tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74580315717640139122024-03-17T19:59:38.212-07:00The Cat's Meat Shop<p align="left"> Lee Jackson's blog - a Victorian rag-bag.</p><br><p> </p> Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.comBlogger733125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-81908062629769518812017-08-30T13:46:00.003-07:002021-04-26T09:02:51.712-07:00Victorian Monkey Tennis?Notes written by a manager of the Alexandra Palace, c.1880? (Haringey Museum AP1/17)<div>
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<i>These notes appear in the archives without an author, but display a series of one-line ideas, added over a period of time (months?) for developing the north London pleasure-ground of Alexandra Palace, which was perennially on the verge of bankruptcy. They provide a unique insight into the mind of a harassed Victorian entrepreneur.</i><br /><div>
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<br /></div>
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<div>
Railway timetable given or sold at every Ry Station along lines to & from City & to and from AP with list of AP attractions; ? charge 1/2d & illustrate nicely and get nearly the cost back</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Arrange Waiting Room at Railway - Have at in Central Hall & at each end </div>
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" next train to City ____ To King's Cross ___ [illeg] ___ for respectively</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Study towns round Palace, Enfield, Barnet &c.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Subscription Skittle Ground (see the one Mr. Perfect plays at)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Volunteer Ball - have Central Hall gradually close-boarded</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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Sales of sporting and other dogs by Freeman ([illeg.] Rich called 8/11/79)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Hunters show & jumping Competn as at Lyons Down (see B, Booth, future)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Compare Ry fares without admt. to see what added </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Picturesque villas in the park</div>
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<br /></div>
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Exhibtn to illustrate Old London - Antiquarian & Relics - Photos Moods Maps & Pictures</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Leifold & other organists - Foreigners for Saint Saens &c Stainer, Best</div>
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<br /></div>
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Smoking Gallery in Central Hall</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
No Touting but gentlemanly information given [illeg.] </div>
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next train leaves at ___ & so on. "Have you shown your children the Japanese Village, Sir?" "Have you seen the new ____" & so on</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Panto & opera books shd have a few bars of most popular airs</div>
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<br /></div>
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3rd class Dining room where West Rooms now useless are</div>
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<br /></div>
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Big label with name of piece to be played by Band or sung &c (?Blackboard)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Plenty of information given to Visitors so that programmes not necessary</div>
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<br /></div>
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Print programmes on back of handbills</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Steam [illeg.] Railway, Wm Eton 6 Rue des Fermieries, Batignolles, Paris</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Offer Prize for the best £10 Piano. Also for Girl Pianists.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sewing Machine Exhibt. Prizes for machinists (girls)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Get Ry Co's to give small space on monthly bills for AP Calendar </div>
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AP trains briefly stated & small</div>
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<br /></div>
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Trade Contests - Bartenders, Bricklayers &c</div>
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<br /></div>
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Plant a Maze</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sell Fruit and Cigars at Telegraph office</div>
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<br /></div>
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Exhibition of Taxidermy</div>
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<br /></div>
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Stall for novelties - Elect. Pen zylographing, Yankee Dodges</div>
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<br /></div>
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Big Strong aviary Macaws flying about || Bear Pit</div>
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<br /></div>
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Entrance to theatre from top of Railway stairs</div>
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<br /></div>
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Amuse crowd on Bank Holiday nights with lime light [illeg.] (save gas!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Make Working Models a really good exhibition</div>
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<br /></div>
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?Electric light for Palace & Park?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Goat Enclosure - high rock work as Jardin d'Acclimiation</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sell Reminiscences of S.G. like Royal Academy does</div>
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<br /></div>
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?Sea water Swimming Bath (Willing, Had[illeg.], ?Lloyds homemade)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get some of the features of Polytechnic, Madame Tussaud's. Aquarium (one or two tanks zoological f[illeg.] for specialties)</div>
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A Rabbit Warren | An Alligator Pond</div>
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<br /></div>
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Push books of admission tickets</div>
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Valentines Day Concert of Love Songs, Huge Valentine, Comic figure (as Guy show)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Fairy Groups by Wilson (Cinderella trying on shoes, R.Riding Hood & Wolf &c)</div>
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<br /></div>
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St. Patrick's Day</div>
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St. Andrews, St. Crispin's Day (Best[?] Show), French Fete (when?) Italian Fete [illeg.]</div>
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<br /></div>
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Exchange posters with Halls and Theatres</div>
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Programmes on sale at all Ry Stations</div>
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House to House dely [delivery] of circulars to be systematized</div>
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?Glaciarium - see one ?for Slides</div>
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All Fool's Festival a la Guy show</div>
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Shows of artificial flowers \ mechanical toys</div>
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Mammoth Punch & Judy (Lightfoot)</div>
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Biscuit advertisements</div>
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Exhibtn of Engravings, Photographs</div>
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Exhibitors to pay for their gas</div>
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Half Holiday Entmts for Children ?on Satys or Wednys of a Dissolvg View Polytechnic sort</div>
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Cultivate the Religious people, Sunday School Gatherings &c because N.L. so good </div>
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<br /></div>
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Piscatorial Exhibition at end of fishing season (R. Ag. 78)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Paris Panorama M.Marie</div>
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<br /></div>
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Exhibtn. Burglars Implements & means to outwit them, safe, weapons &c</div>
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<br /></div>
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(never let Stilemen work together long. The frauds perpetrated are:</div>
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Passing 2 at a time \ adults through children's stile \ Ry. tkts through S.T. tile & then cash at Ry.</div>
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Always put best men at ticket stile? & doubtful ones on <u>cash</u></div>
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<br /></div>
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Skipping Ropes - send for, in grounds</div>
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Invalid Chairs if only one of Wicker</div>
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<br /></div>
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Doll Show Ancient & Modern Toys contrasted</div>
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Make statues of Kings & Queens instructive & great men in each reign &c</div>
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<br /></div>
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Always label gifts of birds[?] &c with names of donors. Get much in this way as advt. for donors.</div>
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We ought to be able to tell Excursion parties rates including admn. from any Station named for any number (Gower St. Walworth Rd &c)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Calendar of attractions posted in every Ry carriage of GNR, NLR, GER</div>
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Riding School</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get Joint Tckts issued at Crouch End, Edmonton & all stations.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Can more burners be stopped, Central Hall, to enable frequent entire lighting</div>
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<br /></div>
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Can Poultry Show be profitably revived (Nichols, W.J 6 Arnold Rd Tooting)</div>
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Ballad Concerts, Classical Concerts, English opera concerts</div>
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Meeting of Old Soldiers</div>
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Ballon captif</div>
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? Bookstall, secondhand books & at Publishers prices</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get gas lower price if more used</div>
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Water at 7.5 instead of 9d</div>
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Reading Room, Buy Maps & all periodls at trade price</div>
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? Subscribe for telegraphic news</div>
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<br /></div>
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Competition among Theatrical Property Masters</div>
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Singlestick - Profll & Amateurs, Volunteers</div>
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--- Military, All[?] Clubs </div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
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Glee clubs, Chamber Music, Dramatic Recitations</div>
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[illeg.] in Latin and other languages - German & French particly</div>
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At Easter get chief attractive items of London Xmas pantos</div>
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Find employment for unoccupied Stilemen, Ladies [illeg.] Women &c</div>
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<br /></div>
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Prize for best Manifolder Zylograph &C Typewriter</div>
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Exhibn of means to do [ditto] - Electric Pen &c</div>
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Herriot & Louie & such for Entnts in dull times & Good Friday</div>
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<br /></div>
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Show Type Setting Machine & other interesting machine</div>
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<br /></div>
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Rail Staff tkts? Pay lower price for Waiters, Choir &c than for general</div>
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<br /></div>
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Make W. green Doorkeeper's room Refreshment Bar</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get Paintings by Princesses? Buy. 2y Collection of Royal Artwork</div>
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Do a big Trotting match on a Race Day</div>
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Show [illeg. line due to folder paper]</div>
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advertised by R.Smith Ho. Nurserymen, Worcester</div>
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Prize for best amateur Water colour Sketch of grove</div>
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Grow water-cress in grounds</div>
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" cucumbers & sell them, letting Public cut them</div>
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Fancy biscuits to be made in Public & sold</div>
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[illeg.] Exhibit Ball [illeg.] water jet &c &c.</div>
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Milk & Cows or his idea of model farm combined</div>
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? Admit all children free or pass them free to Circus or -</div>
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? Cheap arrangemt for Mondays</div>
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Stiles to record by Electricity in Central Office</div>
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Alls Tkts Compy & paid shd have name & address on front</div>
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Get Wood Green Stn called A Park & W.G.</div>
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If Circus, Band specially for it?</div>
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Special Trains from City not stopping [illeg.] KX ?at FP?</div>
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Exhibitors stalls in Central Hall & Corridors (Get a Naturalist)</div>
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Chess with living men</div>
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Encourage Amateur Walking & Runnung</div>
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Make Trotting Track <u>perfectly</u> level</div>
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Alter Bicycle Track</div>
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Make Stand over Ref Pavillion for Trotting or Buy a Stand</div>
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Cinder Track for Running</div>
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<br /></div>
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Alter Excursion Tariff Reconcile contradictions</div>
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Make Statues instructive by labels</div>
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Popcorn should be made & sold well away from sweetmeats</div>
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Choir Tickets to be limited in their date of admission</div>
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James B's [illeg.] for children's stiles</div>
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Blotting pad with sketches of AP & Calendar (see Brown B Kunder 7)</div>
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Shooting at glass balls thrown from spring</div>
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<br /></div>
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£7 A [LFA?] to hasten good housebuilding outside. Use surplus shrubs A. Park</div>
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Sell foods on commission</div>
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Morgan promised favourable advertising arrangement</div>
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Arrange a simple plan for sale of tickets available by Rail like Police Fete but simpler to suit Tonic-Sol-Fa people &c</div>
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? At Palace High level entr. combined work of Ry Tkt people & our Stilemen</div>
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D ___ ? after stiles so that visitors can use either stairs</div>
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Many more Ludgate Trains. More direct City Trains less changes at F Park</div>
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Erect earth works & Camp as at Ulundi Edowe, Rorkes Drift</div>
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? get the verulable defenders to undertake it?</div>
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Electric Tram in grounds (or Steam) [illeg.] from Wood Green</div>
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[illeg.] Deep Park</div>
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Festoon of Ivy Grove entrances Ivy specialties</div>
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? offer a prize for Ivy Figures</div>
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Get Entce to Grove from Road & from Ry</div>
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Cultivate Miseltoe in the Grove</div>
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Advt at bottom of Tumbler glasses seen as one drinks</div>
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Dr Rosenthal of 52 Woburn Place & 110 Leadenhall St. offered to bring over by Emperors [illeg.] the best German Band (Army) asked £60 for one evg</div>
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<br /></div>
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Prize for [illeg.] Cornet Playing & other Instrumentalists (Girl Pianists) by Shirley [illeg.]</div>
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<br /></div>
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Watercress Exhibtn as held at __</div>
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Get a London office</div>
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Staff Bar where B & R's office now is</div>
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<br /></div>
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? Sell tickets instead of taking money at Entrances</div>
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? By people to divide by separate doors those with tkts including admns & those who will have to pay [illeg.]</div>
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Give away Daily programmes to those who pay for adm (see below)</div>
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Get GER to run trains from Enfield &c to meet down trains at [illeg.]</div>
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Hold an Autumn Bird Show (never yet done)</div>
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Find out about Water Shoes to float people across lake</div>
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?2/6 or [illeg.] if after a certain time for promenade</div>
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Machinery show as at Kilburn</div>
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Java Sparrows in Conservatory</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get Police to accept Staff Railway Tickets </div>
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<br /></div>
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A Potters Wheel at Work</div>
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<br /></div>
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Reduce City Rail fares 1/6 3rd cl keeping 1st and 2nd as now?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get Foresters, Odd Fellows &c on liberal terms</div>
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<br /></div>
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Settle Horse show, Dog Show, Machny exhbitn, Races & Trotting early</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ransome's Complete primer of work in Machinery kept where also (or S. Wolssom's Patent) place coles, ivory turning, printing, coventry weaving, silhouettes, cigarette making, carving meershaum pipes, Pencock's collection of Eggs, Picture frame making, card printing, sausage making, ? beer bottling, bottle cleaning, moot mending</div>
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<br /></div>
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Settle Rates, Gas, Water, Railway contract, before [illeg.]</div>
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Turn Bazaar into conservatory</div>
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? Put K & 2 into present conservatory</div>
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Get Races & all other licenses transferred first</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ry get % from Ry Cos from people travelling with free tickets by Ry</div>
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<br /></div>
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Get Field for Races transferred from B & R by GNR</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ry Improvements - Better S.L. traffic via Ludgate - Better [illeg.] West End, Midland branch & cannot delay at York Rd be abolished? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Horses, Ponies, Donkeys & Goat chaises on line in Park</div>
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<br /></div>
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Finsbury Pk Tramline prolonged to Wood Green</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Open air ochestra for singing in Grove. ? Use small orchestra in Centl. Hall</div>
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<br /></div>
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Scarboro' plan of ascent & descent to ticket ground & Wood Green entc.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Races make saddling paddock in the angle by Weighing Room & chge extra</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Fire drill in public - Volunteers & Regulars [illeg.]</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
[illeg.] La Crosse - Football - Billard Matches</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Change bills with all theatres, music halls, running grounds</div>
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<br /></div>
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Squirrels in Grove - Rabbit warren</div>
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<br /></div>
