The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-25

American tourIsts
 other for which Parisians gro sure Americans are responsible, it is the in- decency of the modern fashions in wom- en's dress.
 For some time past the leading Parisian modistes have been convinced that they were going altogether too far in the matter of lowering bodices, heightening skirts and undertaking to drape a womsn's figure with the scantiest, most diaphanous of materials. Recently they made a concerted effort to return to more conservative styles to bring the skirts a few inches nearer the ankles and to lift tho bodices so that .here would not be quite so shocking an expanse of bare flesh.
 The French women were quite willing to accapt these innovations, but the Americans-they would have none of them. They insisted on having gowns out away to even less than before, or they would take thsir patronage else- where.
 The theater and music hall managers have had similar experience When they try to bar indecent nudity and risque dialogue from their stages, Amer cans practically disappear from their audiences, but the instant the immodest and salacious features are restored their box offices arc flooded with American dollars.
 A striking instance of this is the case of Mile. Dherlys, the stage favorite whose photograph appears on this page. Mile. Dherlys is young woman of ex- ceptional beauty of face and form. She Is also dancer of considerably more than ordinary ability. With these com bned assets it Is not difficult to sec why she should be a drawing card at what ever theater she appears.
 Despite her beauty and the grace of her dancing there came time after tho armistice. when all France turned from the pursuit of the Hun to the pursuit of pleasure. that her popularity vaned in an alarming manner. Her manager was quick to discern the reason Other actresses. in compliance with the demands of the American audiences, were appear ing on the stage In costumes which, like Gunga Din's were "nothin' much before and rather less than 'arf O that be'ind." And, what was more to the point, the houses where they were appearing were turning Americans away nightly.
 NothipO for Dbarlvv ta do according to her managers edict, but to divest herself of the less essential DOT tions of her costume. This she did under protest. The seat sales increased slightly, and the more that her manager made her dispense with the larger the audience. However, time came when Mile. Dherlys felt it imperative to call halt. She was dancing in costumes which might have been appropriate in the Garden of Eden but which did not fit in with her inherent sense of modesty. She fatly refused to wear less cloth ing and was given the alternative of doing so or resigning. She resigned and was succeeded by Mile. Dorianne, who had less compunction about the amount of clothing she wore and who maintains that the human body is thing of beauty and should not be concealed.
 The actresses are not the only ones who are showing an aversion to super fuity of clothing. Many of them dress as they do under compulsion. But no such excuse can be offered for the gay throngs who desert Paris on week-ends for the bathing beaches at Deauville and other popular resorts The one-piece bathing suit has been unanimously adopted by American tourists who never thought of wearing 1t in their native country, and recent press reportAmention midnight bathing parties where even this scanty covering was absolutely dispensed with.
 What is to become of the poor Paris ians If their American cousins don't stop leading them astray?