| Show PROTEST AGAINST TIGHTS CHICAGO has baa been struck with another of her periodical spells of prudery A crusade has set in there against tights the inte doean speaking of a certain exhibit which was made in the auditorium the and other leading theatres theartres the atres of chicago de declares claree the ballet girls would have been less indecent had they appeared in utter nudity audit the tha lar tights that caused the rumpus were not described but they must have been pretty bad A style of female stage attire that would shook shock a chicago audience would have to be tough in deed chicago papers be tt it said are laboring under great disadvantage in presenting her claims to the consideration of modesty people who read Chi cagos indignation on this occasion are sure to bring to mind the action of its courts when a few years ago a photographic to broker exposed in his bis window certain obscene pictures for advertising purposes the readiness with which those guardians of the public found that the vulgar and mercenary wretch who made the display was innocently ly pursuing the elevating profession of art study from nature and was therefore entitled to the protection and encouragement of the court was waa a shock to a great many people there but the art show went on just the same probably the offensive ballet will do likewise probably the protest of the papers to is not at heart eart b a protest at all but is paid for at advertising rates by the manager of the obnoxious company he could very well afford to do that but while the country may properly smile at this attempt at sanctimony by the chicago papers there is small comfort in the joke it is too thoroughly conscious of the fact that the outcry is a just one and applies not only to the playhouses of chicago but to nearly every theatre in this country it is true that the american stage in ie being disgraced by the lax manner in which mercenary managers are permitted to pander to the lower tastes of the people in the matter of stage costumes the impudence and indecency with which a certain class of actors encroach upon established customs in their bids for patronage is a peculiarity of the drama of the period but after all if there was waa not a demand for that kind of thing the supply would soon cease the fault lies primarily in a perverted public tas taste te and secondly in the willingness willing nees of performers and playhouse proprietors proprietor to pander to it for revenue |