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Big collection of Chimpanzees</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Can Alphand of Paris be useful</div>
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<br /></div>
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Entrance to Grove</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Competition of Facia Writers. ?J.B. always at work in public</div>
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<br /></div>
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Scotch Buffet</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Competition of Theatre Bands of London</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Naturalists Competition in Taxidermy</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Let backs of handbills be instructive - grammatical errors &c</div>
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With illustrations of possible</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Artificial skating rink</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cart Horse Show (held Agric. Hall)</div>
<div>
- get all Pickford's horses on say a Good Friday?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Season Prog to have train serve from <u>all</u> Stations tabulated</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Ry sell Ry Tkts in sheets of 20 perforated, at reduced price</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ry sell S. Tkts at reduced price to Choir, Ry people etc.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Flock of Pigeons a la guildhall [illeg] Race</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Authorised Itinerant Vendors on Race Days</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
? An Aquarium - Just the sensational tanks - Anemones &c</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
People dining should not pay for admin.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Use Banquetg Hall for big Billard Matches, Winter Evg Entmts &c.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-23804465236518743132016-05-24T02:43:00.002-07:002016-05-24T02:43:52.153-07:00The Shady Side of NottinghamTHE SHADY SIDE OF NOTTINGHAM<div>
No.IV</div>
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<br /></div>
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A BALL AT A "WORKING MAN'S CLUB"</div>
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<br /></div>
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(BY AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
"The harp, the viol, the timbrel, the lute, and the pipe," as Canon Morse would put it, arrested my homeward steps one early morning less than a month ago. The music was more muscular than harmonious, but it appeared to answer the purpose and was ever and anon loudly penetrated by laughter of that semi-insane order which has been so well described as "the crackling of thorns beneath a pot". How shall I get through that low-browed door into that tall ramshackle building, whence break out those sounds of revelry by night? "Faint heart never won fair lady," nor ever stormed Redan, so here goes</div>
<div>
"Rat-tat-tat." In a moment the door is opened the length of the chain and a pair of piercing eyes under shaggy eyebrows discriminatingly scrutinise my face <i>et tout ensemble. </i>Their decision evidently is that I look sufficiently rowdyish to gain admission, for the chain is undone and I pass quickly through the gloomy portal into a primitive scullery. Whew! The atmosphere beats the "forty well-defined and separate stinks" which Coleridge diagnosed at Cologne. A "nip" of well-watered gin is not only necessary to establish my footing, but to give a passable stability to my stomach and happily it is accessible.</div>
<div>
Herrings in a barrel, sardines in a tin, oranges in an "original package" - only by such illustration can I describe the crowded condition of the first room I overlooked. But the customers of the house - <i>pardonne! </i>the members of the club - are here, many of them good, decent fellows whom I have no met before, and it is not them I am after on this occasion. What a horrible den lies to the right! It seethes with smoke, it reeks with perspiration, it is redolent of drunken breath; and, worst of all, the room is the receptacle of the very old, the very young, or the undanceable middle-aged, who would rather drink, swear and manipulate the "flats" than convert themselves into "teetotums".</div>
<div>
The mystery to me is, that when mature people are anxious to "go the whole hog" they do not leave the children at home. Will the children of this generation not learn cards and cursing soon enough, unless the good God or His ministers interfere, without being deliberately conducted by their parents into the pandemonium of those pernicious pastimes? Let me draw the veil closely on the scene where parents were dissipating before the discerning eyes of their children of both sexes.</div>
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Turn we to the left. It is step nearer the <i>facilis descensus Averni. </i>They are mostly young men, intellectually dissipating in strong tobacco and coarse chaff, while not neglecting to replenish their beer cans and keep a keen eye on the few young women who have ventured into the unhallowed precincts. Ordinary language will not adequately enable my readers to realise this scene. Two young girls at least, I should say, are unaccustomed to it. They are pestered by rude attentions, and ruder invitations to liquid indulgence. For a while they laugh, and for once they drink. Then a Bacchanal more forward than the rest, whispers to one of them a sentence. She blushes like a peony, bursts into tears, passionately exclaims, "<i>I am not one of those;</i>" until the reproof of the "manager" of the Club, that he does not keep apartments for crying in, stilled the indignation of innocence. When I saw the girl I could not help asking myself:- </div>
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Who was her father, who was her mother,</div>
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Had she a sister, had she a brother?</div>
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Why was it permitted that she should be dragged by a female companion, a little more indoctrinated in the ways of a ball at a "Working Man's Club" than herself, into the very jaws of moral death? There is much more that is noticeable on the way to the ball-room, which I cannot pause to describe. At the receipt of custom sits a puffy-faced red-shawled woman who gathers in the sixpences galore from her masculine patrons. She is not connected with the "Club". The ball is her venture. Very good, but by what licence is the drink sold which circulates between the dances? I only ask our authorities the question and do not venture, after recent official threats, to propound the solution of it. Ah, here at last is the band of music, which wooed me from the street; it is not altogether after Canon Morse's Hebraic model, but quite serviceable, nevertheless. The musicians are sober and amused. On the top of the grand piano, however, a reveller is stretched out at full length, bibulously imagining himself in the seventh heaven of happiness, until perhaps his head in the morning may remind him that one who would drink with the gods must be a god himself, and not a very mediocre moral. What do I see? Twenty or thirty couples engaged in a waltz. Who could look at the scene without a shuddering of disgust? The young women are tolerably well dressed. Some of them are very young, and in other scenes and with other expression on their faces would be exceedingly attractive. Others are not old in age, but very old in appearance with their attenuated figures, hollow cheeks and sunken eyes. The latter are the veterans of these illicit "hops". Alas, that they should show the uninitiated or partially initiated such an evil example of ribald jest and abandoned gesture; and still worse, alas, that the former should show such aptitude in aping that dissolute example of their more experienced companions. </div>
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What I saw in a so-called Nottingham "Working-man's Club" would never have been permitted at Cremorne or in the Argyll Rooms. The young men, who by their clothes might have been the sweepings of the factories, were as vulgar as they were slovenly. The emblem of refinement was to smoke a cigar during the dance, and to watch the curling smoke delineating in the air the terpsichorean figures cut upon the floor. But it was perhaps a more difficult fear, according to the general custom, to deftly balance a long clay pipe between the teeth, and fiercely fumigate into your partner's face, who quietly shuts her eyes and refuses to open them except in the event of a serious collision. By the young men keeping their hats on, I presume that they considered them only safe from the kleptomaniac while they reposed on their heads. I have not seen the same amount of hugging, nor the particular attitude in which, for innumerable rounds, a pair of waltzers rested their right cheeks against each other, since I spent a soul-harrowing Sunday night of enquiry in the lowest quarter of Altona. Then when the musicians crashed their finale, it was the correct thing for the young men to swing themselves to a chair or a form, or perchance a table, and roughly hoisted their dizzy partners on their knees. When more air was wanted an adjournment was made to the staircase, where couples sat or reclined in the most <i>negligé </i>style, cracking rough jokes and exchanging coarse caressses, when they had recovered breath enough for such lewd bye-play. Then - and I might be allowed to ask if that was the contemplated sphere of "clubs"? - they intensified their thirst by stupefying their senses with beer or maddening them with fiery spirits, until the band again summoned them to what proved to be no longer the light fantastic, but the besotted and stumbling toe. The bleared eyes, the blaring faces, the reeling forms, the lascivious language of young men and young women, consequent upon the orgy, are beyond description or recapitulation, and I must drop the curtain on the awful possibilities of the sequel. Will social reformers pardon me if I ask them this question: What is the use of passionately fighting against the comparatively mild dissipation which you see on the surface of the "Shady Side of Nottingham" until you attack and demolish the secret places where drunkards and prostitutes have been, and are now being manufactured wholesale?</div>
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<i>Nottinghamshire Guardian, </i>26 January 1877</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com52tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-72268442628901100362016-05-21T03:11:00.000-07:002016-05-21T03:11:24.253-07:00Argyll Rooms Libel<i>The Argyll Rooms was a notorious night-club in mid-Victorian London, closed in 1878 by magistrates increasingly concerned about West End prostitution (though, as a group, bitterly divided on how to tackle the subject). A letter from a prison chaplain, given in evidence, alleging the Argyll Rooms were a favourite resort not only of prostitutes but burglars, did not help their cause. </i><i>This letter led to a libel trial, the transcript below:</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
BIGNELL V HORSLEY<br />
<br />
This was an action by the proprietor of the Argyll Rooms, against the chaplain of the House of Correction for Middlesex, for alleged libel contained in a letter written by him on the 8th October last to the chairman of the Licensing Committee of the Magistrates, which was in these terms:<br />
<br />
"When I wrote to you last year on the subject of the licence granted to the Argyll rooms, you were good enough to express a wish that you had received my letter earlier, in order that you might have brought before the Court the facts and arguments therein adduced. I therefore venture this year to write again to you on the subject. It not unfrequently happens that in the course of my prison work the name of the Argyll is casually mentioned, and without any leading questions I have gathered much information about its effect upon certain classes of society. I could not, for example, talk long with a burglar of the higher rank without finding the ''Gyll' mentioned as his familiar resort, not merely when enriched by some recent exploit, but also as a place wherein opportunities might be found and information gathered which might lead to fresh crime. Thus one man, an experienced and successful burglar, first directed my inquiries into this channel by mentioning casually the name of the Argyll. I naturally pointed out the non-necessity of impurity being added to dishonesty; but he affirmed that the chief reason of his going there was to meet gentlemen's servants and be put up by them to good burglaries. Another - now doing 20 months - told me that he had seen lots of burglars there, and knew that they used the place to get at footmen and butlers for dishonest purposes. Almost simultaneously I knew well two footmen who were in for separate plate robberies; both used the rooms, and saw many of their class there, and one said that he met there many whom he knew to be burglars. I was more careful in these and all cases not in any way to lead them to suspect that I had any special reason for dwelling on this point. By a fortunate coincidence there came to me while I was writing the letter a fallen girl of much intelligence and fair education, whom I have known well for two years. Without a word to indicate the reason of my query, I asked her what she considered the most destructive place in London to female virtue; she said at once the Argyll, and in response to further questions she told me she considered more ruins could be traced to that place than to any other; that its pseudo-respectability made it all the more insidious; that she had heard innocent girls told that it must be all right because it was licensed; that she had known swell mobsmen to frequent the place, and many gentlemen's servants; that she had known it for eight years, and that iwas worse now than at the beginning of that time - a fact she attributed a great deal to the migration of the <i>habitués </i>of the Holborn when that was closed. . . . They [the better class of working men] have a special and mournful right to be heard, insasmuch as a very large, if not the largest proportion of fallen girls comes from their ranks, and the glitter of the place casts a gloom upon more homes in their class than in any other. I refrain from urging other points, and have purposefully confined myself to those of which I claim to have some special knowledge. Earnestly hoping that you and those to whom you speak may be strengthened to remove from their brothers and sisters a temptation which has ruined thousands, from themselves any shadow of complicity in a gigantic wrong, and from the State the reproach of giving a licence to licentiousness and a protection to destruction, I am, yours faithfully, J.W.Horsley, Chaplain."<br />
<br />
The plaintiff sued for this as a libel, stating that he was at the time, and had been for many years, proprietor of the Argyll Rooms, and that he, in order the better to fit out the rooms for the purposes of a place of public entertainment, had expended £100,000 in decorations, &c.; that by the letter complained of he had been injured in his credit and reputation as proprietor of the place and in his business as proprietor; and that, in consequence of the libel, the magistrates, on the 11th of October, refused as heretofore, to license the place for the purposes of music and dancing, and that the plaintiff thereby lost the licence and the benefit thereof and profits he made thereby, and he claimed as damages £10,000/ The defendant in his statement of defence, stated that the letter was written by him as chaplain of the House of Correction to the chairman of the Visiting Committee of Justices, as such chairman, and at his request as chairman, and was written and sent in the pursuance and discharge of his duty as chaplain, and at the request of his official superior; that the circumstances stated in the letter came to his knowledge as chaplain, and that they were privileged as being written in discharge of his duty, bona fide, without malice, and upon a matter in respect of which he and the chairman had a duty, interest and obligation; and further, that the Argyll Rooms, being a place of public entertainment, duly licensed by the magistrates, the defendant, as one of the public, was interested in its conduct and control, and wrote to the chairman upon it as a public matter, the Chairman having control over it as a magistrate, and that he wrote the letter in the interest of the public, and without malice; all which the plaintiff denied.<br />
... Mr Serjeant PARRY in opening the case for the plaintiff stated his position with reference to the rooms, and read the letter at length, pointing out that it was necessarily calculated to do his client very serious injury, and was likely to cause, as in fact it did cause, his licence for a place of entertainment to be withdrawn. The refusal of that licence was a matter of a very serious nature, and was calculated in fact to destroy the place as a place of public entertainment. He was in a position to prove that the place had been most respectably conducted, and there was no reason to suppose that there was any truth in the statements contained in the letter. If the defendant had received from any prisoners or convicts statements to such effect as he represented he had been imposed upon, and he ought to have known that the statements of such persons were not likely to be reliable. He ought not, therefore, to have made such statements in his letter, the result of which had been to cause so serious an injury to the plaintiff.<br />
The plaintiff was called as a witness, and stated that in 1848 he had taken the rooms from Sir J. Musgrove at a rent of £240 a year, and carried it on as a place of musical entertainment, under a licence to his predecessor, Mt. Laurent, renewed every year. In 1857 Mr. Laurent died, and he himself after that renewed a licence for the place. In 1864 he bought the freehold from Sir J. Musgrove, giving £10,400 for it, and expending £1,500 or £2,000 a year on decorations &c. Altogether he had spent about £70,000 or £80,000 on the place. He had taken every care that the place should be respectably conducted; he had engaged respectable men as managers, usually retired police officers - and he always had constables present, who had orders to exclude drunkards or improper characters - that is, those who were known to be so, and to his knowledge it was not a place of resort for burglars or persons planning burglary. He thought it impossible that it should be so. Two shillings was the sum demanded for admission. He heard the letter read at the licensing meeting of the magistrates, and the licence was refused. The loss this had caused to him was £10,000 a year - had paid income-tax on that amount.<br />
In cross-examination he said this £10,000 a year represented his profits. His object was to keep the rooms as respectable as possible. His orders were to keep out disreputable persons, but he could not keep out prostitutes, as long as they were well conducted; it was impossible to discriminate except as to persons badly conducted.<br />
Did you give orders to shut out well-known prostitutes?<br />
- I did.<br /> Suppose a woman known to be prostitute, but no ill-conducted, would you shut her out? - No.<br />
Was it your view that all who went there were virtuous? - Some were respectable.<br />
Some were virtuous? - Yes.<br />
Some were prostitutes? - I should say so.<br />
Some of those who were virtuous were young? - Not under 20, if we could help it. Many foreign ladies came there, it being an entertainment they fully understood.<br />
They all mingled together? - I do not know; there were no reserved seats.<br />
Men would address women there and women men? - Yes.<br />
Do you think the women not virtuous came there to follow their trade? - I do not know. They came for entertainment. They were of a superior order, well-dressed, and well-conducted.<br />
Did they come to follow their trade? - That I do not know; they were well conducted.<br />
Did they not follow their calling there? - That I cannot say.<br />
Did not men and women go away together from the rooms? Sometimes, I suppose; often they would come together and go together.<br />
Did many dance? - A great many of them.<br />
Were men paid to dance at the rooms? - Never.<br />
What class of men were dancing with these prostitutes? - Apparently very respectable gentlemen.<br />
Clerks and persons in that position? - No; gentlemen.<br />
What class? - I cannot say. I will not compromise my customers' character. Some of them were the first men in the country.<br />
Why should it compromise any one's character to be known to dance at your rooms? - I do not say so.<br />
Then why not say to what class they belonged? - I can hardly say; they were of various classes- officers, men at the Bar. (Loud laughter)<br />
Well, officers and members of the Bar. Were they ever dancing there? - No; I never saw them doing so.<br />
Then why mention them? What class of young men were dancing there? - They seemed to me to be gentlemen; of course, most of them were strangers to me.<br />
If any one was well-dressed and paid his 2s., he would be admitted? - Justly so.<br />
Suppose a gentleman's servant came so dressed? - Well, we might not know it; but if we knew it, we should not admit him.<br />
He would obtain admission? - I do not think so. It is not likely that gentlemen's servants would come there to meet their masters, perhaps.<br />
Were order given to exclude them? No, I do not say so.<br />
Then can you say that gentlemen's servants were not there? - I cannot say they were never there.<br />
Suppose a man engaged in a burglary, he might be there? - I think it very unlikely; there were detectives there, and would be acquainted with criminals. Practically it would be impossible tthat they should frequent the rooms.<br />
There would be nothing to prevent them from going there? - Of course, they may go anywhere; but would be very unlikely they should go there.<br />
The Foreman here interrupted and said - The jury are of the opinion that this cross-examination is a waste of public time.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.- Why?<br />
The Foreman - Because we think the plaintiff is not responsible for those who go to the place.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.- You had better not, I think, express an opinion prematurely; you will shake our confidence in your verdict. Depend upon it, Sir H. James has not asked these questions without very good reasons.<br />
One of the jury said all the jury did not concur in the observations of the foreman.<br />
Sir H. James, upon the interposition of the foreman, sat down, and<br />
Serjeant PARRY, in re-examination, said to the plaintiff. - You have taken every means in your power to prevent improper character from frequenting the rooms? - Yes.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE observed that this was the plaintiff's view of his own conduct, but it might not be acquiesced in by the other side. Consistently with the admission of a certain class of improper characters, perhaps it might be admitted that the plaintiff had done all he could to preserve order.<br />
The Police-Inspector of Vine-street Station stated that he had often attended the room and had seen nothing improper there. He had never known burglars go to the place or persons planning burglaries.<br />
