New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-01

young men OF their stamp. and why one
COZ the favorite means adopted by unscru-
puloUs men and women for making the
| acquaintance OF innocent girls is to invite
them to hairdressing and massage parlors.
and during moments OF relaxation assume
| an attitude of friendliness that incIines the
girl TO trustfulness and return Of friend
ship.
Il is generally conceded by social reform
ers that the dancing academies and dance
halls present one of the best hunting
/ grounds for the SLAYER. This statement
should not be taken to mean that all dane
ing places are improperly conducted, but
there is a very large number unsafe for
| girls to enter.
The committee on emusements and va
cation resources of working girls, of which
! Mrs. Charles II. Israels is chairman, has
been making a careful study of dancing
places during the last season, and she
makes the following statements:
1T is not unhealthy sentiment for a
young girl TO want to go where she can
dance. The desire to frequent dance places
is based en- the natural and human long
ing for the companionship OF the other sex
on a basis OF friendship and wholesome
joyousness.
Suppose young man goes TO sec girl
whose family lives in such crowded quar-
tiers that she cannot ask him inside They
may stand on the doorstep for while and
then walk around the block. What more
natural than for the young man TO say,
Come on, let's go and have a dance
1T must be understood that girls are the
asset of the dance hall proprietor He
makes his plans for them. makes their ad-
mission fee lower than for the boys and
the reputation OF attracting to itself an
agreeable, pretty set of girls who are good
dancers then the men are sure TO come.
The typical East Side dancing academy
has its spielers,' whose business it is TO
make sl1 the girls have q pleasant time
These 'spielers' have no salaries, but a
beneft performance is given for them once
year, from which they net so or 800.
This obviously Is not enough for their
support The principal and most ren1uner-
stive business most OF these have is deal
ing IN girls. They know the morals and
character OF every girl who frequents the
place, and they can point out any sort OF
girl desired.
The young girl who goes TO the dancing
academy or to the dance hall has the
natural hope that she may meet some
young man who will pay attention TO her.
who will perhaps come day marry her,
and she is disposed to be trustful and
friendly with all the young men she meets
It Is, therefore, very easy for the tspieieT,
with little fattery, show of interest In
her, to ingratiate himself into her favor
He dances with her. introduces other men
and the girl whose day in the shop or fac
tory has been dreary comes 10 feel that all
the good time Of life centres in the dance
l,7I A.I.e L. ya
Dance mad.
"She is urged TO drink, for one Of the
most dangerous features OF the dance hall
is the sale OF liquors on the floor, where
thirst, and at the end of an evening, when
all have been drinking heavily, moral dis
tinctions grow hay. Generally The dance
halls are exploited by groups OF young
men. and they gain advantages in cheap
rates il large quantity Of liquor Is con-
suned in an evening.
The character of the dancing in many
halls is vulgar in the extreme, and can ,
have no good influence on the girl dancer
But she might come out unscathed did not
the 'spielers' deliberately use every effort
to break down her natural modesty. There
are evil women who go to dance halls and
men who spot girls they would like to
have and arrange with the 'spielers' TO
encompass their downfall
Mrs. Israels makes the assertion that