The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1912-06-20

nf0 escapes IN such position that
they projected across the building
line of the Odeon property.
Immediately adjoining the Odeon
on the north is located St. Alphon-
sus church, commonly called the
Rock Church, one of the largest
Catholic churches in the city Con
nected with this religious edifce
there are a number of other struc-
lures and institutions, notably two
schools, several sodality halls, a con-
vent, etc. The whole property occu-
pies a frontage of nearly two city
blocks. Right here it is well to
emphasize the fact that all this mag
nificent property, representing real
estate value of several hundred
thousand dollars, is entirely exempt
from taxation of every Sort, on the
score of being devoted to religious
and educational purposes, though the
schools are all pay schools, and of
course the church gathers the usual
amount Of tribute. The Odeon, on
the contrary, is regularly assessed
ard taxed.
There has never been the least
objection made to the projecting
fire escapes, the church authorities
apparently realizing that they could
not possibly be otherwise construc-
ted, and the law compelled them to
be put on the building.
When Rev. Father Franzen pre-
sented his request" to the Odeon
manager, he very significantly
pointed out the fact, all with the
utmost courtesy, Of course, that no
objection had been raised to the fire
escapes; but at the same time the
priest, according to his own state
ment, said that unless the Miles date
for the hall were cancelled the fire
escapes would be torn down-which
would be entirely within the LEGAL
rights of the church.
Naturally the Odeon manager
could make but one answer. With
out those fire escapes the city
authorities would compel the COM
plete closing of the great hall and
theater, and that meant ruin. He
"courteously' agreed to comply with
the request. Use of the hall was
denied to Gen. Miles, and a crowd of
disappointed people were denied the
pleasure and profit of hearing the
famous old Indian fighter.
The crowd began gathering early
in the evening, and not until after
the people reached the hall did they
know that it had been closed against
them and the great man they had
expected to hear. A large number
of people remained about the
entrance, waiting for they scarcely
knew what. The writer of this
mingled with that crowd. Scattered
all through the assemblage on the
street, and in stores and other places
in the vicinity, there were we'll
known members of the big Catholic
church. No word was heard from
them out of the ordinary; but their
very presence indicated at least their
interest in the situation and in
any possible outcome.
Now something about the wide
spread Importance, and the real sig
nifcance of the affair-and this has
been carefully ignored by every pub
LEGATION here: AS has been said, the
Odeon is the largest audience hall in
st. Louis, except the mammoth Coli
scum, which is a great barn like
structure without any semblance of
stage or other similar equipment
1t is in the Odeon that great theatre
cal productions and operate and
other musical affairs take place. If
the fire escape menace can be
employed to control the use of the