In cross-examination by Sir H. JAMES, he said that the prostitutes no doubt did follow their vocation there and did sometimes address men there. Any bad character known to the police would be shut out, and the police knew many of them; but if a burglar were well dressed and not known to the police, he would be admitted.<br />
In re-examination, he said the place was well conducted.<br />
Another of the inspectors at Vine-street Station gave similar evidence. He had, he said, habitually visited the rooms during the last six years and had never had occasion to report anything wrong there. He never knew of any of the criminal class being there, especially "burglars or swell-mobsmen." Servants in livery were not admitted.<br />
In cross-examination, he said no doubt the majority of the women there were prostitutes or "fast women," and he could not say that any respectable women visited the rooms there; there might be some, but he did not know of any, and as rule the women addressed the men. Burglars well dressed but not known to the police might go there, but he had never known of any there.<br />
Sergeant PARRY. - A well-dressed burglar might go into a church, or into this court? - He might.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - How long can a burglar carry on his business without being known to the police? - I think before long something would transpire to raise suspicion against them.<br />
Mr. Serjeant PARRY - Pray, are burglars usually well-dressed? - Yes, they are. (Laughter)<br />
Swell-mobsmen, of course, are so? - Yes.<br />
Another police-inspector from Vine-street Station gave similar evidence. He had never known of burglars there; a burglar there would have to run the risk of detection by several experienced police officers.<br />
Sir H. James in cross-examination - If the burglar were not known to the police, he would run no risk? - No.<br />
Another police-inspector, who said he had known the place since 1852, gave similar evidence. The place was not to hos knowledge or belief a place of resort for burglars or other criminals; a single burglar might possible come in, but he knew of none. Gentlemen's servants, if they came nightly in any number, would be certain to be observed; and persons of an objectionable class were excluded.<br />
Sir H. James in cross-examination - What do you mean by "objectionable" persons? - Persons known as bad characters or disorderly.<br />
You would not exclude a woman known to be a prostitute, if well dressed? - No.<br />
You cannot know all gentlemen's servants? - No, not in all cases; but in some cases they would be known.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE here said to Mr. Serjeant Parry, - You have done enough to show the character of the rooms. It is not disputed that they are conducted respectably, so far as possible; but it is said, and it is not denied, that majority of the women were prostitutes, and that as to burglars or others not known to the police, it is possible that they may sometimes have got in, but that they are not known there.<br />
Mr. Serjeant PARRY said he could not carry the evidence further, and this was the case for the plaintiff.<br />
Sir H. JAMES submitted that there was no evidence of the letter, except in the admissions of the defendant, coupled with statements which showed it to be prima facie privileged.<br />
Mr. Serjeant PARRY said he would then given evidence of the publication of the letter.<br />
Mr. Benjamin Sharpe, Chairman of the Visiting Committee of the Justices, was then called, and in examination by Serjeant PARRY, stated that he received the letter from the defendant, which, he said, was addressed to him as chairman, and was written by the defendant as chaplain, and he submitted that it was privileged.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - That we shall judge of when it is produced.<br />
Mr. Sharpe went on to state that he had read the letter.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said the letter must be produced; it was not privileged from production.<br />
The letter was produced and put in.<br />
In cross-examination by Sir H. JAMES, the witness stated that he had no communications with the defendant, except as to matters of business in his official position. He had conversed with him on the subject in a previous year, and last year had desired him, if he had any facts which would throw light on the subject, to state them in a letter to himself. That was a few days before the meeting of the licensing magistrates, and in consequence of that the letter was sent to him. The notice paper of the Sessions stated that the licence was to be opposed; the press, he believed. were unaminous against it, and it was discussed among the magistrates.<br />
Sir H. JAMES proposed to show on what the witness acted in refusing the licence, in order to show that it was not, as alleged by the plaintiff, in consequence of the defendant's letter.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said it was competent to show this on the testimony of any magistrate.<br />
The witness stated that he had voted against the licence, and had done so for years, and certain magistrates had drawn certain matters to his attention. In particular, a certain magistrate had stated -<br />
This was objected to, and<br />
The witness said he had acted in a great degree upon what had been stated by the police.<br />
Sir H. JAMES urged that other matters had influenced the magistrates in refusing the licence.<br />
Serjeant PARRY objected; but<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE said the plaintiff alleged that his licence was refused in consequence of this letter, and he could not say that it was not open to the defendant to disprove this.<br />
The witness then repeated some strong statements made by one of the magistrates as to his knowledge of the place. The magistrates voted 38 against the licence; 16 for it.<br />
In re-examination he stated that on a former occasion the licence had been granted by a majority of one. He denied that in asking Mr. Horsley to send a a letter he had any desire to get up a case against the licence; he only desired to get at the truth.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - Did you take any means to sift the grounds of his statements? - No. I took his statements; it would be difficult for me to sift them; they might have been statements made to him by prisoners who had left.<br />
In answer to further questions, the witness sated that Mr. Horsley had not been examined as a witness; if he had been, he might have been cross-examined.<br />
This being the case for the plaintiff,<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
The defendant, the Rev J W Horsley was then called and examined as a witness and stated that he had been chaplain since November 1876. Mr. Sharpe, to whom the letter was written, was chairman of the Visiting Justices. In 1877 he became aware that Mr. Sharpe had opposed the renewal of the licence to the Argyll Rooms, and seeing the fact in the papers he wrote to him on the subject. A few days before the licensing meeting in October 1878, on the 7th or 8th of October, he saw Mr. Sharpe at the prison ,while he was there in the performance of his official duties, and Mr. Sharpe reminded him of the letter he had written last year, and asked him to write a letter of a similar character, such as might be produced in court. In consequence of that, the witness said he wrote the letter in question. While he was writing it a young woman called upon him in the prison. She was not then a prisoner, although she had been many times in prison for drunkenness arising out of assault. Her name was Mary Cummings, and she was present at all events in the precincts of the court. She had to him the statements in the letter.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
The witness went on to state that he asked the girl what, in her opinion, was the worst place for female virtue in London, and she answered the Argyll Rooms. He asked if she knew that innocent girls sometimes went there, induced to go by the place being licensed and so presumed to be respectable, and she said that they did. He asked if he had seen any of the criminal classes thyere, and she said that she had, and that swell mobsmen sometimes took home girls from the place in cabs and robbed them. She further stated that gentlemen's servants were sometimes there. The witness went on to state that he had received a statement contained in his letter (as to burglars going to the rooms &c.) from an experienced and successful burglar, whose name being asked to give he gave, though, he said, under protest and in obedience to the order of the Court. The name was Britton. He said he had been in the habit of taking down notes or minutes of prisoners statements to him, but he had lost his note of Britton's statement. He produced his notes of several cases - that is, the rough notes he took at the time, afterwards reducing them more into form, under different heads of moral or social interest, in separate books, one of which he produced and contained his account of Britton, which he read, to the effect that he used to frequent the Argyll Rooms in order to meet servants.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - What led to this?<br />
The witness - The man had let out that he was at the rooms, and I asked him how he came to be there. He stated that he used to got to the rooms to meet gentlemen's servants there, to be "put up" to good "jobs" or burglaries. Britton himself was on remand for burglary. There was another prisoner in custody for burglary whose name was Howard, and he also, the witness said, made a communication to him and stated ot him that he had seen burglars there.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - What led to that?<br />
The witness said he could not remember at the moment; probably the man mentioned being at the rooms, and then at the mention of the place he would "prick up his ears." Looking at his note of what Howard had said as to burglaries, he read these words,- "Argyll Rooms - largely used by burglars to 'get at' gentlemen's servants." (The jury here asked to look at the book, and were told they should have it when it was done with.) The witness stated that he had been able to trace Howard, and his case was transferred to his fair-book. There was another prisoner in custody about the same time, whose name was Charles Bagnall, and he produced his notes as to him. This man had been a gentleman's servant and was "in" for stealing silver spoons. Having heard that gentlemen's servants went to the rooms, he asked the man if he knew of it, and he read the note of the man's answer. - "Argyll Rooms. - Often seen gentlemen's servants there." There was another man, also a gentleman's servant, there, named Block, who had been convicted of robbery of plate, and he stated that he used to frequent the rooms, and knew many "flash" men to be there, and he produced his entry as to the man's answer, - "Argyll Rooms - Knew many flash men there; knew burglars there." The paragraph in his letter as to two footmen "in" for plate robberies referred to these two men. The witness being ask whether he believed the statements of these men and of the girl to be true, he answered firmly that he certainly did; and being asked whether when he wrote the letter he honestly believed its contents to be true, answers that he did believe them then, as he believed them now, to be true.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE referred to a passage in the letter, "I could not talk to a burglar of the higher rank without finding the 'Gyll' mentioned as a place of resort," &c. What foundation was there for that statement?<br />
The witness - Partly what I have already stated, and partly many other similar statements made to me by other prisoners whose names I cannot now recollect. Nearly 11,000 prisoners passed through the prison last year, the majority of them unconvicted, others bail-prisoners, and it was his duty as chaplain to see them all. Of course he did not take or keep notes of all his conversations with prisoners, but only in cases that appeared to him remarkable, or such as for any reason happened to be preserved.<br />
In cross-examination by Mr. Serjeant PARRY the witness stated that there were about 11 Visiting Justices and Mr. Sharpe had been one of them for many years. He first wrote to Mr. Sharpe on the subject in 1877, when he had been chaplain about a year. He had been always opposed to the granting of a licence to the Argyll Rooms, but his object in writing the letter now in question was simply that he was asked to do so. Referred to a passage in his letter as to complicity in a "gigantic wrong, and giving licence to licentiousness," he said he avowed the statements there expressed and had always entertained them. He avowed that he was anxious that the licence should be refused. He knew that the plaintiff was the proprietor of the rooms. He did not object to theatres; he thought they were quite different. He knew that his letter was to be read to the magistrates, giving to it whatever weight might attach to his position and character. He did not attend the licensing meeting; he happened to be otherwise engaged, but had he attended he should have had no objection to be examined as a witness. He wrote the letter as a witness. Asked, with reference to Britton, he said he knew the man had been several times in prison, and was now in penal servitude. He avowed that he had cut out or erased names, as he did not think the names should be disclosed. There was an entry in his fair book "Argyll Rooms" and the cases of Britton and Howard were entered under that head. The case of Britton was in December 1876, and that of Howard was in 1877. They were probably entered not long after the cases occurred. Asked whether they were not entered as the same time, he said, looking at the writing, he should say so, but according to his memory it was not so. The man Block was under his charge for several months, convicted. As to Bagnall, he knew him two or three week awaiting trial. The girl Cummings had been imprisoned a great many times - perhaps 30 or 40 times - almost a hopeless case of dipsomania, i.e. a passion for drink so strong as to amount to a mania.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - Did she represent herself as still frequenting the Argyll Rooms? - No, not at that time; nor, I believe, for three or four years.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - Did you always give implicit credence to all that such persons as prisoners state? - Very rarely.<br />
The witness being asked as to Britton, said he had know him well and he knew many other prisoners.<br />
Mr. Serjeant PARRY - Have you not made every possible inquiry in the prison with a view to injure the Argyll Rooms? - Not at all.<br />
Had you a heading in your book of any other place of public amusement except the Argyll Rooms? - No other institution or establishment; but I have a heading as to public houses.<br />
In re-examination, the witness pointed out numerous other headings - "home influence", "want of education", "public houses" &c. He had not entry as to promenade concerts or other places, because he had not special information about other places. He had no reason for discrediting the statements made to him and believed them to be true.<br />
Dr. Clark, the medical officer of Millbank, was called to prove that Britton was under his special charge in hospital, suffering from disease of the brain, his recovery being improbable and his condition being such that he was unfit for attendance as a witness. He was under a sentence of penal servitude for burglary.<br />
Evidence was also given that Britton's evidence had been taken for the defence before his illness came on, and a Judge's order had been made for Block, but he could not be found; but it was found that he had been in the prison while Mr. Horsley was chaplain there. He had, however, found Howard and Bagnall (and they were in attendance as witnesses).<br />
Mary Cummings was then called and examined as a witness. She stated that she remembered seeing Mr. Horsley at the House of Detention in October last year, and making certain statements to him as to the Argyll Rooms. He asked her -<br />
Mr. Serjeant PARRY objected to this.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - How can you object? The evidence is to prove that the statements were made. If you admit that they were made, then, of course, the evidence need not be given; but if you deny it, it is for them to prove it.<br />
Mr. Serjeant PARRY said he objected to it as evidence of an accidental conversation between two persons in the absence of the plaintiff.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - It is admissable to support the case for the defence - that these statements were made to the defendant and used by him bona fide.<br />
The witness went on to state that she told Mr. Horsley she had been at the rooms, and that she had seen gentlemen's servants there and swell mobsmen, and that innocent girls sometimes went there to see the dancing and that in that way they fell. She stated further that it was very much lowered of late from what it was when she first knew the place, especially since the Holborn Casino was closed.<br />
In cross-examination by Mr. Serjeant PARRY she said it was four or five years ago since she went to the rooms. It was true that she had been very frequently in prison.<br />
In re-examination, she said she first went to the Rooms in 1870 or 1871, and went there three or four years.<br />
In answer to the LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, she stated that she had tild Mr. Horsley that girls were sometimes ruined through going to the rooms.<br />
The next witness was Howard, who appeared in charge of two warders, and in the yellow garb of a convict, and he stated that he was in penal servitude under a sentence for burglary. He remembered, he said, see Mr. Horsley, the chaplain of the prison, in October 1877, and had a conversation with him about the Argyll Rooms - that is, Mr. Horsley had a conversation with him about the place, and asked him questions about it. He asked me (said witness) if ever I went there, and I said, "Yes, I did." He said, "Did you go there to get information for burglaries?" and I said, "No."<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - What else?<br />
That is all as I know of.<br />
Sir H. JAMES - Did you tell him you saw many men of your own class there? - Yes.<br />
What did you mean by men of your own class? - Men of the world. (Much laughter)<br />
You mean of the criminal class? - Yes.<br />
Did you tell him you saw gentlemen's servants there? - No.<br />
Are you certain you did not say so? - Yes, I am.<br />
Did you say the rooms were resort of "cross life" people? - No.<br />
Who are they? - Of the criminal class.<br />
You said you had seen persons of that class there? - Yes.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - How often had you been there yourself? - Lots of times.<br />
Were you convicted more than once? - Yes.<br />
In cross-examination by Mr. Serjeant PARRY, the convict said he went to to other places of amusement as well as the Argyll Rooms, dressed like other persons.<br />
The other convict, Bagnall, under sentence of five years' penal servitude at Chatham, for stealing plate, was then called and examined as a witness. In 1877 he was at the Clerkenwell Prison, and the chaplain saw him., and asked him how he came to be in trouble, and he told him that he spent his evenings and money at theatres and music halls. He then asked him if he had been at the Argyll Rooms, and he told him that he had been there and that he had seen other gentlemen's servants there.<br />
In cross-examination by Mr. Serjeant PARRY, he said that Mr. Horsley did not ask particularly as to any other place of entertainment but the Argyll Rooms.<br />
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE - had your going to the Argyll Rooms anything to do with your getting into trouble? - No.<br />
That was the case for the defence.<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Times </i>2 & 3 May 1879<br />
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<i>The result? The jury failed to reach a verdict and the case was discharged. Mr. Horsley was left with a £300 legal fee, more than his annual income. The Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury proposed a public subscription to defray these costs.</i>Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-36100448109714608752016-05-20T06:26:00.003-07:002016-05-20T06:28:49.411-07:00Up in Smoke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Up-Smoke-Failed-Battersea-Station/dp/0993570208" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaJ3-NBVYRpHOywVYMVr66t3pwNxxAkE_onajK_jA2NnFYUA7U-PDpL63xzou_QCTxkUPHUXKiTJ2I-efFMtAdGwUqhG5fC167Q4id2IWSh4Z00XlI0tAlWyqKtOBAW8ooKEdGgrlB70y/s400/upinsmoke.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
I've just finished Peter Watts' book <i>Up in Smoke: The Failed Dreams of Battersea Power Station. </i>Peter is a friend of mine, so perhaps I'm biased, but it's a thoroughly satisfying, immersive read; a total pleasure.<br />
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Peter notes in his introduction 'Rather that a straightforward history, this is a journalist's book'. True, he has interviewed many of the key players in the power station's peculiar trajectory from post-industrial albatross to property developer's goldmine; but, frankly, more historians should get out and talk to real people. Moreover, we get all the history, too: from (pre-power station) Edwardian plans for a theme park on the vacant site (trumped by the White City) to the ominous spectacle of Margaret Thatcher armed with a 'laser-gun', serving as starting pistol for one of several ambitious (and often faintly ridiculous) failed redevelopment bids.</div>
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I was interested to discover that Victor Hwang, whose company owned the site from 1993 to 2006, was actually a little in love with the building (although unable to summon the money or will to actually realise any of his numerous architects' ideas). I had always assumed he was a faceless, distant investor. Richard Barrett, the Irish speculator who succeeded him, also had a romantic streak - of a sort - writing of his coup in buying out Hwang, ''The site lay tantalisingly waiting for a saviour, legs akimbo, breasts appetisingly on openish display." Property developers, eh? Barrett's project (pleasingly) collapsed along with the tanking of the Irish economy; but it established the template which now surrounds the station: 'luxury' housing, and lots of it.</div>
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This could have been a dull book, about council meetings, chimneys and bickering architects. Peter, a great journalist, instead tells a story about people, hopes and dreams. And it's an engrossing tale, although we already know the melancholy ending: the building survives, swallowed-up amidst unimaginative glass cubes of offices and shops. But it survives, nonetheless.</div>
