11

OMAHA HIT IT JUST RIGHT

The Condemnation Passed Upon
an Indecent Song in "Aladdin"
Drives It Out.

San Francisco Compels the Discontinuance
of "Her Golden Hair Was
Hanging Down Her Back."

A Warfare on This Tough Production, Begun
by Mrs. Peattie, Results in a
California Uprising.

When Dave Henderson's glittering
extravaganza appeared in Omaha, a
few weeks ago, Miss Boyd, the plump
and pleasing prima donna, sang a song,
"Her Golden Hair Was Hanging Down
Her Back." She half chanted this ballad,
which recited the exploits of a
maiden from the rural districts, who
met and drank with a stranger, who
supposed her to be unsophisticated, but
who found, upon leaving her, that he
had been despoiled of his valuables.
The song was full of disgusting insinuations,
and was felt by many who
listened to it to be of the sort that
could appropriately be sung only in
the place. However, the gallery
whistled, the decent young men in the
dress circle blushed, the young women
looked absolutely bewildered, and certain
positive-minded members of the
Woman's club were with difficulty restrained
from hissing.

MRS. PEATTIE BEGAN IT.

The World-Herald had a half column
article by Mrs. Peattie upon the impropriety
of singing such a song in the
presence of respectable and pure
minded ladies and gentlemen. This
started conversation concerning the
matter, and it was quite generally
agreed in certain circles that if the
song was attempted here again, the
manager would be requested to eliminate
it from his program.

That is exactly what has been done
in San Francisco. "Aladdin Jr." was
presented at the Baldwin theater in
that city, and the women, who formed
80 percent of the audience, were shocked,
and a deputation waited, on the manager
and asked him to have the ballad
out out of the program.

Miss Boyd was very much astonished
and said: "I didn't see anything improper
in the song, but I was told some
of the society ladies of San Francisco
though it was broad and so I was glad
to stop it. It really seems to me
though, a case of to the pure all things
are pure," I expect to sing the song
when we go east again, but if San Francisco
thinks it is improper I'm sure I
don't want to appear in a wrong light
before anyone."

OMAHA WOMEN WERE AROUSED.

This statement of Miss Boyd's was
shown Mrs. Peattie today,

"Miss Boyd," said this lady, "is mistaken
as to the beginning of opposition
to the song. Had Aladdin Jr. remained
a day longer in Omaha the same opposition
would have been offered her
Miss Boyd will search in vain for any
person so pure that a ballad of street
flirtation, drinking and theft, with all
attendant insinuations, can be made to
seem innocent.

"The dramatic critics do not, as a general
thing, object to such songs, because
the audiences appear to be entirely acquiescent,
and the critics have no warrant
for saying that these vicious ballads
are offensive to the public. As they
may or may not be offensive to the
dramatic critics, comment is usually
avoided.

"I see that in San Francisco the critics
seem to have kept clear of the discussion,
but the men about town are
clamoring to have the song restored."

Mr. Henderson is confident that the
east will not object to the song. He
said: "When we go back to Philadelphia,
Boston and New York we will put
on that song again. There will be no
complaint there. I know those cities
well enough to predict that. The truth
of the matter is San Francisco has too
many restaurants which tolerate improprieties
and too many back rooms
to the saloons. So some of the people
see impropriety where none is intended."

MR. HENDERSON'S IDEAS.

"Mr. Henderson," said Mrs. Peattie,
in relation to this, "seems to think that
where there are no back rooms to saloons,
theft and the drinking together
of men and women unacquainted with
each other would bot be regarded as an
impropriety. Perhaps not. He might
try the song at Tabor, Ia., for example
where there are not and never have been
any saloons, and see how it is regarded
there. The brilliant tout ensemble of
the modern spectacle hangs on the ragged
edge of indecency at any time - the
magnificent scenery, esthetic costumes
charming hodge podge of music and
clever specialties making an alluring
background for these artistic and
moral pyrotechnics, "But in the opinion
of most "Her Golden Hair Is Hanging
Down Her Back" did not linger for one
moment on the ragged edge of decency.
It bounded over with magnificent
bravado, and was thoroughly indecent
- and glad of it."