Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-20


over-run with criminals and deplore
the existence of Gangs of thugs and
thieves" The police may be glad in
deed that they do not have to contend
with an army of depraved cut-throats
like the Apaches OF Paris.
This is the opinion Of Joseph G.
Smith, stage director and producer Of
Mort H. Singers 1.-THE Flirting Prin-
cess" who has studied the Paris
Apache in the catacombs, cellars and
dark corners of the French capital.
There are supposed to be more than
five thousand Apaches in Paris, and
they are regarded as the most danger
Gus criminals on earth. because their
deeds of unlawfulness are perpetrated
behind the skirts of their women, for
the most part as beautiful creatures as
Paris can boast.
Producer Smith studied the Apache
for the picturesque in his life and the
result of his visit to Paris is seen in
the Apache dance which is feature
of the musical comedy to be presented
here, when it will be done by Mr..
Smith and Adele Rowland. This dance
shows the wild emotions and the bru-
ldlily VI Tie ApdCuSg VIII a
woman who loves him his absolute
slave, to kiss or to kick at will. The
Apache woman will steal and even
murder to crafty the whims of her
master. She will lure into his clutches
a wealthy roisterer. whom the Apache
will rob even if he has to kill to &C
complish his design. She will win her
way into the graces and the househ Did
secrets of a marked victim, so that she
may direct the Apache by what win
dow or door to enter his dwelling or
where to find his wealth. Suppose
this city were infested with two or
three hundred pretty but vicious wom-
en- who lived on the ground by day
but who pTowled around by night look
ing for prey. The early morning strag-
gler on the lonely boulevard would find
himself suddenly seized from behind.
Perhaps a sudden blow would fell him.
or cause him to throw ont his hands to
catch his balance. Before he could ut
ter a cry dirty scarf would be stuffed
into his mouth and another tied about
his hands. PROSTATE on the ground,
he would lie while two women marau-
ders would rifle his pockets. slip the
pin from his tie. the diamond from his
shirt. and the ring from his finger.
Should he fight they stick him in the
heart with a long sharp knife in a
dark. underground rendezvous The
loot would be turned over to the two
Apache men who had sent the women
on their mission. and the money would
go for a loyal absinth debauch. The
Apache are the one criminal element
which the almost perfect police of
Paris cannot control. The Apache is
cute and courageous. Given to alb
smith. cocaine. and other dope. they
have keen wits and clever methods.
While there have been some notable
Apache arrests, especially among the
leading women are Queens" they
have been very few and not at all com.
mensurate with the amount of crime.
While the Apache are the personifca-
ton of viciousness, they nevertheless
have traits which compel attention.
They are easily carried away by emo
ton. 1t was an Apache who rushed
into court the other day and swore
that he had committed the murders
of which Nine. Steinheil was accused,
though within a few minutes the story
was shown by the prisoner herself to
be absolutely false. The man was car
ried away with sympathy for the &C
cused woman. In many cases the deg
radiation comes to some brilliant
French man or woman who has fallen
victim to the fearful! absinth habit.
The Apache likes music and song and
they are orgies in the Dead Rat Quar-
ter at Balleville. or La Villette, or
Montmartre, and in the cafes on the
boulevard de Sebastopol and on the
other noted streets are eagerly sought
by sight seers. It was in a cafe in the
Rat Muert district of Paris that Pro
Queer Smith first saw the dance which
he and Miss Rowland do, with some
modification in Mort H. Singers "The
Flirting Princess"
"I was passing cafe" said Smith
the other day, when l noticed an
Apache woman sit down on the table
and wait for some one. Soon man
appeared. It was her man. She was
his slave. I could see he asked her
for money. She produced IT from her
stocking. The man called waiter
and ordered absinthe for the two of
them. The woman refused to drink
with him. Evidently they were quar-
relling about another man. Suddenly
he picked up her glass from the table
and threw it at her, breaking it over
her head.