Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-14
WHAT DO YOUR CHILDREN DO
AFTER THEIR DAYS WORK?
A Query Suggested by the Mayors De-
termination TO Censor Badly
Manaaed Dance Halls

Managed Dance Halls
C,ICH teeth as were in Governor Sprouts
- prohibition enforcement bill are being
slowly extracted by the vets in the Legisla-
ture. But they will not be wasted. They
will be dcftly snatChCd up, 1t appears, Tor
iucoruoration in the policy which Mayor
Moore and his associates are preparing to
Amply for the publication of public dancing
and the dance halls.
Thus, for the seventh time this week,
newspaper readers have heard Of laws at
Washington. at Harrisburg and NJ City Han
so equipped. But n great many neople are
beginning to wonder whether. after all, the
science Of dentistry rather than the rules
Of enlightened common sense can ever pro.
vide q certain cure for social and political
and economic ailments of these parlous times.
Let us chccrfullv admit the truth aud JUS
tirr Of ali that the authorities say about
many Of the Jazz dances. These dances, ike
the rhythmS that attend them, came origi-
ualIy and not very long ago from the 1unglcs
where consumption of the betcl nut is not
yet prohibited. They were elaborated in the
underworld Of New Orleans and from there
PASSED on to be approved and accepted 10y the
elite of the white mans world.
# Jazz and all that goes with il were
exclusive to the dance halls, the problem OF
the polco and the cenSors would be simple
and easy But the we'll bred and cultured
and lcfsurcly part of the population. which
Is broadly referred TO as Society, shows no
disposition TO returp 10 the waltz and the
mnuet.
Dance ccnsorS who believe that you can
solve problem BY Suppressing its outward
symptoms are too ready as n rule, to devot"
all their attention to the young men ana
Young women who. in weariness or sheer
,Irif pl,,ft n search of the
element that for many people, is the mod
ern substitute for happiness. They might
we'll 60 a good drnl further and make occa'
,onal excursions Into the upper circles which
these Young people study and initiate.
Mr. Moore and the police will. of course,
do a great service to the community II they
close or cl"au up the ugly resorts that pass
for dance halls in some OF the obsCurer parts
of the city, But the social complication pre-
Soutcd in such places cannot be solved by
mere suppression. II is an old and familiar
problem and it is related in many ways 10
iuadcUuaI" housing, to poverty aud To op-
rrcssivc routine as we'll rs to deficient moral
training.
You may say what YOU will about the
DEVIL but YOU cannot deny his extraordinary
rlcvcrncsS or his shrcwd insight into the
docps of human nature. He has been per
mittrd to monppolizc much that is bright,
chocrful and even beautiful in his business.
He offers. il you are young and eager and
inprcsSouabr. the temptation Of shining
things and things seemingly good humored
and joyous.
Man docsn live 10y bread alone. Neither
do boys and girl, and children generally.
There j. in every youthful heart craving
for movement and light and color and music.
1t i, II perfectly rational desire.
So y"uth when il ventures int" strange