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If you interested in more of Peter's writing, check out <a href="https://greatwen.com/" target="_blank">The Great Wen</a>, his blog. It's well worth your time - as is this book.</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-59412259397078953112016-05-08T03:39:00.001-07:002016-05-08T03:47:22.435-07:00Victorian Fashion - by Jayne ShrimptonLong-time readers will recall that I once had a career as a historical novelist. One of the great problems was how to accurately incorporate Victorian fashion into the story. Did ladies wear 'mantles' in 1854? Were there 'pagoda sleeves' on dresses in 1863? Did readers want a description of particular items? I think I broadly came to the conclusion that my readers would appreciate a <i>degree </i>of accuracy, but it was impossible to get everything right. Part of the problem was sources. Books and websites were full of year-by-year fashion plates (gorgeous contemporary artistic sketches of fashionable clothing, which appeared in women's magazines &c), but how accurately did they represent every-day clothing?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlVHaKKG0sn8h8ht4-SK7BfGfINjqBQOlHQt8k53LJXDyrc_wLhHroEyPy38pGYgbvkNP-Ti6hkODvYFWoH_EfLEyfugoKTJ8K5WrsOT8eiW-71gf0Xv5HrWRU0X8-a2otQZdAnQnab2b/s1600/Image24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlVHaKKG0sn8h8ht4-SK7BfGfINjqBQOlHQt8k53LJXDyrc_wLhHroEyPy38pGYgbvkNP-Ti6hkODvYFWoH_EfLEyfugoKTJ8K5WrsOT8eiW-71gf0Xv5HrWRU0X8-a2otQZdAnQnab2b/s320/Image24.jpg" width="222" /></a>If I had possessed Jayne Shrimpton's new book, <i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMlVHaKKG0sn8h8ht4-SK7BfGfINjqBQOlHQt8k53LJXDyrc_wLhHroEyPy38pGYgbvkNP-Ti6hkODvYFWoH_EfLEyfugoKTJ8K5WrsOT8eiW-71gf0Xv5HrWRU0X8-a2otQZdAnQnab2b/s320/Image24.jpg" target="_blank">Victorian Fashion</a>, </i>I could have saved myself hours of research, and done a much better job. I should reveal that I am acquainted with Jayne from twitter (we have exchanged tweets, if not <i>cartes de visite</i>). I can tell you, from experience, that she is an absolute expert on establishing the date of photographs <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">—</span> based solely on the subject's clothing. This book gathers her considerable knowledge into a compact, densely informative review. </div>
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There are, of course, websites and other books on Victorian fashion. Nonetheless, I think this has three main advantages over its rivals. Firstly, the language never ventures beyond the level of the average reader (my level!). Secondly, given its small size <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">—</span> this is a Shire pocket book, approximately a hundred pages <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 19.2px;">—</span> <i>Victorian Fashion</i> is amazingly comprehensive. Chapters include not only the more familiar women's clothing, but menswear, children's clothes, sportswear, evening dress, bridal outfits and more. Finally, the numerous pictures are fabulous, ranging from visiting cards and family photos, through fashion plates to cartoons and high Victorian art. </div>
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The book touches lightly on fashion-related social history (e.g. the 'breeching' of boys; or the rise of cycling); but I would suggest this is, essentially, a beautifully illustrated work of reference. Anyone writing Victorian fiction will appreciate a copy. Anyone interested in day-to-day Victorian life will thoroughly enjoy dipping in and out. </div>
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I don't normally review books on this blog, but I welcomed a review copy of <i><a href="http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/victorian-fashion-9780747815082/" target="_blank">Victorian Fashion</a> </i>and it lived up to my high expectations.</div>
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Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-3924406807996040532016-04-27T09:15:00.001-07:002016-04-27T09:15:40.810-07:00Fat Nell of the Lane<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Fat Nell of the Lane</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">An Original Comic Parody on "Young Ellen Loraine," Written by EDWARD P. LONGLEY, and Sung by Mr. I. WILSON, at the London Concerts</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Vhen I bolted from Drury, determined to cut yer,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Cos I dreamt yer vos false vonce, Fat Nell of the lane;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Thinks I, she's a gal, vot von't <i>pig </i>with a butcher,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Oh! vy did yer do so, fat Nell of the lane.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">I coaxed yer vhen sober, I vopt yer when muzzy,</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> And dear charged the doctor for easing yer pain;</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Yer spent every mopus, and then turned a hussey,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Oh! vy did yer do so, fat Nell of the lane?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Ah! you vos the <i>live ghost </i>vot haunted my bed rug,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> The thief in the darkness, fat Nell of the lane;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Stole my togs, e'en my night cap yer did from my head tug,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Vhilst I vos a snoring, fat Nell of the lane.</span></span><br />
You'll think of me yet, vhen that false kid deceives yer,<br />
And his pals in Clare Market, refuse yer a drain;<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Vhen the <i>shine </i>of yer bounce, like a <i>shying </i>norse leaves yer,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> You'll think how yer sarved me, fat Nell of the Lane.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Oh! gammon not me, in them eyes I diskiver,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Yer knows how you've done me, fat Nell of the lane;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Go doze in the lap of that dealer in liver,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Go ugly spots face-full, fat Nell of the lane.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">The days vithout grub, vithout drinkin, or smokin,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> They tapers my body, and muddles my brain;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Go bad un, and grin at the head you've often broken,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> Go, ugly spots face-full, fat Nell of the Lane.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">transcribed from</span><br />
<div style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">
Pickwick Songster vol.9 no.1, 'edited by Sam Weller' [Harding A 1229] n.d. ?1837?</div>
<div style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">
[with many thanks to Simon Cope @simontcope for his assistance]</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-30839588900823391032016-04-27T01:46:00.000-07:002016-04-27T02:14:31.472-07:00Damages for having seduced and debauchedMaidstone, July 26<br />
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BENDALL v ARNELL - CRIM. CON.<br />
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This was an action to recover damages from the defendant for having seduced and debauched the wife of a plaintiff. ...<br />
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Mr. Chambers, in opening the case, said that the plaintiff in this action was a person in a humble condition of life, and , at the time of his marriage with the young woman whose conduct was the subject of inquiry on the present occasion, he carried on the business of a tailor in London. Unhappily for him, in the beginning of the year 1853, he was suffering from a malady which rendered it necessary for him to go to hospital, where he was obliged to remain for 15 months, and during that period he was undergo an operation of a most painful character, and the defendant appeared to have taken advantage of his being placed in this distressing position to seduce the affections of his wife, and when the unfortunate plaintiff came out of the hospital, he found that his wife had taken away the whole of his furniture and that she and the defendant had been living together at different places as man and wife. The defendant, he was instructed, carried on several different occupations. He was an omnibus proprietor, a jeweller, and also, he believed, a money-lender at very high interest; and when the jury had heard the facts he should lay before them, it would be for them to say what amount of damages he ought to pay the plaintiff for the wrong he had inflicted upon him.<br />
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James Bendall deposed that he was the plaintiff's nephew, and he produced the certificate of a marriage between his uncle and Rose Botwright on the 1st of July 1848. He was not present at the marriage, but he visited them afterwards, and they appeared to live happily together. His uncle carried on the business of a tailor and his wife worked as a dressmaker. His uncle went into the hospital in 1853, and remained their 15 months.<br />
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Cross-examined - Witness keeps a dancing academy in Circus-street, New-road. Persons were admitted to his rooms on payment of 6d. each. Some people might call the establishment a Casino, but he called it a dancing academy and he kept a dancing-master for the purpose of teaching dancing. This person also acted as master of the ceremonies, and he introduced the male and female visitors to each other (a laugh). The plaintiff's wife was in the habit of coming to his dancing-rooms. Sometimes she came with her husband before he went into the hospital. After he went there she used to come to the rooms with a young woman called Jennings. He did not whom who Miss Jennings was, nor where she lived. The plaintiff was about 52, and his wife was 28 years old. He first introduced her to the dancing-rooms. The defendant, he believed, first met the plaintiff's wife there. He was not aware that they danced together, but they might have done so. There was a refreshment-room upstairs, and very likely the plaintiff's wife, Miss Jennings, and the defendant took refreshment there. The plaintiff's wife lived with him for 18 months or two years before they were married.<br />
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The Chief Baron asked the witness what he meant by saying that they "lived together?" Did he mean that they cohabited together as man and wife?<br />
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The Witness said he did.<br />
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Mr. James - And did she not live with another person before she lived with your uncle, and did not that person give you uncle 200<i>l. </i>to marry her.<br />
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Witness. - I had heard that she did live with some one before she lived with my uncle; but I do not know anything of his receiving 200<i>l. </i>to marry her.<br />
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Cross-examination continued. - Witness was not aware of the wife of the plaintiff having put on widow's weeds directly her husband went into the hospital. She began to come to his room very soon after her husband went there, and he would not swear that she and Miss Jennings had not supped there several times with different men. His uncle first introduced her as Rose Botwright.<br />
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By the Court. - It was not any part of the witness's business to inquire into the character of the persons who visited his establishment.<br />
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The Chief Baron. - Then it was 6d. to pay, and no questions asked? (a laugh)<br />
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Witness. - Exactly, my lord.<br />
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John Cozens, of 67, Waverley-road, Harrow-road, proved that in March, 1853, the wife of the plaintiff engaged a lodging in his house, which she occupied for five months. During the whole of that period she was constantly visited by the defendant whom she introduced as her brother John. He frequently stayed all night.<br />
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Cross-examined. - Could not say where he slept.<br />
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Mrs. Cozens, the wife of the last witness, deposed to the same facts. The plaintiff's wife had occupied two rooms, but there was only one bed.<br />
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Cross-examined. - They used at first to consider that the defendant was a very affectionate brother indeed from his constant visits, and they thought that he sat up in the front room where he remained all night.<br />
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Mr. James - I believe, at last, however, you began to entertain a little suspicion of their proceedings?<br />
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Witness. - I very strong suspicion indeed. (a laugh)<br />
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Mrs. Jane Bullock proved that the plaintiff's wife occupied a room in her house for a few days and that the defendant invited her there, and upon one occasion they were in a bed-room together. She complained to Mrs. Bendall of her conduct.<br />
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Cross-examined. - She one saw Miss Jennings at her own apartment, and Miss Bendall was nursing her.<br />
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Mr. James. - I believe Miss Jennings had had a baby (a laugh). There was a child in the room, was there not?<br />
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Witness. - I shan't answer you. (a laugh)<br />
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Mr. James. - Come now, you can't object to tell us whether there was not a young child - a very young child, you know what I mean, in the room? (laughter)<br />
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Witness. - I shan't tell you. (renewed laughter)<br />
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Mr. James. - Well did you ask whose child it was?<br />
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Witness. - Oh! certainly not.<br />
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The Chief Baron. - How very discreet (a roar of laughter).<br />
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This closed the case for the plaintiff.<br />
<br />
Mr. James then addressed the jury for the defendant. The plaintiff's wife had been proved to have lived with him in a state of concubinage, for nearly two years before they were married, and that before their connection she had lived with another man, and that she had been proved to have been in the constant habit of frequenting casinos and places of that description, and there was very little doubt that the defendant, who was a young man, had been "picked up" by her at the place referred to. He felt assured that if the jury should feel themselves bound to return a verdict for the plaintiff, they would only give him the smallest possible amount of damanges.<br />
<br />
The Chief Baron having summed up,<br />
<br />
The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict for the plaintiff. Damages, 1s.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Daily News</i>, 28 July 1854</div>
<br />Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-6271120116661448392016-04-26T02:45:00.005-07:002016-04-26T03:25:58.310-07:00The Horrors of Living in London <div>
The Horrors of Living in London!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A Famous New Comic Song, now singing by Mr. BULLER, with great applause. Written by Mr. J. BRUTON.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
AIR - "<i>The Gypsy Party.</i>"</div>
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<div>
Of country troubles I've heard much, </div>
<div>
Of hedges, ditches, dirt and such, </div>
<div>
But on a different theme I'll touch,</div>
<div>
The horrors of living in London. </div>
<div>
Your cockney travellers often tell </div>
<div>
Of dangers great which them befell. </div>
<div>
While journeying beyond " Bow Bell," </div>
<div>
And fore'd with raw greenhorns to dwell </div>
<div>
Of rural miseries let 'em prate,</div>
<div>
But we may have many just as great, </div>
<div>
And so you'll say when I relate</div>
<div>
A few of the horrors of London! </div>
<div>
Tooral looral, &c.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
An urgent letter to a friend, </div>
<div>
Into the country you've to send, </div>
<div>
So with it yourself must wend,</div>
<div>
Ere all the mails leave London</div>
<div>
In crossing of some street, the way's </div>
<div>
Completely stopp'd by carts and shays, </div>
<div>
Waggons, omnibusses, drays, </div>
<div>
Extending far as you can gaze. </div>
<div>
So 'neath the horses legs you cut, </div>
<div>
And breathing reach the office—but </div>
<div>
That very moment find it shut!</div>
<div>
And such are things in London.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Opera, or Drury Lane,</div>
<div>
You leave at night, with ladies twain, </div>
<div>
When all at once down comes the rain, </div>
<div>
Another horror of London !</div>
<div>
To save the dears from dirt and wet, </div>
<div>
Beneath some gateway you all get; </div>
<div>
Then to the coach-stand off you set, </div>
<div>
But find the vehicles all let!</div>
<div>
From street to street you hurry on, </div>
<div>
But all is vain, so back you run</div>
<div>
To join the ladies,—but they're gone</div>
<div>
Another horror of London.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps you're bald or grown quite grey,</div>
<div>
And walking on a windy day,<br />
Your hat and wig are blown away,</div>
<div>
And carried half o'er London</div>
<div>
Then off you start with all your might, </div>
<div>
To overtake then in this plight, </div>
<div>
While at your bald-head every wight, </div>
<div>
Sets up a shout of rare delight. </div>
<div>
With grief aloud you curse and groan, </div>
<div>
For, after you so far have flown,</div>
<div>
Clean o'er the bridge your hat is blown,</div>
<div>
Another horror of London.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
In white ducks dress'd a perfect beau</div>
<div>
Cravat and waistcoat white as snow, </div>
<div>
For to a party you've to go</div>
<div>
In one of the squares of London!</div>
<div>
You cross the road, by sweeper seen</div>
<div>
Who asks for alms, and if you're mean,</div>
<div>
You're ducks that were so nice and clean, </div>
<div>
He spatters o'er with mud, for spleen; </div>
<div>
You mutter curses long and deep,</div>
<div>
But then no good from that you reap, </div>
<div>
He brings his friend to fight—<i>a sweep</i>!</div>
<div>
Another horror of London.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
While walking through the Street, you look </div>
<div>
Into a pamphlet, or a book,</div>
<div>
And find that you have your way mistook, </div>
<div>
A common thing in London!</div>
<div>
You study on, but not being fenc'd, </div>
<div>
An iron bar you run against;</div>
<div>
Its bearer you blow up incensed, </div>
<div>
But with abuse get recompens'd! </div>
<div>
Then on you go to 'scape a brawl.</div>
<div>
But venturing on too near the wall, </div>
<div>
You clean into a cellar fall</div>
<div>
Another horror of London.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As through the hail and elect you go, </div>
<div>
The wind a hurricane will blow,</div>
<div>
Your pleasure heightened by some snow, </div>
<div>
And that's a treat in London!</div>
<div>
Your umbrella inside out</div>
<div>
Is blown—while all the urchins about, </div>
<div>
And, stooping to give one a clout,</div>
<div>
Your hat's knocked off and kick'd about! </div>
<div>
But from some house-top soon is blown, </div>
<div>
A<i> tile, </i>while running for your own,</div>
<div>
Upon your head, which makes you groan,</div>
<div>
And curse the horrors of London.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Being ill from nervousness, you take </div>
<div>
A room retired, for quiet sake;</div>
<div>
As noise would quite your system shake,</div>
<div>
And where's not noise in London? </div>
<div>
You find, e'er you've passed one day o'er, </div>
<div>
A coffin-maker lives next door;</div>
<div>
While o'er the way at No. 4,</div>
<div>
There's <i>practising</i>—<i>a trumpet blower</i>—</div>
<div>
And in next roans, by a thin wall screened, </div>
<div>
A noisy child is being weaned,</div>
<div>
Who howls all night—the little fiend, </div>
<div>
And such is living in London</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
transcribed from<br />
<div>
Pickwick Songster vol.3 no.1, 'edited by Sam Weller' [Harding A 1229] n.d. ?1837?</div>
<div>
[with many thanks to Simon Cope @simontcope for his assistance]</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-81721611511071925622016-04-25T08:52:00.000-07:002016-04-25T09:02:55.085-07:00TV REVIEW (yes, I know, not very Victorian)<i>Trying to stretch and rest my brain from endless Victorian research, I've written this about some programmes on telly ...</i><br />
<div>
<i><br /></i></div>
<div>
<h2>
Unhappy Families: <i>The A-Word </i>and <i>Undercover<o:p></o:p></i></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[--This article contains spoilers. Although I would have
thought that was predictable.--]</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me tell you about two families.<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul and Alison Hughes live in the Lake District. They have
a newly-diagnosed autistic son called Joe, who struggles with primary school,
the wider world, and the human frailties of his parents – and they struggle a
bit with him. There’s also their teenage daughter Rebecca; but they mostly
ignore her. This is the simple premise of <i>The A-Word </i>which currently
occupies the prime-time slot on BBC1 on Tuesdays. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Joe, by the way, self-medicates with an MP3 player
permanently tuned to his dad’s music collection, downloaded directly from XfM,
c.2004. The Arctic Monkeys have probably bought themselves a gold-plated
chip-shop, solely on the proceeds of this show’s soundtrack).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1etz3ZxoI07dbd-QXAe_1bIvpLK_lWTe2NWl8DyxHNGCzyrxCPpBRGJSyccs5IoGtVkrqr9xrN6wy-L1Z64yUCnBNE_RIsmiyl8f7fgKrvN-WX8FRuFoS_m9iaq21crV9am_fjVnGBa9U/s1600/bbc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1etz3ZxoI07dbd-QXAe_1bIvpLK_lWTe2NWl8DyxHNGCzyrxCPpBRGJSyccs5IoGtVkrqr9xrN6wy-L1Z64yUCnBNE_RIsmiyl8f7fgKrvN-WX8FRuFoS_m9iaq21crV9am_fjVnGBa9U/s320/bbc1.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Johnsons, meanwhile, live in the elegantly terraced
Victorian hinterland between Hampstead Heath and Alexandra Palace. Their life,
in <i>Undercover</i> (prime time on Sundays) is ostensibly more complicated. We
know this partly because Nick Johnson, father of three, does lots of <i>troubled
pensive jogging</i><span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial";">™</span> in the parks. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya Cobbina (aka Mrs. Johnson), for her part, is a HUMAN
RIGHTS DEFENCE LAWYER. We know this,
because we first meet her pluckily trying to stay the grisly (failed) execution
of an Louisiana death-row inmate. The innocent and kindly felon tells her to GO
BIG and challenge the system that permits such injustice.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(The fact that BBC announcers are obliged to trail the show
with phrases like ‘Maya attempts to “Go Big!” and address corruption’
positively thrills me. I wish they could go the whole hog and say ‘SUPERSIZE
JUSTICE!’).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Johnsons also have two teenage girls – one just gone to
Anonymous College, Oxford – one who occasionally pouts and demands to be taken
to parties in Crouch End. (Does anyone <i>demand </i>to be taken to parties in
Crouch End? This seems the most unrealistic aspect of the show.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Johnsons also have an 18-year-old son with learning
difficulties. He’s easily spooked and repeatedly told to go out and wait in the
garden; sometimes with the long-suffering family dog. He then lurks by the
patio doors, literally and figuratively window-dressing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Johnsons not only have three kids but a secret (agent).
