Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-11-10
g,' "a = - h 80 =
DANCE IN GREENVILLE.
GreenviiIe Newspaper Scores Conduct
of Some Young Men.
Greenwood Index journal.

Greenwood Index-Journal.
One feature of the Southern Textile
exposition in Greenville has become so
Objectionable that officials of the ex-
position have decided to abandon it in
the future. 1t is the subscription
dance So disguste6 have those inter-
ested in this entertainment for the vis-
itors become, that the authorities have
decided it is better to "cut out" the
"jazz" at all future shows, and one
has suggested to the Greenville Pied
mont that all dances in Greenville,
whether at the annual exposition or at
other places, should be witnessed by
parents of the young people, believing
that such chaperoning will have a ten
dency to uplift the art, now regarded
as very degraded practice. The most
recent J"outrage" is discussed as fol-
lows in The Piedmont:
Are good manners and good taste
on the decline? The following criti-
cisms, made by a compentent observer,
are entitled to thoughtful considera-
tion, for, assuming their correctness,
they disclose deplorable social defects,
and, so far as some of the evils OF pub
lie dances are involved, suggest rem
edies.
"On Friday night, October 20, nearly
a hundred boys and young men utiliz-
ed every device which ingenuity could
suggest to gain admission to Cleveland
hall to the dance in honor of visitors
attending the Southern Textile exposi-
ton.
"These young men and boys have no
interest in the textile trade, no ac-
quaint' ce among exhibitors and no
desire afford pleasure to visitors.
Their sole purpose was one of crude,
selfish enjoyment. Their dancing Is
awkward Of the breakdown type.
Most of them are of the so-called
jazz type, limitations of the advertise
ments of clothes, collars and shoes
seen in the popular magazines. Their
expressions are purposeless, their car
riage slouchy-their whole appearance
indicates about three diversions in life,
namely, drug stores, automobiles and
dancing.
"The manner of dancing of these
types is amusing, ludicrous or disgust
ing. 1t is no wonder that visitors
wonder where these hybrid specimens
of young American manhood came into
the picture. They frequently ask:
Who is that man?' or DO you allow
that sort of dancing down here?"
"The style of dancing is in many
cases so disgusting that no wonder
newspaper editors explode with wrath
or that ministers OF the gospel mis-
take this violation of good taste and
common decency for the real graceful
dance in which cultivated people en-
gage.
"The action Of these young men in
forcing themselves on the dance was
the same thing which has happened at
similar entertainments given the last
two years 1t was their conduct that
forced the committee to recall all invi-
tations and to make arrangements
Monday night which mean the end Of
the practice in Greenville. Monday
night the names of large number of
them, by the ticket system and by in
formation furnished the committee,
were obtained.
"The devices used to gain admission
to the hall were such that many faith
ers and mothers would hardly believe
that their sons would do such a thing.
! Right here in Greenville there are