The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-31
STRAND ROOF GARDEN.


Way is expensive Is challenged by fonr
women. They have designed and are
promoting a Broadway institution which
proclaims that the high cost Of dancing
Is an injustice to most Of our island
dwellers and libel upon their ingenuity.
Through them the home with It's hos
tosa, ip quiet charm and hospitality
has invaded tine Kingdom Of spenders.
This bit OF Rialto history really be-
gan with the low priced movie theatre
and the arrival Of automatic lunch
rooms alongside observations restau-
rants and hotels. These institutions
gave Miss Elisabeth Marbury the idea
Of starting temperance dance cafe
terra on the same principle Accord
ingly, she formed a directorate with
NESS Ammo Morgan. Mrs. w. X. VAN
derbi.t ana Miss Elsie do Wolfe. and
the strand Roof Garden, which opened
January 4. became fact.
The place Is worth visit. II pro-
vldes an interesting answer TO the per-
picking problem OF rational and whole
some amusement.
You see a Wide triangular hall dain-
tily decorated in pale green and silver
white with red carnations speaking all
the table tops, "a whi,e suited colored
orchestra dispensing the modern dance
rhythms. tempting dishes OF food
frankly displayed on counters and an
attractive soda fountain behind a lattice
lornamented with Illuminated orange
trees. Opposite the fountain through
tho Wide French windows framed In
heavy green hanEnes, Hash the con-
vulslve lights ~ the Great White WAY.
You watch the young men and
women, some In formal more IN in
formal dress. thronEing tho tables and
dancing within the barriers "ou feel
| that the admr'ug fathers and mothers
Ia arnchairs by the windows and tho
gracious ceremony of Introducing con-
stanty going forward among the tables
give the scene pleasing air OF do
mcsticity.
You learn that these young people
/ for meal and dance pay an average q
/ 20 cents at noon when no admission
Is charged and 80 cents IN the after
noon (which includes tea) and at
night. there being no dance tickets. no
! tipping. no extras. Your interest is
further aroused by being told that tho
institution IA not philanthropy but
Is earning Z per cent. on the preferred
stock.
In reply 20 Broadway critics who say
that the Strand Roof Garden cannot
succeed because young people flock to
| Broadway IN order 20 escape tho "dreary
responsibility" OF the home, there are
! offered the following consl dera lions:
Tho city authorities give free homes
to the unfit. bread lines are provided
| for the destitute: convicts have their
iirSt nights. ball games and movies: and
even youthful scions OF wealth haVo
their divorce courts and the sport Of
motor accidents. But who provides rec
readon or entertainment for THAI
vastly larger population OF average
youths and ma!dens who arrive By
\ thousands each year,"
1nconspicuous by their very number.
| little IS written about them. Lost in
tho nervous, curt hammered multltudes,
they work hard by day. they live often
very much alone; they intend to start
bank accounts. and they write long LETT
tors home. They come from religious
homes. are honest and generous and h,n
Of human desires.
The chilling solemnity Of church par
Tors has turned their eyes toward the
great white lights. Religious patronage
has lost favor. Phuanthroplc societies
make but slightly stronger appeal.
Young people will not accept charity.
Young people can no more he kept
| from Broadways Bagdad Of electricity
than the Hudson can be forced back to
Albany with windmills. You viii in
weigh in vain against tho nocturnal
magic Of the primrose way. The young
man treads it once and ever after the
antic signs keep wheeling pouring and
Mapping IN his dreams
The other night Miss Marbury ana
Miss Morgan sat in the big bay window
OF the Strand Roof Garden and ex-
planned the ideas which brought II forth.
Miss Marbury has the young mans
point Of view.
~ too love Broadway" she said. and
l want 10 help young people enjoy t.
This place IL dedicated to the proposi-
ton that an ostentatious and reckless,
expenditure OF money for pleasurN, r.
foolish and unnecessary.
1T is simple business proposition.
IF there Is n romance and fascination in
broadway which we cannot bring 10
inc nome then We VIII bring the In
nuerce OF the home to Broadway That
is why four women are deciding tho
policies OF the Strand Roof Garden. rt
IL woman's social privilege 10 propagate
the Influence OF the home.
woman provides food and entertain
ment. Mrs. Vanderbilt was once served
a cup OF bad tea here; promptly she
went to the chef and gave directions for
making tea properly. We are our own
official tasters.
AS for the d1ncing we know that n
takes two 70 make mischief on the
dancing floor, and therefore we hava
hostesses 10 make introductions and
Join in the fun, We shall maintain
moderate prices and eliminate bounderS
My father taught me how to tell nice
man by the cut OF his iih-
Miss Morgan is interested IN girfa
When asked to state her reasons for
giving her name and means 70 promote
the 'at homo" dance parlor. she put
down her knitting, and said
III l Thought the Strand Roof Gar
den did not offer enough to make n
succeed without the use OF my name
should not have been Interested in r.
1t win speak for Itself 1t will succeed.