the
Home club this afternoon before a large
gathering of women. the guests OF
honor being the presidents of women's
clubs of the east side cities.
Mrs. Boynton was a girlhood friend
of the famous dancer. She sees in Isa-
dora Duncan's art a way to release
from physical bondage womankind the
world over. She declared that the
artist had an unusual message for the
world, her. expressed aim being ito re-
discover the beautiful rhythmical mo-
tions Of the human body to call back
to life that ideal movement which
should be IN harmony with the highest
physical type; to awaken once more an
art which has slept for 1000 years
What would such gift mean 10 the
world?" said Mrs. BOynton.
II the body IS the expression Of the soul. we
should be clothed in the garments Of the soul.
Surprising 3 painter were asked TO paint
group Of angels for some great cathedral, and
he painted a group Of our modern women II
modern outdoor dress We would call him sac
religious But where does the saerilege lay?
every hand. We regard nature our enemy
Ii the glorious summer time We build a ROOT
over our heads away from the SKY at night. II
the summer we should sleep out under the sky
out under the stars all night with the COO
night breezes on our cheeks.
We shut out the Development OF nature ever
in our own bodies, for If the muscles are ever
but slightly restricted the thoughts of the mind
DO not dow with perfect smoothness
The curse Of day--the great white plague
is the result OF building in from nature And
our great physicians have proved that the cure
is fresh air and sunshine.
Then I have secret 10 tell you-here lies
the cause Of the real race suicide don't want
you TO take my. word for it. want you Il
watch and study this as have. When fashion
gives US loose garments our country has children
When fashion gives US tight garments our chill
Of women-beautifuI quality when not distorted
by unnatural customs.
What do we do when We are cut OF from
natures We have no children
Why does not the president strike out th'
root OF race suicide and call lsadora here t
show us the Ideal mode Of dress, the dress tina
is the garment of the soulg But we, the club
women. have more power 70 do this than this
president Of the United States.
What do I think Of this modern dress thi.
empire corset1 It is all working toward q di
vine end. We are learning straight lines. mex
we Will learn curves. 1t is like drawing les
son. Then shall be ready 10 wear the gar
rnents OF the soul It is means beware tina
it prepares the body and does not cripple. Il
/ By too great binding
At the outset of her address Mrs
dora Duncan. the woman. a woman oil
character of intellect, who had earned
her own education in literature. in eth
les, science and languages. She was
more than the dancer. She had taker
the degraded out of dancing. She was
q genius. speaking through the artis'
to the world.
Continuing, Mrs. Boynton said:
Now what has Miss Duncan for us? A grea
art? Yes. But it is only the means: It Is no
the object Look beyond the art see through
II: see the message. ] believe with all my sou
the emancipation Of cfvilizs ton; that she aIon.
holds the power 70 free us from the bondage
more eerviie than slavery. more oppressive thar
the orient, because IL Is the bondage OF civilized
times. the ruts and forms Of convention.
do not believe even she IS conscious of th,
let be ready TO receive her; let MS be ready
70 take the gifts she brings 10 us; let us bs
awake. Oh that the clubs might be serie.
OF arches OF triumph. that she might pass from
there win be a day when Isadora Duncsni
monument at Washington Will be crowned by tn.
gratitude Of our country. II that be So let III
be awake. let say when the world find,
ont. Yes. the clubwomeD knew IT all tn,
time
Among the guests of honor were Mis-.
Eva Powell. president Of the Ebell so
ciety; Mrs. Hall. president of the Towr
and Gown club Of Berkeley, Mrs. Fran
ces Gray. president Of the Oakland club
and Mrs. II. A. Hebard. president of the
Adelphian club of Alameda. Mrs Paula
Schultz. pianist of Fruitvale, and Miss
Carolyn Sawtell Dooley. violinist o.
Berkeley. gave several numbers