Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-02-07
IMMORAL THEATRICALS
Billy Sunday DenOunCeS Gard Parties
and Dancing.
EVANGELISTIC MEETING GROWS
Preacher Says Dancing is "Husgins
Set to Music"-Numerous Evils Are
Severely Raped in Sermon.

All attendance records at the taber-
nacle, in Spartanburg, were broken to-
night, approximately 1000 persons
hearing Billy Sunday, former lead of
man for three big league clubs, circle
the bases OF amusements in record
time, scoring immoral theatre attrac-
tions, card playing and modern dancing
in a sermon that lasted nearly two
hours, writes staff correspondent of
the Greenville News. The sermon,
which might be termed more correctly
a moral lecture, was profusely punctu-
ated with applause, at one time culmi-
mating in a cry of "Hurrah for Billy
Theatres, card playing and dancing
came in for the greater part of Mr..
Sundays vigorous attack, the evange-
list declaring that these three were a
greater enemy Of the church than the
saloon ever was.
While Mr.. Sunday was filled with
vim, vigor and tabasco sauce, to make
use Of one of his own expressions, he
concluded with an attack on dancing
tnat was a masterful effort. He said
that in his opinion dancing is simply
hugging set to music" and he warned
the women and girls who engage in
dancing that they were helping to pull
some young man down by their con-
duct as well as running a great risk
themselves. He said that of the 100000
fallen women in the United States to-
day more than three -fourths stated
that the dance was the beginning of
their downfall, while there is no way
Of ascertaining how many men have
gone hellward because of the dance.
The latest dance, Mr.. Sunday said, is
the boil weevil wiggle," and this
statement brought forth prolonged
laughter. Previous to that Mr.. Sunday
described many of the modern dances,
initiating them in his own characteris-
tic manner and naming some of them
the bunny hug" "the half Nelson
"the toe hold" etc.
has to get mighty old before he won't
enjoy good hug" Many things are
tolerated on the floor of a dance hall
which would not be tolerated for a
moment at any other place In society.
Mr.. Sunday said that the only pos
sible way he would favor dancing
would be for laws to forbid children to
dance after becoming IL years Of age.
Some persons ask me if it is any
harm for a man to dance with his
wife? Whoever heard Of man want
Ing to dance with his own wife? They
would just as soon go out here and
pick cotton all night in the moonshine
as to dance with their wife,"
In discussing card playing Mr.. Sun
day drew forth considerable applause
by declaring that "the best peop,e do
not play cards." He scored warmly
church people particularly who sneer
at those who do not know how to play
cards and thereby encourage Them to
take the first step towards ruin.
Touching on the pool and billiard
parlors Mr.. Sunday said: IF a boy
hangs around a pool room regularly it
is about a 100 to l shot that he is
gone"
Dealing with theatres at the outset
of his sermon Mr.. Sunday said that If
the "leg shows" were taken off the
roads many of the companies would go
bankrupt. Yet the public is to blame
for this condition of affairs, he de-
clared, by patronizing pictures and
plays of questionable character. He
also raped at the lives of actors and
actresses, saying that the percentage
of divorces among them was higher
than among any other profession.
Some of the high spots Of the SER
mon last night were:
The theater was originally intended
as the hand maiden of the church. To-
day they have nothing in common. The
church gives you what you need. The
theatre gives you what you want.
sex plays give me the stomach
ache" Mr.. Sunday declared. And yet
the sexual appeal is about all some
plays and pictures contain"
A leading actress recently said the
conditions behind the footlights were
dep!orable. Keep in mind two things
in seeing q show: The character of
the show and the character of the peo-
PIE.
Il believe so per cent. of the plays of
today are demoralizing to the public
morals"
Cards were originated to please an
idiotic king. Bridge whist is just poker
by new name.
There has never been n pack of
cards under my roof. If my children
learn to gamble it will not be at home"
Girls, don't beg fellow to play
cards or dance if he doesn't wnow how.
A fellow can resist most any kind of
temptation like a man, but let it come
from a girl with soft, dove-like eyes
and his knees will knock together like
he had the ague.
"If you think immodest dress has
nothing to do with moral conditions of
today, talk with the social workers who
have heard stories dropped from lips of
fo lion pirls"