The Irish standard., 1918-06-29
The Depravity Of
the Burle.que Shows

me tuTlesque SHOWS
A Widespread Danger for Our Young
Men-A Peril to National
Morality.
(By Anthony Matre, K. S. G., Nation
al Secretary Catholic Federation of
u. s. Az
The Catholic Federation of the u.
S. A., has entered upon a crusade of
public morality. This crusade is set
also against the burlesque shows.
Why? Here are the reasons:
The Mothers Bleeding Heart.
The mothers of our American boys
who are in the camps are anxiously
concerned about the morals of the
soldiers. Camp life is full <of dan
gers. The mothers heart that bled
at the departure of her dear boy,
foresees with still greater fear the
blight that may come to her son
through abandoned women. This fear
the mothers wish to allay. They have
the sympathy of the National Admin
istration-they earnestly hope that
they can expect the most efficient CO.
operation of all the military authori-
ties. The President himself listens to
the just demands of the mothers of
the entire nation, to keep our Ameri.
can manhood clean in body and soul.
We all hope and pray and work that
this cry of our American mothers be
needed sincerely and seriously.
Danger of immortality in Every Large
City.
But, are the mothers of our Ameri-
can soldiers-are the fathers of all
our American boys, aware that this
same dreaded danger threatens their
dear sons in every large American
city, every day of the year? Moral
ruin, the ruin of the nation is pre-
pared for them in houses of i'll re-
pute and in the burlesque shows
which have reached the lowest level
ever touched in theatricals. The bur-
lesque shows are in many instances,
the ante-room to the bawdy house.
The Utter Depravity os the BurIesque
Houses.
Reports obtained by Federation
from judiciOus men in several cities
reveal an abyss of shamelessness
vulgarity, impudence, impurity, filth
in action, talk, song, dress exposure
that no decent American man, OF
woman, would consider such deprav
ity possible. These low theatrical:
are the grave of all morality. Young
men, and men, often even mere boys
against the law of the State or city
nay even women-attend these show!
in large numbers Many of our prom
Using young men in United States
uniform are seen there and take il
the poisonous microbes which ca
themselves into the very blood ant
soul of our people. American moth
ers, these cesspools are in your yer,
cities-they are batting the youn
men every afternoon and evenin
Don't flatter yourselves that you
boys, whether drafted or not drafted
do not visit these low places. If the
do, they would be ashamed to ADM
it to you. You cannot imagine ho'
;r,,o ri
are fired, how their talk become
Shiny and to what disgraceful action
they may feel driven.
Official Protection.
These haunts of vice are almos
invariably protected in some way o
other by politicians. Proprietors an
managers of these houses are not ii
frequently influential politicians Q
the party in power. For this reaso
it seems so difficult, at times eve
impossible, to get action in mos
fragrant cases. The complaint is sen
to the Mayor, the Safety Director o
Police Commissioner. The report
gratefully accepted. An investigate
committee is sent out This commi
tee will report that the performanc
was clean-clean either because tn
investigators have no judgment c
immoral things, or the performanc
was somewhat cleaned up for the o.
casiOn.
Complaints Ignored.
At other times the complainant
are assured that the evil has been r.
NEEDED. Experience teaches tha
many of these assurances are only
bluff to keep the "Reformers', a
they call them, quiet. Sometimes tn
managers of the houses will ASA
the informants with ridicule. Father
and mothers, the evil is there. TIL
burlesque is Moloch that devoul