Nick is an undercover policeman, who fell in love with and married Maya when
she was under highly dubious police observation (as a plucky black rights
activist, back in the 1990s). And – you’ll never guess – his secret is going to
be ... <i>revealed.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there’s more. For the government want her – the only
black female lawyer in the country<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial";">™</span> – to be the
Director of Public Prosecutions. They are institutionally racist, and, dammit,
it will look good. She’s never actually worked as a prosecutor; but governments
are not sticklers about this sort of thing. She gives a plucky interview and –
ba-boom! – she’s got the job. She then wants to prosecute the police, over the
murder-in-custody of her ex-1990s-boyfriend; and there’s a conspiracy of
silence; and a conspiracy of husband; and lots of unsavoury middle-aged men in
suits (sinister!) who will <i>stop at nothing </i>to prevent her from
discovering <i>the truth.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
-----</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we have two programmes about dysfunctional families. One
‘family drama’, one more ‘conspiracy thriller’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of them is really good. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So good, in fact, that it teaches us exactly what’s wrong
with the other one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The good show? I am, of course, talking about <i>The A-Word.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdxBxomUvyX70K_RfT7rH_nhWryuML7tWjgB98yxVEE1CiB4LpNdklaATOeY1agPO_4IAjwNHrSW4n-84ZbhGKGU1-eYzBIrMH-Byp5gb_GuCDRKdZV1jEbaxgpgZQ2FxBUvW69aT0JQ3/s1600/bbc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdxBxomUvyX70K_RfT7rH_nhWryuML7tWjgB98yxVEE1CiB4LpNdklaATOeY1agPO_4IAjwNHrSW4n-84ZbhGKGU1-eYzBIrMH-Byp5gb_GuCDRKdZV1jEbaxgpgZQ2FxBUvW69aT0JQ3/s320/bbc2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Perhaps I am so impressed with this show, because I expected
it to be awful. Set in a small cosy community in the Lake District (ey lad!
those northerners and their quirky ways!); featuring Christopher Eccleston in a
role which calls for comic acting (comedy is to Eccleston what nuance is to
Donald Trump); and <i>that title. </i>I battened down the hatches for a
sickly-sweet morality tale about ‘coping with an autistic child’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And yet, it’s great.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The heart of the story is not AUTISM (or even Autism or
autism) or even Joe himself, but Alison and Paul, and the fault lines in their
marriage. The writing is subtle; and the characterisation of Alison is
particularly impressive. She is slowly revealed as bullish and manipulative,
like her annoying father (Eccleston); but also desperate to do ‘the right
thing’ for her beloved son. She’s a complex character, an imperfect mother, as
opposed to a good or bad one – indeed, an imperfect person – that’s a nice
thing in a ‘family drama’.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Paul, meanwhile, is cheerful and amiable, but plainly relies
too much on his charm and good humour. The differences in their approach to
parenting – exposed by the extremes of Joe’s behaviour – drive a wedge into the
seemingly healthy relationship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYVftIm-M6GbCwmL7em_hinYmH_kvZM7a9ReIRVGQ50hyphenhyphenwO8wyIhrlmS3S1PdvKmXe5E3c8Oh6XWgSUKcpNU26mGnhYvC_rN5o4WkkFIkgDxDlSFsfoxtlXK40wVNvhsuEfffhXVRp9R/s1600/bbc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfYVftIm-M6GbCwmL7em_hinYmH_kvZM7a9ReIRVGQ50hyphenhyphenwO8wyIhrlmS3S1PdvKmXe5E3c8Oh6XWgSUKcpNU26mGnhYvC_rN5o4WkkFIkgDxDlSFsfoxtlXK40wVNvhsuEfffhXVRp9R/s320/bbc3.jpg" width="320" /></a>The most recent episode culminated in a scene where Alison,
having secretly taken a morning-after pill, admitted to Paul that she did not
want another child. Two things impressed me. First, this argument genuinely
felt like a release of simmering tensions, that had been built up – sometimes exposed and then swiftly covered –
in the previous four episodes. Second, the brutal reality of it: the way Paul
and Alison, slowly but surely, moved from resignation, and even affection, to
trading cruel insights, finding each other’s weak spots. Love soured – briefly
or permanently? – by latent bitterness,
finally bubbling to the surface. That’s how emotions work, isn’t it?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Arguably, nothing much happens in <i>The A-Word</i>. But it
has such great writing and performances – all very low key and self-effacing –
so that you barely notice this is <i>quality </i>drama. Writing this, I look it
up and find it’s by Peter Bowker, who wrote the peculiar and engaging <i>Blackpool
</i>a dozen years back. I’d like to shake his hand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then we come to <i>Undercover</i>. First of all, what is it?
Well, I guess it’s essentially a political drama. There are sinister government
sorts, covering up the police’s (?historic?) undercover police operations
against dissidents; there’s a murder of an ex-undercover policewoman who’s
about to reveal all. But there’s also the very personal betrayal of Maya by
Nick. There’s lots of stuff in the home; family scenes; but it’s really all
designed to heighten the big question – when will Maya learn the truth about
Nick? And what will she do? (probably to THE ESTABLISHMENT; but perhaps also to
him) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-IlpjT9ZTwHroEbyf4YIU9XCahz7S6s3a3Pjd1u7kLsl_o5txQpcRBGXSWD0T0IA4PaQ12Od226aa8Zd6zfVFYFV8eOiD35GhWx5_c3EtJR7DDnXP6nHQoUQfAfWwQWKD7xlxVgL866/s1600/bbc4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZI-IlpjT9ZTwHroEbyf4YIU9XCahz7S6s3a3Pjd1u7kLsl_o5txQpcRBGXSWD0T0IA4PaQ12Od226aa8Zd6zfVFYFV8eOiD35GhWx5_c3EtJR7DDnXP6nHQoUQfAfWwQWKD7xlxVgL866/s320/bbc4.jpg" width="320" /></a>Does it work? Well, ish. But it’s convoluted, glossy and
superficial. Some of it is plain daft. Maya, appointed director of public
prosecutions, drags her 1990s cop-murdered ex-boyfriend’s mum into the first staff
briefing. She tells <i>all</i> the assembled lawyers of the DPP that they should work on this case. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All of them? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And, by the way, we haven’t heard anything about that for
two episodes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maya also has a
severe case of <i>dramatic illness </i>– she’s just now – just right now! –
developed epilepsy. She can’t get the proper scan and meds because the MRI
scanner reminds her of the gurney she saw used on her death-row client. <i>She
may die!</i> Well, nice imagery and all, but importing random isolated perils
like this is just bad writing. (Sophie Okonedo can do an impressive epileptic
fit, mind).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When she returns to death-row in the latest episode, Maya
takes her teenage student daughter; who is keeping an eye on her because of the
epilepsy. Oookay. US penitentiaries are more easy-going than I realised.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now, of course, with these sort of things, I’m being picky.
Writers can take liberties, when it suits them. People like me can carp.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But there’s one fundamental problem with this programme you
can’t really ignore: the family are <i>all fakes. </i>Nick, Maya, and their
randomly generated children. This is what struck me this week, thinking about these two shows.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Johnsons sit and eat food together; they chat; they walk
the dog; they wait anxiously, and collectively, for the death-row inmate to die
(I’ve had similar weekends with my in-laws). But they feel no more real, as a
family unit than a glossy advertisement. Nick, of course, is fundamentally
bogus – but you’re meant to believe that he has spent eighteen years parenting
this family; that he has raised a son with learning disabilities; got one
daughter through the awkward teenage years and through to Anonymous College;
and probably spent at least <i>some</i> time with his wife in the process. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t think you get any of that. It’s all rather cursory;
waiting for the big reveal and <i>dramatic consequences</i>. We know pretty
much <i>nothing </i>about the kids. I had to check that there even were <i>two</i>
daughters in the show; more window dressing. Maya, likewise, seems to
exist in two dimensions. She’s brave; a good lawyer; loving wife and mother.
She’s got it all. She’s bloody perfect, really. Sketchy stuff. Easily-sketched
stuff, in fact. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Steven Moffatt is the writer. He of <i>Sherlock </i>fame. He
believes, I’m sure, in GOING BIG. Keep things fast-paced; ratchet up the
tension. But I’m not convinced he really has any interest in people.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The result is that there’s more genuine gut-wrenching
tension in Alison and Paul’s childcare arrangements in Cumbria than whether
Maya throttles Nick, and/or brings down the entirety of the British
establishment.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-8096564614764062102016-04-12T05:18:00.001-07:002016-04-12T05:18:27.654-07:00The Lottie Collins LibelLOTTIE COLLINS AND HER
SONGS. <br />
<br />
SHE BRINGS AN ACTION FOR LIBEL
AGAINST A NEWSPAPER.<br />
<br />
AMUSING CASE.<br />
<br />
Mrs. COONEY, an actress and variety artist,
professionally known as Miss Lottie Collins,
brought an action for libel, in the Queen's
Bench Division, before Mr. Justice
Hawkins and a special jury, against Mr.
Edeveain, proprietor of a weekly journal
named <i>Society.</i> The defendant pleaded
that the words complained of were in their
natural and ordinary meaning fair comment
and criticism upon a public performance.<br />
Mr. Henry Kisch was for the plaintiff;
and Mr. Jelf, Q.C., Mr. E. U. Bullen, and
Mr. Cane for the defendant.<br />
Mr. Kisch, in opening, said his client
had sung " The Little Widow" in public some 2,000 or 3,000 times, and
the song upon all occasions met with
approbation. She had also sung "A Girl
on the Ran-dan-dan." (Laughter.) In
December last she was performing at the
Palace Theatre, and the two songs were in
her repertoire. In reference to this engagement an article appeared in<i> Society,</i> and in
it was the following passage:<br />
<br />
"At the Palace Theatre, Morton Consule,
there is quite the best entertainment in
London, a sort of show a man can with impunity take his maiden aunt to. There is
nothing coarse about it anywhere and the
only touch of vulgarity is supplied by Miss
Lottie Collins, who successfully reproduces,
in two of her songs at least, methods far
from pleasing of the age which to its
eternal sorrow used to applaud such
monstrosities as that lion comique, now
happily very near dead. One of her songs,
`The Little Widow'—no connection, I am
happy to say, of our very own sweet lady—is written in grossly had taste, which is not
redeemed even by the singer's surprising
agility and rose-red petticoats. To my
mind Miss Collins has never done so well
since "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay."<br />
Mr. Justice Hawkins: What was meant
by "Morton Consule." Was it the name of
a place? (Loud laughter.)<br />
Mr. Fisch said he had at first taken it to
be some French expression—(laughter)— 'but it seemed that it was intended to
intimate that the place was under the
management of Mr. Morton. (Laughter.) He regretted that he could not bring the
whole performance before the jury; but at
least he could bring "that little widow"
before them. (Laughter.) Of course when he said "The The Little Widow" he meant the
song. (Renewed laughter.) He would ask
his lordship to let the jury read that song,
so that they might form their own opinion
as to "vulgarity," and as to the song having
been written "in grossly bad taste."<br />
<br />
THE SONG.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jelf: Had you not better read it
yourself?<br />
Mr. Kisch said he would with his lordship's permission, and he did so amidst
peals of laughter.<br />
<br />
Oh, dear, what I've suffered, there's nobody
knows;<br />
I'll endeavour to tell you my troubles and
woes,<br />
A lone little widow, two husbands I mourn,<br />
And now I'm forsaken, heartbroken, forlorn.<br />
No one to love me, no one to bless,<br />
No one to tease me, none to caress,<br />
And just twenty-one, 'tis true, on my word,<br />
So I am thinking of taking a third.<br />
<br />
I'm a widow, a little widow; I am simple,
but I'm witty;<br />
I'm stylish and pretty; yes, a widow, a
charming widow.<br />
But I won't remain single very long.<br />
<br />
Dear George was my "first," he just
doated on me;<br />
And, oh, we were happy as happy could be.<br />
He died, all the doctors said "shortness of
breath"<br />
The women, the wretches, said "worried
to death!"<br />
What could a poor little lone widow do?<br />
Charlie consoled me, and became Number2 ;<br />
And only last week he said, "Daisy, good-
bye,<br />
I'm going to meet George in the sweet
bye-and-bye."<br />
And I'm a widow, once more a widow;
I am, &c.<br />
<br />
I wonder why single girls are such mean
things;<br />
They'd like to be angels, of course, without
wings; <br />Make eyes at the men with such a sly
glance, <br />And won't give us dear little widows a
chance.<br />
But I'm going to show them of what we are
made;<br />
I'm looking around me; oh, don't be afraid. <br />
If there's one here who'll be Number 3,<br />
He find me as loving as loving can be.<br />
<br />
Counsel added that he would hand the other song, "A Girl on the Ran-dan-dan"
to his learned friend, who could read it if.
he liked. (Laughter.)<br />
Mr. Jelf, amidst renewed laughter, read a
few lines of it.<br />
Mr. Justice Hawkins thought that, with
a little more rehearsal, counsel might be
able to sing the songs. (Loud laughter.)<br />
The plaintiff was then called. She said
that she was the wife of Mr. Stephen
Patrick Cooney, but was professionally
known as Miss Lottie Collins. She had so
performed at the principal theatres and
halls in London and in the provinces, and
also in the United States.<br />
Did you sing "The Little Widow" at the
Palace Theatre in "The New Barmaid"?
"Possibly," interjected Mr. Kirsch, his lordship had heard of "The New Woman," and
The New Barmaid" was probably a
development of that idea. (Laughter.)<br />
Witness said that both songs had always
been received very well, and no objection
to them was ever made by managers or by
anybody else. She did not think that she
indicated any vulgarity in singing either of
these songs.<br />
Cross-examined: "The Little Widow"
she believed to be as popular as ever.<br />
And you yourself are as popular as ever?<br />
I hope so.<br />
You do not deny that Society has very
often praised you?<br />
I have seen notices there that praised
me.<br />
And you agree that everybody is entitled
to have his own opinion upon a public performance?<br />
Oh, yes! but where the word "vulgarity"
was used it was rather far-fetched. Witness
added that she did not think that there was
any touch of vulgarity in "Ta-ra-ra-boom-
de-ay." It must be borne in mind that the
audience went to music-halls to be amused;
they did not go to church. (Laughter.)
When she was singing "The Little
Widow" she was, dressed all in black,
except the petticoats, which were red.
(Loud laughter.)<br />
Mr. Jelf : Is not that, an important point,
that petticoat?<br />
Witness: I beg your pardon—petticoats.
