Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-06
THOUGHT OF SEX
Is GREAT ENEMY
LADY CONSTANCE RICHARDSON
TALKS OF DANCE
SAYS BEAUTY AND ART ARE
TRUE REALITIES
Titled Woman Appearing at London
Pavilion Declares That Rela-
tives and Pubic Have
Been Kind


tves and Pubic Have
Been Kind
LONDON, March 5.-"There are some
people who if they see the figure OF a
woman cannot dissociate her in thelr
minds from the sex question. 1t does
not matter if her limbs are finely
formed and proportioneds they cannot
simply see the beauty of them. They
cannot get away from the one point OF
view--her sex. 1t is, | think, very
tragic-perhaps the most tragic thlns
in life-this inability to eliminate the
sex and simply appreciate the beau
tiful."
That is the candid opinion of Lady
Constance Stewart Richardson, who is
filling the Palace theater of varieties
here nightly by her classical dancing.
1t was given by her after her third
performance to n World representa-
tive who asked her opinion of some OF
her press notices, which were SO cfuel
that the inference is they must have
been inspired by disapproving rela-
tives. The Daily Mail was partlcu-
larly bitter.
But Lady Constance has taken little
heed of it. "It struck me- she said
"as being very ill-natured and not a
criticism. Really I have been sur
prised at the cordial reception which
the public and press generally nave
given me.
my relatives and friends. too, with
a few exceptions, have been very SYM
pathetic. OF course they know that
do not always look at things in the
same way as other people. Who are the
exceptions? oh. one or two ancient
aunts have written to express their
disapproval, but L expected that.
81 have received some anonymous
letters, too telling me L ought to be
ashamed of appearing in public with
bare arms and legs. They were evil
IDENTIFY from women Of the lower middle
class, uneducated but very religious. 1t
is a curious thing but 1 have noticed
among my own friends, too, that the
women who spend half their time go
ing to church and attending religious
meetings are just those who cannot
look upon the figure Of a naked wo-
man without dragging in the sex
question.
"Of course. it is really an unclean
thing-this thought of sex which is al
ways in their minds. If they go to the
Royal Academy and see the picture of
a naked woman they rush away at
once. ! doubt even if they would go
to the British mesuem to see the Elgin
Marbles. They cannot see the beauti-
full, they can only think Of sex In
America there is a still stronger force
of opinion against women being seen
with bare feet or legs. Even when
bathing they have to wear stockings.
81 pay no attention to anonymous
letters of this sort. ] had some when
l was in New York Of very much the
same character. When / see what kind
of letters they are l usually tear them
up without reading them through,
though sometimes l wish the writer's
would sign their names. l feel
should like to write back and show
them the uncleanness Of their minds.
Socially l do not think my dancing
in public like this has made any diff
ference to me. Many of my friends,
indeed, have told me either by letter
or personally that they quite under
stand and approve my purpose.
ION the first night number Of
them came to the theater determined
to encourage me by giving me a good
reception. But it seemed to me that
the loudest applause came from the
gallery. The kindness Of the public's
reception of my dancing rather aston
ished me.
Some people, I dare say, think
am doing this for the sake of adVertis-
ing myself or Of showing off. If they
had only known what agonies Of
nerYousness-I am very nervous really
I went through, especially on the
first night, they would not think so.
Tonight was the first night on which
! could see Mr.. Finck conducting. I
was so nervous on the first two nights
while l was on the stage that l could
not see anything at all in front of me.
"One paper in its notice of my per
Torrance described it as 'amateurish.'
I never suggested that it was any
thing else. I am not a professional"
Questioned again as TO wether she
had not experienced the disapproval
of her own class at her unconventional
enterprise as casting q slur upon the
aristocracy, Lady Constance said:
Il think all that sort of class preju-
dice is breaking down. AS long as
one is getting the money honestly and
for proper purpose there is no rea-
son why one should not do as one
likes.
Il must own, however, that 1 have
wished that I was Miss Snooks or Miss
Jones. A titlo is not always an ad-
vantage. There is, I think, a very
strong feeling that Lord or Lady So
and-So cannot do anything worth do
ing, I quite agree that there are a
number of them that cannot do any
thing"
Asked if She had experienced any
chilly receptions from people Of her
own class when dancing i'm New York
Lady Constance said. "Weu, You see
it was all done with one exception i'm
drawing rooms, and I thought every
one was very nice to me. When I
danced at Sherry was semi
public affair-some of the people were
rather difficult it is true"
"Will you go to New York tn appear
on the stage as here?' was the next
question.
Il don't know" said Lady Con-
stance Il have had am offer, but I am
going to think it over. l like the
American people immensely ! have
been on visits there frequently, but T
never feel well. New York does not
agree with me. I do not know why.
But to meet the real American you
must go out Wcst-they are magniH-
cent people,
LORD MINT0 TO RETIRE