New-York tribune., 1919-10-24

1t seemed curious to US that li,er.,r
folk should be SO keen to note ~.
slight to Balboa and neglect r,n.,
graver error in the same article W.
refer to the fact that We spoke Of p,,
Moran when we meant Kid Gleason
In his introduction to Madeleine.
An Autobiography" (Harper's) Iudgs
Ben B. Lindsey writes of the book AZ.
ought to be read and pondered ovo,
1t is true" For our part. we douh,
whether the book viii prove of auy
vital aid in solving what newspapers
are fond of referring to as white
slavery" for, although much of tbo
book is convincing and seemingly
veracious, it Is hard to grasp its intent.
Indeed, there ssuch a mass of in.
formative detail in this life story of
woman of the underworld that II al.
most seemed to us as if it were in.
tended to be companion book to such
works as How To Be Boy Scout or
Golf in Fifty Lessons" 1t is true that
the author of the book takes great
pains to dwell frequently on the way
in which her whole physical and spirit
ual nature revolted against the life
which she was leading, but at other
times there is a very evident intims.
tion of her satisfaction in having been
at any rate leading member of her
profession. Certainly, she writes witt
a good deal of gusto of the manner In
which she and her friend Olga sue
ceeded in selling the same bottle Of
champagne seven times 10 a befuddled
gentleman, and undeniable pride in hel
accounts of how well she succeeded
professionally in an executive capacity
And yet, though we are not very
much concerned with seeking for
morals in books, there is one telling
sermon in the volume. and all the NOR
telling because it does not seem. 10
have been within the plan of the
writer. Madeleine" ought to do some
thing to clear away the mist in minds
which confuse prudery and virtue
Even in her most degraded and sin
ful moments, Madeleine remains =
proper person. In telling of her con
versation with an associate in the life
OF shame Madeleine writes. q felt sure
that human degradation could 90 no
further; when she took d box of ciga-
rettes from under her pillow and Of
fered me one | was speeches. with
indignation.' A wear or so later. while
Madeleine still has both feet set in the
primrose path she violently upbraid'
girl who wants her to use rouge q
would no. have my face painted, and
that settled it. Not onlv for that day
but for all of the succeeding days in
which ] remained in the business.
had to draw line somewhere Agar
she rails at present-day fashions, and
observes, "If d girl had come into
Lizzie Aliens parlors wearing some q
the present-day street styles she wou'
have been told to go upstairs and pp
on her clothes
But We were even more impressef
by the chapter in which Madeleine
goes to Butte to open brothel ans
takes dislike to the town because Of
its loose observance Of the Sabbstf
Clothing stores, groceries. saloons
small dry-goods shops, cigar stands'
dance halls and variety shows elbow
ing one another and wide open fOf
business, gave shock to my sense Of
the fitness Of things"
There is also interesting testimony
as to the caste system in this demo
cratic land Olga was rot down
stairs" writes Madeleine. ''and as the
ballroom was deserted except by TN
professor, who had just come to work
proceeded to make his acquaintance
although | knew it was against tn
rules in any first class house 10 tan
to the pianist" AS Madeleine has ss'-
even fallen lady must draw the llns
somewhere.
The author also contributes the ID