(Laughter.)<br />
Mr. Jell: Ah, that is my ignorance. (Renewed laughter.)<br />
The petticoats of red suddenly made
their appearance during the song?—Yes.<br />
And that had a startling effect?—No
doubt it had. (Laughter.) Continuing,
witness said she still kept her position upon the stage; but this libel had been sent
abroad through the world, and she feared
that it would do her a good deal of harm in
America. She had never had the word
"vulgarity" applied to her singing before.<br />
Mr. G. H. Payne, managing director of
the Canterbury Hall, of the South London
Theatre of Varieties, and of the Paddington
Theatre of Varieties, said he had had
twenty years' experience connected with
music-halls, and had known the plaintiff
from the time when she was a child. He
had heard her sing both these songs.<br />
Have you noticed any procedure or gesture on the part of Miss Lottie Collins that
was vulgar?— No.<br />
Cross-examined: Naturally there were
differences of opinion upon such matters.<br />
Mr. Charles Morton said that he was the
manager of the Palace Theatre of Varieties,
and had been engaged in connection with
music-hall engagements ever since 1848. He
was invariably on duty every evening at his
theatre, and he looked closely after everything that took place. He had heard Miss
Collins sing " The Little Widow" on many
occasions, and he had never seen anything
on her part that was vulgar.<br />
Would you allow it to continue if you did see it?—No. He had heard "The Girl on
the Ran-dan-dan" sung, and he had never
observed any objection to it on the part of
the audience.<br />
Cross-examined: Do you consider that
this article has done Miss Collins the
slightest injury?—No. She is still receiving
the same salary as she received before.<br />
Mr. Lionel Monckton, a member of the
bar, upon the critical staff of the Daily Telegraph, said he had heard the plaintiff sing
"The Little Widow" more than once. He
did not know Miss Collins at all, and he
had not until that day ever seen her off
the stage. He had never seen anything on
her part that was vulgar.<br />
<br />
THE VERDICT.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jeff addressed the jury for the defendant, contending that what had been published amounted to nothing more than fair criticism upon a performance. He also submitted that there was no evidence to show that any damage had been inflicted upon the plaintiff.<br />
The jury, without leaving the box, said their verdict was for the plaintiff, with £25 damanges.<br />
<br />
<i>Illustrated Police News</i>, 24 Ju;y 1897Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-90959195310089314802016-04-12T02:47:00.000-07:002016-04-12T02:47:14.406-07:00Fun without Frivolity?<i>The late-Victorians are often caricatured as prudish and anti-entertainment. There was, certainly, a vigorous 'social purity' movement in the 1890s, which attempted to control and reduce the number of music halls in the capital, both on the grounds of them selling drink, and harbouring prostitutes. But the puritans were not </i><u>the</u> <i>Victorians and many contemporaries opposed them, even amongst the most respectable in society. This article about granting Sadlers Wells Theatre a music hall licence ('music and dancing') paints an interesting picture of the debate in local authority circles.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Messrs. Wilmot and Freeman, lessees of Sadler's Wells Theatre, wrote to the Clerkenwell Vestry on Thursday giving notice their intention to apply to the London County Council for a music and dancing licence for Sadler's Wells Theatre. This led to an angry discussion at the vestry meeting. Mr. Weston moved to oppose the application, on one ground, because they had driven Captain Davis from Deacon's Music Hall with a compensation of £10,000, and now they wanted to give this valuable concession to Messrs. Wilmot and Freeman for nothing. Mr. J. Crowle-Smith objected to the licence because drink was sold on the premises; and Mr. Putterill and Mr. Wildboe and Mr. Brighty thought similarly. Mr. J.F.Kelly said that it would be all right, he supposed, if they filled the parish with "Little Bethels", but with 75,000 inhabitants, who were not all teetotallers or churchgoers, but who nevertheless were good husbands and fathers, he contended they should consider their amusement, as well as their rates. He recommend to the notice of the Puritanical party the words of the good old Bobbie Burns:-<br />
<br />
God knows, I'm not the man I should be,<br />
Nor am I even the man I could be;<br />
But fifty times I rather would be,<br />
An Atheist clean,<br />
Than under Gospel I'd be<br />
Just for a screen.<br />
<br />
Messrs. Wilmot and Freeman's enterprise should be encouraged. They had shown by their management of the Grand Theatre, with thoroughly respectable surroundings, that they could be relied upon to supply a good class of entertainment when they got the music and dancing licence.<br />
Mr. Churchwarden MILLWARD said he was happy to tell them that he could go to church and to a music hall, and appreciate both. In fact, he went to the Royal in Holborn, about once a week. It was all humbug these people coming there with their "McDougall nonsense."<br />
Mr. Churchwarden SANS gave an opinion that the parish would be all the better without the licences.<br />
Mr. KELLY, amid considerable laughter, pointed to this model churchwarden, who years ao was a music hall proprietor himself; who was, in fact, sponsor for, amongst others, Herbert Campbell, Tom Vine, and Clara Nisbet, and from whose hall Londoners had got some of their greatest pleasure givers.<br />
Mr. Churchwarden SANS - I was not proprietor of the place.<br />
Mr. KELLY - Then you were the man in possession.<br />
Mr. MATTHEW HANLY also vigorously denounced members who denied people such pleasures as Messrs. Wilmot and Freeman would be sure to bring them. One of the Puritans had said he would not go to a music hall or theatre to find a husband for his daughter; but allow him (Mr. Hanly) to tell that member that there were as good and virtuous ladies and gentlemen on the theatrical and music hall stage as there were in his little chapel. In fact, many of the actors were better than the parsons. Looking at the matter from another point of view, let them consider the hundreds of people who wer employed when Mr. Wilmot had as many as five companies travelling at once. And where was there a body of people more ready to lend a hand to charity and philanthropy than the theatrical and music hall profession? He hoped the good sense of the Vestry would prevail and put down these bigots.<br />
Mr. DIXIE did not wish to be political; but he certainly must mention the bad songs which had been and which were sung at the Radical club dens, to which some of the opposers of the Sadlers Wells licence belonged. The Lord Chamberlain and the County Council exercised strong powers over theatres and music halls, but these club-drinking dens were allowed to go on as they pleased.<br />
In the result, the following motion was carried by 19 to 17: "That the Vestry adheres to its resolution of Oct. 16th last, in which they decided to oppose any new music and dancing licence in the parish." This was followed by a number of amendments, but the figures were not materially altered, and the final quarrel between the members was as to whether the clerk should send details of the discussion to the London County Council, when opposing the granting of the licence.<br />
Mr. KELLY said he would see that the County Council committee knew the motion against the licence was only carried by the narrow majority of two, or else the Puritans, with all their truth, and honesty, and morality, would go and say the Vestry was unanimously against the licence.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Era </i>22 August 1891</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-80869478998178049962016-03-20T12:25:00.000-07:002016-03-20T12:25:12.478-07:00LCC Inspector's report into Collins Music Hall, Islington Green, 1890<div class="MsoNormal">
With one or two exceptions this is a place of entertainment
to which I would not hesitate to take my wife and family to. The only part of
the programme that I object to is the skirt dance of Miss Alice Leaman. The
high pitching of the legs and the continual twirling, with the hands, of her
muslin petticoats is, to say the least, suggestive. This skirt dance gave such
unbounded satisfaction to the audience that she had to appear again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Regarding
prostitutes, it is satisfactory to report that in the gallery they are not to
be seen at the bar or promenade. As far as I could make out the Superintendents
insisted that females must be seat – a plan which if generally adopted would in
my humble opinion greatly improve the moral tone of the London Music Halls and
Theatres. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I regard that I
cannot report as favourably on the area of the Hall. this part is besieged by a
goodly number of unfortunates of the better-clad sort. The bar, which is at the
back, is supplied with side lounges and these are the hunting grounds of these
women. I observed no importuning but it is not required with such conveniences.
A tipsy young man will invariably drop down beside one of these females. If the
Superintendents were as exacting in this part as they are in the gallery, this
blot would disappear.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I would draw the attention of the Committee
to the existing condition of the WCs in the gallery. At the back is a promenade
not too well lighted – having two dim gas lights and an oil lamp. At the back
of this promenade are two WCs – the one for men and the other for women, the
distance between the doors being some <u>seven
or eight </u> feet. The entrances to
these are in full view of the promenade, the bar, and the exit, which is close
to the entrance. For the observance of decency on the part of the female sex, I
would suggest that a door, immediately at the top of the gallery stairs, would
suit the purpose and would afford females an opportunity of availing themselves
of the use of the Convenience without being so much observed.</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"> I must
again make mention of the touting for drinks that prevails in this and other
music halls and also theatres in London. I don’t see why a person after paying
for admission should be continually pestered by a waiter poking his nose in
yours and shouting “orders please.” These men are paid little or no salary and
naturally they try to make three-fourths of an audience order drinks, whereas
if they were left to enjoy the performance, the liquor would not be thought of.</span>Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-75086319788795663042016-03-20T07:29:00.001-07:002016-03-20T07:29:37.149-07:00A Visit to a Music Hall (no.4)AMUSED LONDON<br />
<br />
By a Novice - IV.<br />
<br />
If the reader will picture to himself a fine theatre brilliantly lighted, luxuriously fitted, magnificently decorated with crimson and gold, and crowded from roof to floor with an overflowing audience, he will have some idea of a celebrated West End Theatre of Varieties now paying over 100 per cent dividend to the shareholders. On the night of our visit the inevitable cigars were as usual in everybody's mouths, but a strange feature in the audience was the relatively large proportion of apparently respectable women as compared to their almost entire absence in Music Halls, and our puzzle increased as we speculated as to why, when and where, respectable women draw the line between West-end Music Halls and Variety Theatres, for the latter certainly carry off the palm for immoral tone, indecency, and intentional suggestiveness. Probably the very lady who recently boasted in a letter to the papers that she was very pleased for her husband to attention an occasional Music Hall, though it was, of course, an unfit place for her to accompany him to; would quite complacently imperil he own more valuable soul at a Theatre of Varieties. The obvious conclusion is, therefore, that in the eyes of society, the character of the entertainment itself is of less consequence than the character of the female portion of the audience attending it. Music Halls are reserved for the convenience of gentlemen and that special set of their feminine friends who they do not introduce to their female relations. The proportion of women is always, however, it must be remembered comparatively small; in fact, in London, the relative numbers of the sexes in places of amusement and places of worship is reversed. A further distinction is that, although the songs were of the ordinary Music Hall type, and those by no means carefully selected, the audience did not join in the choruses.<br />
<br />
"That's how he carries on;"<br />
<br />
"Don't you believe it, dear boys;<br />
How forward you are, I shall tell mama,<br />
But don't you believe it dear boys - "<br />
<br />
and another, also addressed to men, given by the "Liquid Gem", a lady in whom impudence did duty for voice:-<br />
<br />
"<i>You're </i>artful, so are <i>we</i>,"<br />
<br />
"And the lodger will sit on the old woman's knee,<br />
And if you'll stand that, you'll stand anything - "<br />
<br />
together with an equally choice piece of advice to "Get married on the hire system," will sufficiently indicate the style of song. There was a great deal of harmless fun over a cleverly managed political monologue, which drew forth howls or applause from the various sections of the audience, according as Liberals or Conservatives were hit. Beside the usual Music Hall jokes, acrobats and songs, a woman athlete performed marvels on a trapeze suspended to the roof of the lofty theatre. The exhibition was most objectionable from the element of danger and excitement introduced by the height at which the performance took place, but the immense muscular power displayed by a woman, must effectually have dispelled from the spectators any pet theories as to innate physical incapacity in the weaker, or more accurately speaking, the undeveloped sex.<br />
The main features of the evening were two long and very elaborate ballets, arranged by a well-known London manager, and a lady almost equally celebrated in theatrical circles. There were about eight children on, between the ages of ten and fourteen, who were mentioned as a special attraction in the programme. Some of the dresses were tolerable but the greater number violated every canon of ordinary decency and good taste; the dancing as a consequence became indecent "the display suggestive, and the personal attractions of the performers, "exploited for vulgar purposes and worse." Some of the most beautiful flowers were pressed into the service of this essentially unbeautiful exhibition; but robbed by the human beings who impersonated them of their most precious attributes, the violets of their modesty, the lilies of their purity, and the daisies of their simplicity. How decent women, with any pretensions to dignity and self respect could sit it out was more than we could comprehend, yet some of them had actually brought their young boys and girls with them! Little dreaming in their culpable thoughtlessness of the crop of tares they were thus sowing in their young impressionable minds.<br />
After the performance quite a crowd of men and boys waited at the stage door for the actresses and dancers as they streamed forth by scores with their painted faces, and more in the background were to be discerned in the dark corners of the shadowy back street various gentlemen on a similar errand. In front of the theatre the gaily-lit square and crowded thoroughfare swarmed with men of the better-to-do classes, and the unhappy women who exist to subserve their purposes. The road was blocked with cabs awaiting at the doors of the brilliantly illuminated cafes the pleasure-seekers as they retired from their sumptuous supper-tables. At one spot on the pavement a thicker knot of human beings was collected round one of the unhappy creatures whom the world has agreed to call unfortunates - her poor, painted, but handsome face was disfigured by a frenzy of passion, as she shrieked in piercing tones, "I'm a lady, and I won't be insulted"; and the mocking laughter of the crowd echoed with a fateful irony her impotent rage.<br />
The night was a dark and gusty one, and occasional heavy drops gave warning of an impending storm; but the crowds of handsomely dressed gentlemen and painted and bedizened shows of women surged on, heedless of the elements, and bent only on their unholy mission. It was as though we had see with Dante the vision of those spirits, the unhallowed victims of their own lusts, swept round and round in never-ending circles by the stormy gusts of their unchained passions.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Vigilance Record</i>, September 1888</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-64957874651758589112016-03-20T06:01:00.001-07:002016-03-20T06:01:17.223-07:00A Visit to a Music Hall (no.3)AMUSED LONDON.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
By a Novice - III.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It chanced to be the evening of the Derby Day as we took an omnibus eastward, and having arrived at the terminus, and entered a second going in the same direction, we soon became aware, through our olfactory organs, by the blended essence of friend fish and burnt coffee borne to us on the perfume-laden breeze, that we had at least arrived in the Whitechapel Road. A third and final ride on top of a tram through monotonous miles of a long lobe unbroken level of discoloured, depressed looking dwellings, brought us close to our destination. </div>
<div>
The Palace of Varieties of which we were in search is situated in the far east of London, amidst a vast stretch of low, squalid-looking houses, and stands out conspicuously by its relatively imposing dimensions and glaring lights from the surrounding gloom. Inside it is a small theatre; dress circle seats at a shilling were an allowable extravagance after such a journey, and owing to its being Derby night, and consequently there being an unusually small audience, we were fortunate enough to escape with less than half the customary fumes of drink and tobacco. How any human being contrives to survive asphyxiation on non-Derby nights would be a useful investigation for scientific men who assert that oxygen is necessary for the maintenance of life.</div>
<div>
The entertainment itself was very vulgar, the jokes low, the riddles coarse, and consisted largely of noise and rough horse-play. Some twanging Christies gave an excruciating rendering of the "Old Folks at Home," a new version containing a hit at Emigration, the whole concluding with a free fight between the "Old Folks," and the new folks who wished to make themselves "at home."</div>
<div>
A novel and to us striking feature of the entertainment was the jingoism which pervaded the place and which cheered to the echo such choruses as:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"We've still got the men, we've still got the cash,</div>
<div>
We've still go the same old British pluck and dash,</div>
<div>
So let our foes beware, or we will make them stare,</div>
<div>
For there's life in the Old Dog yet."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
sung with martial ardour by a warlike daughter of the regiment, dressed in crimson satin, in size a female Tichborne. This song and others of similar nature were levelled against - "those sneaking lot of cowards, the Russians" whom the audience vowed in chorus they would - </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Teach them to remember</div>
<div>
What British pluck can do," &c &c.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One began to comprehend, as one listened, how and whence the British armaments are recruited.</div>
<div>
The spirited goddess of war, having leisurely exchanged her martial uniform for a pink satin gown, condescended to the trivialities of more domestic sentiments; and we were favoured with the tragic history of a faithful though suspicious lover; chorus:-</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"O! isn't she a pretty little thing!</div>
<div>
I'll buy the wedding ring,</div>
<div>
And I'll take good care she never has a lodger."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
climax-</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"She's been and gone and bolted with the lodger."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lodgers, we find are regarded by a large portion of the community, as persons of naturally depraved characters, by no means to be trusted, and to be scouted on all public occasions, more especially at Music Hall Entertainments.</div>
<div>
There followed one of the most painful exhibitions it has been our lot during our peregrinations to witness. A child, apparently of about nine or ten, got up in comic guise, singing with suggestive gestures coarse songs; concluding with a topical song on the degeneracy of the turf.</div>
<div>
The inevitable gentleman in evening dress, with his back to the stage, now announced the "Grand juvenile nautical spect-<i>a</i>cle;" and the central table in the stalls with the announcement on it, "this table for gentlemen only" began to fill up, for was not the ballet about to commence? To the uninitiated the death of Nelson may seem rather an incongruous subject for terpsichorean representation, but they thus display a want of comprehension of which an audience drawn from the neighbourhood of the docks, inheriting the traditions and imbued with the glorious spirit of a warlike and maritime race, would not be guilty. The scene took place on the deck of the Victory, and certainly we must admit that if noise, and vulgarity and confusion, and incoherence, and Bengal lights, and banging of guns, and popping of fireworks could have killed Nelson, he must have died a thousand deaths before the final merciful release, when the charming young ballet-girl, who impersonated the great Admiral, fell mortally wounded but gracefully into the arms of the attendant officers, also ballet girls. Besides these dancers there were upwards of eighty girls and boys under fifteen representing soldiers and sailors and the rest, and four or five very small children. Here again our feelings were jarred by that want of reverence for childhood, characteristic perhaps of a teeming population, made so painfully evident earlier in the evening; the two youngest children, mere babies, were blackened, and kept the audience in a roar by their precocious tricks. Amongst other unpleasant features, causing great hilarity, were the acrobatic antics of a human deformity, who climbed the ropes of the good ship "Victory" and stood on his head in the rigging. We were told by some of the audience he was a well-known dwarf called Blackwall Jack.</div>
