The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-20
LONG. DISTANCE PIANO PLAYING
 RACE STOPPED
Superintendent Birmingham For bids This Sort Of "Sport-
 ing Event" in Bridgeport Health of Young Women Parti- cipants Seriously Endangered Some One Made Complaint

NO more piano-playing contests for young women,' was the ultima
 tum that went out from the, office of Police Superintendent Birmingham,
 this morning, and the endurance con- 1 test in which Miss Nellie Griffin was
 going to try to break the worlds rec ord for long distance piano playing at the Globe Theatre in Fairfield avenue was stopped shortly after it started. Mrs. M M. Smith, proprietress and manageress of the Globe Theatre, has, tened to the office of Supt. Birming- ham and demanded to know what it meant and why she hadn't received word sooner
 Supt Birmingham assured her that there will be no more such contests,
 as they are inhuman tests of endur- ance and seriously endanger the health of the young women who par ticipate. He told her that she had not received notice before. because he
 did not receive the complain until this morning.
 At the word complaint Mrs. Smith pricked up her ears and raced down the street to find Robert Kinder, pro-
 prietor of rival moving picture thea tre, under whose auspices Miss Net | tie Hubbell claims to have made 8
 
 playing few days ago.
 1 Mrs. Smith accused MT. Kinder of 1 having put stop to the attempt to 1 break the record. MT. Kinder repud- l lated the charge and the two of them | together then went to see Supt. Bir- 1 mingham'
 Did I make any complaint?'' asked MT. Kinder, indignantly.
 Certainly not" said the superinten-
 dent, and Mrs. Smith was somewhat l appeased, but not entirely. so
 T think it was jealousy declared Mrs Smith to a Farmer reporter, 1 later, although I was told that one of the newspapers had story about the humane society's interfering. think it is a shame that Nellie has
 been stopped continued Mrs. Smith; |; "alI the while she played I would be
 right with her, looking out for her. And 1 wouldn't tolerate any drinking
 or disorder in my theatre while the contest was going on, either" What I want to know" continued Mrs. Smith, Ifs how anyone can claim
 to be the champion now, when nobody is allowed to try to break the record. It seems as though they ought to for felt the championship under these cir cumstances, doesn't ftp There is no appeal from Supt. Bir- mingham'S. decision, as he has the right to revoke the license of any moving picture theatre when, In hiS discretion, it is not being properly
 conducted, is showing improper pie lures, or is offering attractions not of the right kind.
 The last endurance contest lasted
 about 60 hours and was a very severe
 strain upon the young woman who
 participated in it. The requirements are that the piano is to be played con- tinuously, without a seconds inter mission, throughout this period. of time Miss Hubbell, the winner, had a man for her opponent and beat him by several hours. Supt. Birmingham declared this morning that positively no more sporting events" of this na- ture will be tolerated, at moving pie ture places or elsewhere. If neces-
 sary. the laws limiting. the employ ment of women and children will be invoked, or if the exhibition takes place at a showhouse, the license of that place will be revoked.