New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-03
CITY DANCE HALLS
Plan TO Prouide Them an Paris
and on Piers.


Manhattan and provide wholesome amuse-
ments for working girls, as we'll as 20
eliminate the evils Of halls where bad in
huences have been found to exist. was the
plan to which the members Of the confer
ence called by the committee on amuse-
ments and vacation resources of working
girls at the Womens University Cluo
pledged its support yesterday afternoon
while the cooperation of the city was
promised by Park Commissioner slower
1t Is his desire to appoint new super
visor Of rccrea tion-not of backgrounds
at salary Of at least $3.50 year.
The Commissioner, VINO wants to pro-
vide dancing facilities in all the recrea-
ton parks, piers and Fairgrounds under
his jurisdiction, suggested the introduc-
ton of dancing in the ffty-seven-acre Sill
yer Lake Park. on Staten Island, ana
thought if the Bronx Commissioner we're
approached some of the $4,000 TO be
spent in draining the twenty-feur acres or
marsh land south of the old Van Cortland
mansion in the park might be utilized Tor
providing a dancing floor. if not pavilion
The lands lying under the Greensboro
Bridge, the Commissioner suggested as
an admirable place for dance hall--in
fact he said he was considering the space
under all three of the bridges. which he
had asked the Dock Commissioner to turn
over to him,
What shall we do With the utterly use
less 500 600 building in Hamilton Fish
Park" he asked. Then answered the
query himself with the suggestion that If
the partitions were removed and the east,
and west wings thrown together it would
make an ideal dance hall.
It was st the conclusion of dramatic
iniquities of the dance halls of New York
that the Commissioner proposed his plan
to aid the committee in it's rescue work.
Miss Schoenfeld has thoroughly invest-
gated the subject of dance halls in Man
haitian, and she said
In the vilest parts of Paris saw no more
vulgar or low dancing than have seen at
the rackets' in New York. There are many
men in New York who do nothing else but
ties. They advertise themselves under the
names of various clubs and associations.
Widows. the Merry Chorus Girls. the
French Models, the City Sports, and the
like.
Their method of advertising is unique,
Thousands of circularS-throWaways they
are called-are printed and distributed ,, in
every saloon and hall in Manhattan. The
Bronx and Brooklyn.
The dancers come from the four corners
of New York. Distance seems to lend en-
chantment and Brooklyn BOYS and girls
viii find their way out to dance halls in
The bronx Girls come alone and i'll groups
one they can pick up at dance. They are
young, seldom far III their tWenties. most
Of them eighteen and nineteen, though
have seen many girls not much over tour
teen. In one hall conyersed with group
go weekly to a dance and stay till mid
night. In this instance the parents knew
where the girls were.
Girls come from every walk Of life, the
shops and factories. the burlesque and
chorus. domesticS and mattresses Even
the girl in the home who is not employed
IS on the streets searching for fun In the
Casino many good girls are seen, but in the
lows saloon dance halls they are seldom
found.
Manners and customs are as loose as
morals. Between the dances the girls flock
TO the dressing rooms, some to smoke, some
to powder and paint. The men mock to
the bar. The girls drink. but not to the
extent that is naturally expected. The men
are usually drunk before the evening is
Many of the girls use all sorts Of decep-
ton TO get from their homes. One girl
church club. and another went TO her room
on the pretence of going to bed. and climbed
out of the window, intending TO return the
same way.
Because it is the belief OF the women in
terested that these dance halls form the
recruiting ground for the white slave"
traffic, said Mrs Charles H. Israels. chair
man Of the committee on amusements, it
has been decided TO maintain central bu-
reau where white list of proper vacation
boarding places will be OH file, and other
information which may tend to restrict If
not control. the evils of dance halls in
New York,
Michael N. Davis. jr., explained the
amendment to the dancing academy law
which the conference is working to get
passed this winter, which will. among other
things. compel dance hall proprletors to
take out license. to cost $50. Its aim Is
not to suppress the good places. bat to
eliminate the bad ones