Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-29

whether II dismisses with facetiouS
contempt or attacks in anger, eoltorlal
opinion on the marathon dance Is
nretty much in agreement with the
commentator who writes the spectacle
down as small credit to American
civiliza ton.
IF the endurance dancers had lived
500 years ago" advises the New YORK
sun. they would be mentioned in his
tories as the Tarantists are. AS 1t Is
their fame is transient. The eVoiu-
ZIONIST sees them as trivial eXnloitlon
az the survival of the fittest. The poll-
tician is reminded OF something that
happened in the old Garden four wears
ago. The sociologtst IS the happleS'
spectator He sees grim, hapieSS Sou-
pie kicking each others snins, snap.
hing each others faces. screaming az
Zach other. all in q desperate effort 10
keen on. to keep up. to win prize
AS they say in the Village, life Is ike
that" ,,-,,.. -
served by the indianapolis Star, laugh
AZ the antics of the groggy performers
ar shout In glee when an lnclpient Dat
tie breaks out, A writer calls IL poor
Imitation Of the Roman arena Inc
,~roy wretches of that day, however,
often had 10 fight The fools who take
mart In this dance derby entered OF
their own accord The spectacle should
make us suuirm over the fatuous dec,
laratiou that we're all created iree ana
eol,al" The Danbury Evening news
calls ii 1.-THE worst spectacle yet pS-
sented TO the public. For It SHOWS glIlS
and women struggling against Istishe,
bedraggled. making a public spectacle
out of themselves.
.onA can imagine the bewilderment
susoeSts the Rochester Democrat ana
SShTnnicle with which the African
tom ION dancers would gaze at this
ami spectacle. No paint, no nose
rings. no brandishing of clubs, no
noise except BY the orchestra. And
no point. The Africans dance fof
variety of reasons; they dance as an
emotional outlet. in deadly earnest, 70
relieve their feelings. TO express tnels
sentiments. TO heal their diseases
In time. maybe, the ATT
cans learning more and more, may
rise 10 the level OF endurance dances,
bunicn derbieS and six-day bicycle
races"
"When IL sees the dance marathon
the more intelligent portion OF the
community" according 60 the New
York World. does not know what TO
think. II knows perfectly well taat
this is more offensive 20 decency than
most of the plays which have been
closed on complaint of the moFaliStS,
But the Ann Arbor Daily News de-
clares: THE devil finds work for idle
hands TO do. and the derby dancers
are certainly not idle So on with the
dance. and may II bring much hap
p,nesS To the world. II Is not art,
and IL is not sport. but II does Keep
some minds occupied and feet IN mo-
ton. such forms OF folly probably
perform useful Junction IN ths
world They are disgusting, out IL
they upiift mentalitias, they can, per"
haps be tolerated"
There Is no moral" In the opinion
of the Meridian Star except the tutlle
foollShnesS of humankind, No WORTH
while lesson, no enlightening conelu-
sion as TO civic virtucS~~merely
crowd of young men and wonAen.
stunning. painting, perspiring dragSling
ON and on Who can account for the
queer QuirkS OF human naturep" The
Worcester Evening Gazette holds that
III thts Is sport 50 was the World
War, and so was Neros practice OF
feeding Christians 10 the lions The
Flint journal affirms "It the dancers
sought fame for endurance, they
coveted hollow honor II, as is more
likely, they sought money, they are
hardly 10 be blamed Hut the public
which made the spectacle possible Is
much 10 be condemned"
The need Of "a society for the pre-
vention of cruelty 90 human beings,
by means of which those who are
prone To enter endurance contests 10
a finish may be protected Is INT
pressed upon the Jersey City journal.
while the Waterbury Republican Is iln-
PEELED ays that there Is no pkll.