The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-28
From the Louisville courier-Journal.


G HADEs of Romeo and Juliet.
~ what Is this? An ordinance in
~ Indianapolis to prevent spoon
ing at the picture shows7
Mayor Shank says that If the proprie-
tors do not agree to turn on the lights
frequently and unexpectedly" he will
have an ordinance passed that will flu
inmate the interiors of the popular
priced amusement places SO brilliantly
that the patronage of spooners will be
withdrawn.
Love seems to have trouble finding a
way in Indianapolis. In the good old
summer time the parks are closely
watched to prevent Jim from stealing
kiss from Maggie and to bring Maggie
before the police court for disorderly
conduct il she steals a sly glance at Jim.
Now the cathedral dimness of the pic
ture shows is to be made to give way be-
fore the incandescents for fear Cupid
might make a little hay while the hight
doesn't shine.
But would such an ordinance be con-
stitutional? The constitution says that
American citizens are entitled to life, lib
erty and the pursuit of happiness If
taking ones very best girl to the picture
show where the "glim" is sure to be
"doused" from time to time while the
villain is robbing bank or abducting
heroine, is not the pursuit of happi-
ness what Is, we rise to respectfully in
quire7
Again the constitution-hne, sturdy old
instrument, written by men who believed
in less law and more liberty than some of
their successors advocate-says that un-
warrantable search and seizure II a grfev-
GUS thing. Is 1t not understandable to
search a theatre with tbs 'house lights
In an effort to slip up upon q young
couple who have purchased dime's
worth of sitting room at a picture show
for the express purpose Of telling one an-
other the old. but ever new. II often un-
reliable, story; And is 1t not unwarrant-
able to seize an engaged eOup1e-engaged
to marry or engaged in philandsrins-
and halo them into court to answer to the
laws of indianapolis for having been obe-
dent to those of natures IS,
Wherss,is Theodore Roosevelt. when
one blast of his horn would be worth
ten thousand menu II he were tn Office
he would not remain to balk the BaIlinser
investigation. He'd repair to Indianapo-
lie and mako a speech upon the value OF
the picture show as promoter Of matri-
mony, upon the misfortune Of having
Mayor shank encysted In the body poli-
tic. and upon. the right of a man and a
maid to frivel in the "sloomed and stag
nant arr of q dimly-lighted place of pub
lie entertaipment. ehaperoned to cer-
tain extent by the persons in tho audience
not similarly engaged and not sympa-
thetic.. $50
And would not the Shank ordinance be
class legislation? If the spy system is to
be enforced in picture theatres and the
Ilights. are to be turned on nike nolle
preseaui to stop proceedings" why should
the ordinance not AFFECT theatres patron
lied by the plutocrats who are conveyed
| to the play In darkseme cabs, or spooRy
limousines with the lights turned of, and
subjected to temptation, or allowed OPP
| portupity. as the case may be, viewed,
while the house lights are off and the or
chestra is playing the Eliza-creasing-the-
| ice music? Let shall the earnest student
>of the drama be subjected to such inter-
ference with his pleasure as would result
from flooding the. house with light with
the ghost Of HamIet's late lamented
| father In mid-stage-or while the weird
sisters three are at their incantations in
Macbeth" r-msFely to ascertain whether
members of the smart set are spooning?
Unless Mayer Shank proposes to cause
| the fashionable theatres to turn on their
urhts at intervals and unexpectedly. or
| INSTALL lighting system similar to the re-
volving lights used on the seaooasts, how
| can he bully the picture shows into MARI
| ing tragedy or melodrama by destroying