The sun., 1913-11-16
MUSIC HALL HIT
BY PURITY WAVE
Crusaders In Arms Against
Offensive Shows in
London.
BISHOPS LEAD FIGHT
Gaby Deslys and Maud Allan's
Dance Arouse Strong
Protest.
BERNARD SHAW IN FRAY
.Corsntiere Parade in Piccadilly
Playhouse Denounced by
Newspapers.
BERNARD SHAW IN FRAY
epecia, Cable pespascA to rus suS.

Special Cable Despasch to ruB Sun.
LoNpoN, Nov. 15.--The elections.
the Mexican crisis. Chancellor Lloyd
Georges land campaign. Ulster and home
rule furnished no lack Of important topics
10 exercise the public mind in England
this week, but II must he confessed that
the general public has shown nothing
more than occasional and momentary In
tereet in any Of them. II has plunged
eagerly, however, into the discussion OF
the moral standard OF the music halls.
This has been the leading topic OF the
week
The last purity campaign. organized
about twenty years ago by Mrs. Ormiston
Chant, undoubtedly effected q certain
amount Of reforms along broad lines. and
these lines have been carefully laid and
oven narrowed since that time by tho
London County Councils music hail and
theatrical committed.
0aby's Danoe Starts Trouble.
The present crusade 10 headed BY the
Bishop Of London. who 10 supported by
the suifragan Blshop Of Kensington and
other prominent West End cleryymen. It
aims AZ suppressine evils which Y is con-
tended are creeping Into the shows. Tho
trouble started when the Bishop Of Ken
sington and other clergymen sent to the
Lord Chamberlain . protest against what
they called the indecencies Of the dance
given by Gaby DesiyS at the Palace
Theatre recently.
Tho Lord Chambssiain wrote to the
manager Of the theatre threatening to
withdraw his license II the offensive part
of the dance were repeated. The clergy
men had the Lord Charnberiain's letter
printed. The manager wrote a hot pro-
e4ur and Gaby Desiys followed suit in a
fearful defence Of her dance Bernard
Shaw ieaped into the fray in defence OF
tho Partisan dancer. maintaining that
every one should be Judge for himself
Of what Is moral or immoral The Bishop
Of London and others Illuminated from
the pulpit last Sunday and THE hunt is
up with the hounds in full cry.
The Times has been making O feature
Of the controversy In It's correspondence
columns. the Dauy Mai and the Daily
Express have been sending IN "commis-
music halls TO report daily what they
have been able TO find. and the other
newspapers have Joined In the hunt.
Constant Reader" has been dipping his
pen In the .nkpot with glee ready to
tackle a subject on which he Is an ex-
pert So far there Ia no doubt that
victory has perched on the banner OF the
bishops.
Palace Hardest HIT.
The Palace which prides itself on BE-
ing the "Covent Garden OF the music
halls" has borne the brunt OF the at
tack The charge Is made against the
management Of this hall that the popu
,arity Of the house Is due to the fact
that the programme goes as near the
border line in morals as possible and that
II depends on this for support.
Apart from her attack on the no.
,orlous promenade" at the Empire. Mrs.
lOrmiston Chants heaviest charge was
made against the chorus there. She said
she had seen ballet girls whose legs
were bare from the knee to the top Of
their half hose On this charge the
Empire had 10 stand or fall. The man.
agement proved that there was no basis
for the charge and that did much TO
weaken Mrs Chants attack. Such a
charge would only provoke a smile to-
day 1t is the day OF ''undress' both on
and off the stage and the Palace Is
apparently charged with setting the
fashion.
The Daily Express makes an attack
on ".he growing scandal OF rivalry in
debasing novelties" II SAYS London is
suffering from the debasing influence Of
indecent entertainments. The time is
ripe for a campaign against the tendency
70 attran patronage by catering tn un-
healthy miids. The development OF this
form Of entertainment can be traced
through me recent history OF the Palace
Maud AiIan's Success.
After a reference TO tho controversy
xhlcb RACED around the Giving pictures"
which first saved the Palace from failure.
-ne present nanagements phenomenal
success WITH Maud Allan Is mentioned.
'Nnat proportion OF her success was
o-,Ip
scantiness Of her attire" the Express
SKIS and thinks II Is unnecessary TO spec
ulate
More recently" It goes on. "care Rein
hSdts Venetian Night which the
ord Chamberlain stopped at the last
moment on account OF its impropriety and
which as 1t finally appeared was ex-
trcmely dull and vulgar. Gaoy Deslys
and the unsavory Interest aroused here by
her suggestive dancing again brought the
Palace into unpleasant prominence"
/, Is regarded as strange that such
outspoAen criticism has not provoked a
libel suit when II Ia recalled that not many
years ago Iotte Collins obtained sub
stan,ial damages from newspaper whose
critic said. referring to her song and
dance at the Palace, that her perform
aucA provided the only touch OF vulgarity
In the evenings programme"
Judging from the criticisms OF the
''commiss ssioners' OF the various news
papers II is evident TO them that scanty
Costumes. suggestive gestures slight and
rapid perhaps, but unmistakable. and little
l.ts OF business worked In after the first
performance are the things objected to.
ono OF the commissioner complains Of
,hs "corsctiere parade at music hall In
Piccad!liy. where group OF chorus girls
parade through the audience displaying
some ones corsets camisOle fashion.
'susually seen In private or In shops" The
MANAGER contends that this display OF
lingerie Is intended solely for women at
the afternoon performances and that he
cannot prevent men and boys from com
,ur In II they pay for tickets.
- sajy noti0ssbls sAsult e3 ~ Ou-