<div>
At the conclusion of the "Nautical Spect-<i>a</i>cle" we found our way to the dark badly-lighred street into which the stage door opened. The children steamed out; but were left to find their way home at nearly midnight as beset they could, there was no-one there to meet them. Later, one mother, a German woman, arrived and she confided in us her great anxiety about her girl of sixteen for whom she as waiting. She was not a bad girl, she said, but high-spirited and wild about the stage. She, in common with her other comrades of the ballet, got 3s. a week; it did not keep them in shoes; but they loved the excitement. It is a bad life for girls, she added, as we bade her good-night.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Vigilance Record,</i> August 1888</div>
<div>
</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-88253706084091814882016-03-20T05:08:00.001-07:002016-03-20T05:15:54.893-07:00A Visit to a Music Hall (no.2)AMUSED LONDON<br />
<br />
By a Novice - II.<br />
<br />
Saturday night, the eve of Whit-Sunday, seemed a good evening to select for a visit to a well-known music hall in Paddington, patronized mostly by the poorer classes of society. Well-to-do people unconsciously get their views about the poor coloured by the police reports in the newspapers (as, it may be, the poor judge of the rich from the published accounts of divorce cases), and it must be confessed that I for one had some apprehensions as to the character of the entertainment at which my friend and I had imposed on ourselves the duty of assisting. [--sic--typo for 'assessing'?] Such fears, however, turned out not to be only an additional proof of the existence of that ignorance of classes other than our own in which it is the fate of so many of us to live and die. As a matter of act, on this occasion at any rate, the whole entertainment was immeasurably superior, in moral tone and decency, to that of the fashionable West End music hall previously visited by us and described in last month's <i>Vigilance Record</i>. Of course there was vulgarity, but vulgarity of a downright honest, homely kind, unseasoned by vicious jests or indecent allusions. Indeed, the audience seemed of a fresher and more wholesome type, more child-like in nature, easily amused, and readily expressing approbation or the reverse, but not requiring as did the educated gentlemen who formed the mass of the former audience, either vice or indecency to whet their jaded appetites.<br />
The prices of the seats ranged from 6d. to 2s. for reserved stalls, and on pushing through the handsome swing glass door leading into the pit, we found ourselves in the midst of a thickly-packed mass of working men, mostly standing, and all smoking short clay pipes. We made our way with some difficulty through the crowd to a side bench in front of a bar; from here we have a fairly good view of the "house", which was like a good-sized theatre, built in octagonal form. The performance had already begun as we took our seats on the wooden form, by the side of some clay pipes, with clay pipes in front and clay pipes behind us. As the evening advanced, the atmosphere became insufferable.<br />
The reserved stalls filling the parterre in front of us were chiefly occupied by quietly behaved decent-looking young men, with a sprinkling of entirely respectable women and girls, many of them shop-girls, who came in couples, in fact we could only discover one girl who might from her appearance be of doubtful character.<br />
Of women in the humbler ranks of life there were scarcely any, though their brothers and husbands and sons swarmed, and a factory girl, denoted by the unmistakeable scanty feather and thick fringe of hair, was a quite a <i>rara avis</i>; apparently poor women do not largely participate in the amusements of their male relations. The readiness with which the people inconvenienced themselves for their neighbours, and their true politeness to each other was remarkable; two men in front of us left their seats several times, and retired to the bar in order to replenish their glasses with porter, and although their places were immediately occupied by the bystanders, they were invariably cheerfully relinquished on the reappearance of those who claimed them; indeed all behaved well, and we saw no drunkenness or disorder of any kind, Owing to our position under the balcony, we had some difficulty in hearing the words of all the songs evidently familiar to the greater part of the audience who joined vociferously in the choruses; and in one song sung by a young lady, attired in scarlet satin, and vivid grass green silk stockings, interpolated a deafening shout at a given pause in each verse, which sounded like a Brobdingnagian "WHY?"<br />
Although we were treated to a very fair rendering of the Toreador's song from <i>Carmen </i>by a man with a fine baritone, the songs, as a whole, were certainly not meant to gratify refined taste; one of the most unpleasant being sung by a comedian who acted in character the part of an "unfortunate father," and deplored, with the <i>naive </i>irresponsibility of the British parent, the misfortunes showered on an innocent victim in the shape of seventeen daughters. The audience roared with gusto the chorus:<br />
<br />
Will any one marry my daughters?<br />
Will any one cart of the whole blooming lot?<br />
For I want to get rid of girls.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the same man sang a character song with great effect, containing a very visible and impressive moral; he gave highly dramatic sketches of the fate of the dishonest city clerk, the gambler, and the drunkard, and finally of the little actress, "Flo," who was betrayed by the fine gentleman in whose promises she had put her faith, and who ended her life by a fatal plunge off London Bridge. The entertainment was varied by acrobatic performances, conjuring, and some dancing of a comparatively decent kind. Having endured semi-asphyxiation for nearly three hours and a half - and as there was no apparent prospect of the entertainment, which began at eight, drawing to a close - we could stand the poisonous atmosphere no longer and made our escape into the reviving air. Never did London air appear so fresh and balmy to two poor mortals, and to us it was Spring itself, with healing on its wing, that we breathed anew. The night was a beautiful one, and we came out upon a very picturesque scene - the whole of Edgware Road turned a huge market, with stalls crowded with many coloured ware and lit by flaming jets of naptha lining the pavements, which were so thronged with purchasers we could scarcely get along. A quiet, patient, orderly, dowdy throng it was, absorbed in the paramount duty of purchasing food to sustain a life which, to the large majority among them must be one long weary grind. Here were whole families doing the shopping for the week-end, heaving inert-looking fathers, and wan-faced worn-out mothers, with tiny children in their arms of dragging at their hands. The things seemed to us marvellously cheap, from the bonnets and hats and second-hand clothing to the disorderly piles of paper-covered books - (by the way, why does not the S.P.C.K. get its rival penny dreadfuls on to these stalls?) - bacon, vegetables, fish, periwinkles, and flowers in profusion: as many beautiful pink tulips as you could hold for one penny. We were investing when my friend noticed a poor, pinch-faced woman gazing with long eyes at the bright flowers; she said to her, "They are very pretty, aren't they?" and the poor thing replied with such a depth of yearning in her voice, " 'Deedm an' they are, mam; I was just thinking whether I could get a ha'porth." "Of course you shall," was the reply; "which would you like?" "Oh, mam, something a bit green, please." As I turned I caught the exquisite smile of voiceless gratitude which lit up the poor wan face as she shook hands with her unknown friend. The glory of the earth's spring was never perhaps to rejoice her sad eyes, but into her heart at that moment the power of the spirit, which is of the spring entered; and we felt that our evening had not been spent wholly in vain.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Vigilance Record</i>, July 1888</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-76244312310018560322016-03-20T03:42:00.003-07:002016-03-20T03:47:02.237-07:00A Visit to a Music Hall (no.1)AMUSED LONDON<br />
<br />
By a Novice - I.<br />
<br />
The saying that the man who writes the ballads of the nation is a greater power than he who makes it laws may be applied with equal truth to the men who provide its amusements. The power of the individuals mostly unknown who cater for the entertainment of the public is indeed immeasurably greater than that of the legislators enthroned in Westminster. A very large proportion of the electors of the country frequent at some time or other place of amusement, there they receive the food in the shape of the pleasurable excitement which they go for, in so far does it go to form part of their characters, whether they forget all about it in the next hour or not, just as surely as the dinner they ate last year went to build them up physically. The amusement managers therefore have direct influence in the formation of the characters in the individuals constituting the nation, whilst the legislators merely formulate and organize the collective opinions which are the result expressed in votes of these characters.<br />
It was perhaps with some such thoughts in our minds that my friend and I started off down Regent Street one evening this Spring for a well-known place of amusement. Being mere novices, we somehow at 8.30 found ourselves somewhere else, but fortunately at the doors of another notorious music hall, which would do equally well for the purpose of our researches. We entered, not it must be confessed without some inward trepidation, my friend emphasising the request that I should take the tickets by the doubtful compliment that I looked "the most like it". Having invested in shilling places, we passed into a large luxuriously fitted building, like a theatre built square; the space in which we found ourselves, beneath the dress circle, formed a promenade, and was fitted like a restaurant. We were informed by an old official in French uniform at the door, that if we wanted seat we must apply to the waiter who was at that moment engaged in paying conspicuous attention to almost the only young girl to be seen in this part of the hall. having received the expected tip, this amiable personage was enabled to discover the needful chairs at a table already overcrowded with smoking youths.<br />
The whole of the parterre (the stalls and a pit at an ordinary theatre) was fitted with luxurious plush setées, running at right angles with the stage and facing marble tables. They were occupied as the evening advanced by a great number of society young gentlemen, accompanied in numerous instances by ladies not in society, though we remarked one or two women amongst the company who were apparently quite respectable. The dress circle consisted entirely of small private boxes, <i>a deux</i>, price £1 1s. to £3 3s., which were filled in every instance by a gentleman with a cigar and a lady, generally young and pretty, in extremely <i>decoletée </i>costume. A strange feature to unaccustomed eyes was a gentleman, got up regardless of expense, in evening dress, seated throughout the performance in the stalls, in a prominent position, with his back to the stage. His duties consisted in announcing the name of the performer about to appear, whilst rigidly retaining his uncompromising attitude, as they <i>he </i>at any rate washed his hands of the whole concern.<br />
The entertainment began well enough: that is to say, although intensely vulgar, there was nothing morally objectionable in the first few songs, until we were treated to one sung by a man, describing supposed feminine indiscretions with the following chorus:<br />
<br />
"The poor little darlings they're not to blame,<br />
"They know that their mothers have done the same,<br />
"So why should we blame the girls."<br />
<br />
But even this was quite thrown into the shade by a song entitled, "A very different place," sung by Mr. M- , the last verses of which described how he had been invited by a cousin to visit her girls' school in St. John's Wood, and how on his arrival he found it "a <i>very </i>different place," the chorus being,<br />
<br />
"If in you chance to pop, I'll bet a crown you stop," &c. &c.<br />
<br />
Both these choruses were enthusiastically shouted by the audience.<br />
We read in <i>The Indian Purity Trumpet </i>"that several Hindoos were recently arrested and fined for singing indecent songs in Bombay theatres, the magistrate in passing sentence expressed his strong determination to put a stop to such conduct." British hypocrisy has indeed reached a climax when we exact from subject heathen races a morality to which we ourselves make no attempt to conform.<br />
The songs were followed by a coarse burlesque scene of a man who was the bone of contention between two girls; the man was finally chased up the stage by a dog, amidst delighted yells from the audience.<br />
A delightfully clever Japanese juggler, now formed a pleasing interlude with his marvellous dexterity. Then a pretty child who, we were told, was twelve, although her voice that of a child of eight, danced six or seven dances in succession, changing her dress, if her very slight attire may be dignified by that name, between each, with lightening swiftness.<br />
There was besides this an immense deal of solo-burlesque dancing of a very objectionable kind, which culminated in the appearance of a man, about 6ft 6in. high, attired as a ballet girl. This person was accompanied by a burlesque woman dancer, almost as objectionable as himself; they were both French, in which tongue they sang several comic songs. A shadow performance, also by a Frenchman, was very clever and interesting at first; but was spoilt by the vulgarity and indecency introduced into it towards the end.<br />
The whole entertainment concluded with some beautiful jumping by wonderful dogs; but the audience rose <i>en masse </i>and left as the dogs made their appearance. The simple grace and beauty of the faithful animals had no attraction for an audience whose tastes lay in a "<i>very different</i>" direction.<br />
The French say that John Bull takes his pleasures "sadly"; it would be more to the point if they said he takes it respectably, however questionable or unquestionable it may be in kind; his outward demeanour is irreproachable, whether he be assisting at a Church Service or a Music Hall entertainment. The present occasion was no exception to the rule; for, if homage was done to the goddess Lubricity, due respect was also paid to the great god Conventionality. About one-fourth of the audience consisted of women of light character; the remaining three-fourths of young men of every conceivable rank and condition in life, from those who could barely afford a shilling to those to whom a hundred would be of no moment; and one and all behaved with the greatest decorum and propriety throughout.<br />
As we followed the multitude out into the crowded thoroughfare, we overheard one young fellow say to another, "This is no place for you and me." Perhaps the calm peace of the midnight sky, looking reproachfully down with its clear shining eyes, may have brought to him the vision of a refined and simple home, sleeping far away amidst flowers and trees in the stillness of the starlight, the abode of pure-minded mother and sisters, whose hopes, and joys, and sacrifices, had centred for years round a beloved brother, now gone forth into the great world of which they know so little, and whose tender faith in him has been desecrated this night for the first time. Is it the beginning of the end? Or will the true manliness which uttered those words conquer? Who can tell?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Vigilance Record, </i>June 1888</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-28931438741322957732016-03-19T09:23:00.000-07:002016-03-19T09:23:38.353-07:00The Reeds and the Empire<i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">Below is the full text of the LCC Theatres and Music Halls Licensing Committee's hearing on the Empire Theatre and Music Hall in October 1896. This was the third attempt by 'social puritans' to close the Empire at the licensing sessions. The theatre's promenades, notorious haunts of West End prostitutes, had been closed in 1894 on orders of LCC, but opened again the next year.</i><span style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"> </span><i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">(LMA ref. LCC/MIN/10803)</i><br />
<i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></i>
<i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">[see also </i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><i><a href="http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/mrs-ormiston-chant-and-music-hall.html">http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/mrs-ormiston-chant-and-music-hall.html</a> ]</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<i>[see also <a href="http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-empire-theatre-of-varieties.html">http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-empire-theatre-of-varieties.html</a> ]</i><br />
<br />
1896<br />
<br />
Administrative County of London<br />
Session of the Licensing Committee<br />
Sessions House Clerkenwell<br />
Wednesday October 14th 1896<br />
<br />
W.B.Yates in the Chair<br />
<br />
Transcript from the shorthand notes of Mr. E.Howard, 11 New Court Carey Street WC.<br />
<br />
[No.141]<br />
<br />
Empire Theatre of Varieties<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: May I ask the gentlemen who appear in the next three cases whether there is anything fresh - whether there is any necessity to go through the evidence at great length?<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: The evidence is of course of the same character as you have already had. The only thing is that being in reference to different halls I suppose it must be taken in some way. That is the difficulty I feel about it; that we can scarcely take it as read. There is the same class of evidence though [186] there would be different illustration of course.<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: Any new points?<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: So far as the Empire is concerned the notice there only goes to the promenade and so far as that is concerned there is no objection to the programme at all.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I ask the committee to recommend the renewal.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: So far as the Empire is concerned the objection is confined to the promenade and the objection to the promenade is the same that I took to the Oxford, that it is resorted to by prostitutes, not for the purpose of seeing the entertainment at all, but for the purpose of using it as I have described it in the other case as a market for prostitution. That is the full case against the Empire and it is to that point that I propose to direct any evidence. I feel of course in some difficulty about this case because you have heard similar evidence at full length in the case of the Oxford and I have not satisfied you in the case of the Oxford. My evidence in the case of the Empire is of a similar character. It is rather stranger. I fancy that it was in the case of the Oxford but still it is of a singular character and there is the further difficulty about it as I was reminded [187] by a member of the Committee, everybody knows that prostitutes do in fact resort to these places. That seems to be common ground to us all - they do in fact resort to these places. Now of course I have had a considerable amount of evidence that goes to that fact. I am bound to say Sir that I should have thought in the absence of very strong evidence to the contrary that it was also common knowledge that they did resort there for the purpose for which I saw - namely for the purpose of prostitution or bargaining for prostitution and not for the purpose of seeing the performance. I should have thought that speaking to a committee of businessmen in the City of London that was just as much common ground as the first point - that they did in fact resort there. Well, Sir, I only want to say this further. I want you to consider this. When you find that they go there night after night, I want you to ask yourselves, dismissing all humbug and cant about the matter - what on earth do they go there for if it is not for the reason that I have suggested? Now then, in addition to that, there is the positive evidence of my witnesses that they [188] have seen cases of solicitation and so on. Now I put those two things together and I ask the Committee to say that I make out my case. Of course, if you, notwithstanding that, say that you think it is a proper thing to license buildings with promenades in which this sort of thing is done, I am quite helpless in the matter. My clients have done what they consider is their duty in bringing the matter before you and they must leave it of course for you to deal with their evidence as you think fit. But I do not think that, having approved the Oxford, I need need not say a word more about the Empire. I will call my witnesses. They are the same as before.<br />
