The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-31


oboit the murky and noisy I
.,rsots of the poor and th" a. s@m
rude She played prisoners %&TtS "a Ssss
hasa and shTicked Shrlly A 81 49,
and threw muddy snow balls ~
Of roffeDsive peddlcrs and ..3SNs##< SssSs
sacsed the policemen and '~asS ~ %2sSssss
assed" her elders and
.sJpped q piece OF clothesline on the congested
sidewalks just Ike the other children OF the soiled.
She went to school, where she learned to talk
rng-ammatical English chew gum, hate her teach
ers and all other persons and symbols associated
with discipline or restraint; where she learned
how 20 lie and fight and cheat and become typical
adopted daughter Of the United States as she il
turned out IN million copies from about the same
cast down where the social Tiffraff wauows and
blooms.
When Sabina reached that stage where her
mother began to slap her for spooning with the
logs in the dark Railways, and for staying out af-
ter nine and for talking to the taxi drivers wife
downstairs against express forbiddance 1t was time
for her to go to work. Her skirts were heightened
little and she was taken TO a varnish factory
where she was given job, q number, g. time-card
and IS a week
It would have been a safe bet that Sabina was
set to remain a number until she had stained her
hands and probably her soul in the yarnsh plant
until and maybe even after some greasy roughneck
with filthy GngernaIls had married her at a gnny
ceremony, and thereafter she would live out and
fight and out the rest of her predestine ed
existence between raising dsOrderly children In her
own image, battling with a maOdorous and soggy
husband, growing old and SIatte4 My and hard
boiled and sour.
And so IT would have drifted. most likely, had
J! not happened that an unforeseen and apparently
Uconsequeutial event had transpired-amateur
night at a shabby theatre the tenement WheTa
Sabins and her sem-savage flock lived. Sabina
had been 30 few Saturday night dances, and her
natural gracetulness and developing charms had
marked Der as spieier' that could not be buried
In the hubbuo mass confusion OF many.
Whenever Sabina danced in the cheap party dress
her mother had made she was singled out.
Especially when she danced with Tony Bartello
did she make all the other y0rniah straineTs and
the rest Of the good union girls loo, like Csnels.
Tony trile squRGty and had his hair
zored round on the back Of his neck and clipped
| above his like o poodle. Bat he had sliding
leet and a powerful hold and was d hoofng
husiast therefore he c&coIlod the mob and was
regarded tho logical partner for Sabina, the
dancing sensation Of the precinct.
The amateur night WIS to be climaxed with
grand dancing contest for couples, the prize TO
Oe $50, the decision to be by popular applause.
There was good deal of campaigning in ad-
vance. Residents OF the slums haven't much
faith in essential Justice, and haven't much use
for 1t, either They learn early what maneUveriDg
means, in politics especially. And the dancing
contest was approached with organized rival
oidues and claQues pledged applaud for Ger
'ain pairs, merit notwithstanding. Tony had some
following, but Sabira WIS entirely lacking in pre-
arranged support, depending entirely the IN
attached elements who might sincerely warm TO
her worE-Of course, there would be some Of those,
loo' as not every one in the whole house who came
would come instructed"
The grotesque performers did their stuff one
alter the other each taking himself and herself
with deadly seriousness aud wild remote clutch
ar tho chance that destiny might come out or
heaven and call. The applause was more sympa-
jheuc and facetjous than grateful. Every one was
waiting for the grand dancing contest that would
OTlng forth Ceul talent and real combat.
The first couple naturally rode TO fall. The
management had a smattering idea of which ones
"ere In the running and which were the buffers.
No The obvious lame ducks were sent slidding and
Stumbling to the slaughter, and the gang watched
"Nh lmnaucnCe for The real contestants. The third
'ouDc began 20 get soma important recognition;
lie fourth took an ovation; the fifth sGlvos; the
>E'A welcome and getaway that might have
satisfied a Conquering general; the seYenth-and
Sa5ina and Tony were ninth. The clatter on
1AraHce not solid It had been for some
u" those with more personal partisans, but the
hangers began to lean forward and get inter
eloI as the 1.-the. fire-eyed flapper with the limbs
" race horse and the lines OF an antelope bent
md s1ayed to the insidioUs rhythm of the rag
'mo orcheStration; Tony the expert, dwindled
INTO partner on sight-ho was only the left-hand
compartment the canvas Of tho animated
Masterpiece. Several times the hand broke
"oae in the progress Of the dance, and at the
'hDh -pandemOnium!
There were two moro couples, who did nobly,
ANA then the voting. Every one sat tense. The
"|"a were brought forth in order Of their appear
,'"'. The openers got sCant and scattered tattoos
'om their relations and immediate neighbors and
~ few who always favor the licked underdogs.
zen it began to work up The banded caQuers
'ent to it their own on. The manager
ad to raise his hand many time to stop the
t'lse, and then it ceased reluctantly, though the
"'ppers hnew they would get another chance for
"Arn the applause called off ii meant that
"' objects thereof would appear again in the
ad9aI elimination until only two couples would
add on the stage,
~ihiuI and V,r,, ,,,.~,> ;n,,I,~ 49,,
'~'' temporarily ont Of danger But the first
.~' Tor haiey PAcIon and Mike Kramer was So
''"'%ab'e' though k"tey couldn't dance In the