<br />
--- Mrs. Reed called and examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
You have visited I believe the Empire? As you did the Oxford, for the purpose of seeing how the place was conducted?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And I understand that so far as programme of the Empire is concerned you have no fault to find with it?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
That reduces us to the matter of the promenades. As to the promenades have you been into them on several occasions since the beginning of this year?<br />
<br />
On two occasions.<br />
<br />
I think the first of these occasions was the 10th of March was it not?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you made notes of the times at which you visited?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
If you will kindly take your notebook out you can see if I am right. Was the first the 10th March, and was the second the 8th of May: are those the dates?<br />
<br />
They are.<br />
<br />
Now then first a general question. You noticed no doubt as you did at the Oxford a lot of women in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
What do you say as to the general character of those women - what were they?<br />
<br />
I should say they were women of [190] immoral character.<br />
<br />
Did you observe whether they were there for the purpose of looking at and enjoying the performance? Did you notice that?<br />
<br />
They were not: it was impossible for them to see.<br />
<br />
Are the promenades there at the Empire so constructed that unless you happen to be in the front, or exceptionally placed, you cannot see the performance?<br />
<br />
That is so, because the promenade goes round behind the back of the boxes.<br />
<br />
And of course where it goes behind the back of the boxes you cannot see the performance in any case.<br />
<br />
Not at all.<br />
<br />
Are the drinking bars there attached to the promenade and at the back of it?<br />
<br />
There is one drinking bar at the back of the promenade - on the promenade itself.<br />
<br />
You say, these women were prostitutes; that they did not go there for the purpose of seeing the performance.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Will you tell me from your observations on the 10th of March what purpose they were there for: you say they were not there to see the performance: what were they there for as you gathered?<br />
<br />
They were there to attract the attention of men.<br />
<br />
I do not know whether on the 10th of March you saw any solicitation [191] of the women by the men, or the men by the women at all?<br />
<br />
Yes, I saw a great deal. There seemed to be a lot of unsatisfactory bargaining. It was apparently unsatisfactory bargaining for noticed the women shake their heads - leaving the men, and then going after other men. I heard one woman say to man: "No, I cannot do it for that."<br />
<br />
Then on the 10th of March was there the same drinking at the tables and at the bar as you deposed to in the case of the Oxford?<br />
<br />
I did not notice so much drinking. Women are not allowed to go to the bar on the promenade of the Empire. They are allowed to sit at tables and drink but if they want to get drink at the bar they have to go away from the promenade.<br />
<br />
Did you notice them drinking at the tables in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, but not to excess.<br />
<br />
Then so far as the drinking goes, you did not object to that so much on the 10th?<br />
<br />
Not on the 10th.<br />
<br />
Were there some pictures or some thing exhibited at the Empire which necessitated a turning down of the gas?<br />
<br />
Yes; that was on the 10th of March.<br />
<br />
Did you notice anything different in the conduct of the women on the [192] promenade when that took place?<br />
<br />
Yes they seemed to be rather freer - more abandoned - when the gas was turned down. A man who was standing next to me, when the gas went down, immediately turned to me and seized me. He put his arm round me, and pulled me by the arm - pulled me along with him.<br />
<br />
That was when the gas was turned down?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Up to that he left you alone?<br />
<br />
Yes, I had not noticed him.<br />
<br />
Did any other man accost you at all that evening?<br />
<br />
Yes, another man did accost me. I was alone in the dark. He held out his arms and offered to lift me up that I might see. I had great difficulty in getting away from the man that first accosted me. My husband and Mr. Barnes both had to come and push in between in order to separate us.<br />
<br />
He was persistent as that was he?<br />
<br />
Yes, very.<br />
<br />
Then as to the number of women at the Empire: was that considerable?<br />
<br />
Yes, I think one night between 50 and 70. I counted 50, and many came in later. One girl came in at half past 11.<br />
<br />
The performance finished within a very few minutes of that?<br />
<br />
Yes, very shortly afterwards.<br />
<br />
[193] Are there two promenades at the Empire?<br />
<br />
There are two. There is one above.<br />
<br />
Do you speak as to both or only as to one?<br />
<br />
Only as to the 5s. one.<br />
<br />
Your evidence is given with reference to that?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you observe there the women coming in alone as you stated in the case of the Oxford?<br />
<br />
Yes. I do not think I saw one woman come in with a man.<br />
<br />
And as to there being prostitutes I suppose you have no doubt about it.<br />
<br />
No, by their behaviour.<br />
<br />
Did you again visit the Empire on the 8th of May?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
With Miss Reed, I think, Mr. Barnes and your husband.<br />
<br />
Not Mr. Barnes on the 8th of May - Miss Reed and my husband.<br />
<br />
Then does you general evidence apply to what you saw on that 8th of May as well as on the 10th of March?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Then I may leave it in that way.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Leave it for Mr. Gill to cross-examine.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: Yes; I will shorten it as much as I can consistently with getting it on the notes. Did you overhear any actual cases of solicitation on that 8th of May?<br />
<br />
[194] Yes.<br />
<br />
Will you give the Committee any instance of what you heard?<br />
<br />
A Frenchwoman was singing - I forget her name - she was singing a song and just then a man came up to a woman standing by and said: "I hardly knew you for the diamonds." "Oh," she said, "it is only a brooch my friend has given me." Then this Frenchwoman began to sing and he said, "I am going to Paris tomorrow." She said, "Oh, take me with you." He said, "No, I cannot afford it." Then they talked a little longer, and she said, "What are you going to do?" He said, "I am going to have a good supper presently." She said, "Give me one too." He said, "No, I cannot afford it. There has been a slump on the Stock Exchange." After a little more conversation she said, "See me home tonight." He said, "I cannot afford it, my dear girl; indeed I can't." "Oh yes you can. Your friend will lend the money." After a time he said, "Come and have a drink anyhow," and then they went off to drink together. It was loud conversation. That is not the only one.<br />
<br />
On the same 8th of May you heard other instances I think?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Will you kindly give the Committee [195] any other instance you heard on the same 8th of May?<br />
<br />
A man who was very drunk was staggering about really almost giving chase to a girl. I had noticed this girl a little earlier in the evening talking to another man who was trying to get her purse out of her. These girls nearly all carried their purses. She said, "No, it is not heavy enough." Then this drunken man began talking to her and she said, "No; besides you are such a low man. Go away, you dog." Presently he began talking and asked her to have a drink. She said, "No, I have had one God damn it all." Then he whispered to her and she said: "I do not believe you have got it." He said, "Yes I have any way you like." They went and had a drink. A little later another man was talking to her. He asked her who she was and where she lived. She told him. He said, "Shall we go now." She said, "Yes," and they went together. Then the little man who was drunk was reeling about the promenade, and I noticed several of the girls seemed alarmed - when he came near they jumped up hastily from the seats at the back of the promenade to get out of his way. He was talking [196] to any and all who would talk to him.<br />
<br />
Did you hear a couple of other girls talking about a man who was present?<br />
<br />
Yes, there were two or three girls standing in a group, and they were talking about some man near. "Oh yes, he is a very nice fellow. He always gives you a fiver" - and another man - "You should see his rooms - they are lovely - he wants me to go away with him from Saturday to Monday."<br />
<br />
Were you accosted by a man on that occasion at all?<br />
<br />
Yes, I saw a man. He was very offensive and he leaned against me with his shoulder behind my shoulder and he made some remarks about the heat or something of that kind, and I simply turned my back and got away from him.<br />
<br />
I think you have exhausted your evidence as to those two night?<br />
<br />
Yes; I have not been there on any other occasion. Of course, there were several other things on that night.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
This is a case in which your husband has given the notice of opposition?<br />
<br />
I believe he has.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charles C. Reed?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you take him with you on both [197] of those occasions?<br />
<br />
He went with me.<br />
<br />
Did he ever go there by himself?<br />
<br />
He went there without me but I think not quite alone?<br />
<br />
With another lady, I suppose?<br />
<br />
I think so.<br />
<br />
With Miss Reed, perhaps.<br />
<br />
Yes, I think he did.<br />
<br />
Do you know whether he did or not?<br />
<br />
Yes, I know he did.<br />
<br />
Upon one other occasion.<br />
<br />
Upon one other occasion.<br />
<br />
And he has been there three times and you have been there twice?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And you did make a report in each case?<br />
<br />
I think I did, yes.<br />
<br />
With regard to both the nights.<br />
<br />
I think so.<br />
<br />
Could you let me look at your note of the 10th of March?<br />
<br />
The original note is in my bag at the back there if someone will pass it up to me [note is handed to Witness]<br />
<br />
Whom did you report to - to Miss Reed?<br />
<br />
I am not sure. I do not think I did report at all on the last occasion.<br />
<br />
The 10th of March?<br />
<br />
[198] The 10th of March I think I reported at a meeting verbally.<br />
<br />
Where did you meet?<br />
<br />
At different places?<br />
<br />
This meeting would have been at one place? Where was it?<br />
<br />
I am not quite sure. I think it was at the West London Mission that one: we met at different places.<br />
<br />
Who met?<br />
<br />
The Committee.<br />
<br />
Who were there?<br />
<br />
The witnesses here, and a few others.<br />
<br />
The witnesses that we have had in the other case?<br />
<br />
Yes, and others.<br />
<br />
That is to say, you and your husband, and Miss Reed and Charlotte Skinner and I suppose Mr Le Pla?<br />
<br />
Mr. Le Pla no, but several others.<br />
<br />
You mentioned some other name - a Mr. Barnes is it?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
But was far as the Empire is concerned your visits there were two you have mentioned, and one other occasion that your husband went?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Would you let me look at your report of the 10th of March?<br />
<br />
I am afraid if you want the original it is exceedingly rough.<br />
<br />
How often have you written it out?<br />
<br />
I wrote this original - that is all.<br />
<br />
[199] Have you copied it twice?<br />
<br />
I have just made rough headings in this little book that I might have it handy.<br />
<br />
Is this the first time that you have done any work of this kind of visiting places for the purpose of reporting?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You have taken to it this year for the first time?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You went in separate from your husband?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You did that by arrangement?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You were desirous of getting evidence?<br />
<br />
We knew we should be noticed if we went in together.<br />
<br />
Why - because you looked too respectable?<br />
<br />
No,<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Because it is not the custom for men and women to go in together, on the promenade.<br />
<br />
Do you mean you were afraid you might not be allowed in, or what?<br />
<br />
We knew one member of the Committee had been turned out.<br />
<br />
Was that Miss Reed?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I have no doubt she is coming, She will tell us about that?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[200] Did you go in alone then?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
So that you might possibly be taken for a woman who was not respectable?<br />
<br />
Well we knew that the women did not go in with gentlemen.<br />
<br />
Then did you go in alone so as to make it appear -<br />
<br />
So as to look like one of the ordinary visitants.<br />
<br />
Do you mean like a woman of disreputable character?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you dress yourself for the part?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Just as you are now?<br />
<br />
I was not in mourning at that time.<br />
<br />
You had light clothes on, had you?<br />
<br />
Not very light, it was in the winter.<br />
<br />
Smartly dressed were you?<br />
<br />
As I dress ordinarily.<br />
<br />
What did you do when you got into the promenade?<br />
<br />
I did what the other women did.<br />
<br />
What?<br />
<br />
I stood about, and I tried to see the performance, which they did not try to do.<br />
<br />
Did you expect somebody to speak to you?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you wait for them to speak to you?<br />
<br />
I hoped they would not.<br />
<br />
Did you really?<br />
<br />
Yes I did.<br />
<br />
You hoped that no one would speak to you?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[201] Of course, if anybody did speak to you, you would have been in the fortunate position of having to report it to your Committee?<br />
<br />
I should have reported if I should have been in a very uncomfortable position.<br />
<br />
You went there in a measure to see whether you would be spoken to?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you not?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You did not suspect you might be spoken to?<br />
<br />
No, I hope I would not really.<br />
<br />
You really never suspected you might be spoken to?<br />
<br />
I knew it was possible but I meant to do what I could to avoid it.<br />
<br />
Not even after having talked this over with Miss Reed?<br />
<br />
I had not talked it over with Miss Reed. I had not spoken about going.<br />
<br />
I suppose you and your husband did talk it over together?<br />
<br />
I expect we did.<br />
<br />
Have you any doubt that you and your husband talked it over?<br />
<br />
I know we have talked about the whole matter, but whether we talked specially about that visit I do not know.<br />
<br />
This is the case in which he is the person giving the notice of objection?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you not talked it over a [202] good deal with your husband?<br />
<br />
Yes, but I am talking about this particular visit.<br />
<br />
After you go in I understood you to say you stood about.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And tried to look at the performance?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see the performance?<br />
<br />
I could not see it.<br />
<br />
That is the reason you did not object to it, perhaps?<br />
<br />
There was too great a crowd.<br />
<br />
Is that the reason you did not object to the performance, because you could not see it?<br />
<br />
No, I did not object to the performance because from what I have heard and believe there is nothing objectionable.<br />
<br />
I will just take this notice which your husband has given: "That the drinking bars and promenades are permitted to be extensively and habitually used as the resort of common prostitutes." Did you see any women at the drinking bar at all?<br />
<br />
The women are not allowed at the bar.<br />
<br />
You may have ascertained that since?<br />
<br />
No, there is a notice printed up, "Men only."<br />
<br />
Then no women are served at the bars?<br />
<br />
At that bar on the promenade.<br />
<br />
Perhaps you do not know what the terms of the notice of opposition were. "That the drinking bars were extensively [203] used by prostitutes." You did not know, perhaps, that was in the notice.<br />
<br />
Oh yes, I knew that was in the notice. It says "Drinking bars." There is only one on the promenade.<br />
<br />
There is no drinking bar on the promenade.<br />
<br />
Yes - for men.<br />
<br />
You mean at the back of the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, it opens into the promenade.<br />
<br />
In which men only go.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
A place that is screened off?<br />
<br />
I do not think it is screened.<br />
<br />
There is a wooden partition?<br />
<br />
No, not as far as I remember.<br />
<br />
Did you attempt to go into that?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
How long did you stay on this night of the 10th?<br />
<br />
I believe until the end or nearly the end.<br />
<br />
Always by yourself?<br />
<br />
I do not remember.<br />
<br />
Have you given us every instance of solicitation that you saw?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you make a note of any case of solicitation on the 10th? I will first read you your notes to see whether thing is expanded at all. "10th March. Empire. Mr. Barnes & C.C.R." Who is C.C.R.<br />
<br />
My husband.<br />
<br />
"Dressing room: painting apparatus; girl making lips red."<br />
<br />
[204] Yes.<br />
<br />
"Cheeky man then said 'Trade looks good.'"<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is that so?<br />
<br />
I heard one girl say it to another, "Cheeky man just said to me, 'trade looks good'."<br />
<br />
Was this a note that you made the same night?<br />
<br />
The next morning.<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: The morning after which day?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Was this the morning after the 10th of March?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is this what you say is your note of the solicitation: "Evident bargaining unsatisfactory."<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Will you just interpret these words "Evident bargaining unsatisfactory."<br />
<br />
That means that there was evident bargaining, and much of it seemed unsatisfactory because the couples separated and tried again elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Do you mean you inferred bargaining from the fact of seeing a man and a woman talking together?<br />
<br />
I heard the men asking so many of them where they lived. One man asked a girl where she lived. She said "St. John's Wood." "Oh, that is too far," he said and went off to talk to another girl. [205] As I said, so many of the girls after talking with the men shook their heads and went away, still looking at the men. I remember one girl saying "No, I cannot do it for that."<br />
<br />
Then did you go and walk close to them and listen to what was said?<br />
<br />
It was impossible not to be close to them, there was such a crowd.<br />
<br />
And you could hear these thing said?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you stay in that promenade during the whole time?<br />
<br />
I went upstairs for a short time.<br />
<br />
To the other promenade?<br />
<br />
To the other promenade.<br />
<br />
Before that, were you in the promenade downstairs all the time?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
In the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You did not go into any of the place at the side?<br />
<br />
I went into the dressing room only.<br />
<br />
Then what drinking did you see at all?<br />
<br />
On the 10th?<br />
<br />
Yes, what drinking did you see there?<br />
<br />
I said I saw very little drinking at the tables in the promenade.<br />
<br />
What drinking did you see?<br />
<br />
I saw very little.<br />
<br />
[206] What drinking did you see at all on that day?<br />
<br />
I really do not remember. I do not know whether I have made a note of it.<br />
<br />
You did not see any drink at all, did you?<br />
<br />
I do not remember. I said I saw very little. It could not have been anything that I could bring before the Council at all.<br />
<br />
Afterwards did you join your husband to go away?<br />
<br />
I expect he came to me and said, "We will go."<br />
<br />
Did you talk this over with him?<br />
<br />
Afterwards.<br />
<br />
Did you talk over what you had been doing?<br />
<br />
We must have talked it over, yes.<br />
<br />
Of course you did. Did not you talk it over?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you talk it over with him your experiences?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did he make a report also?<br />
<br />
I expect so.<br />
<br />
Did he also write out some report?<br />
<br />
Yes, he must have. I am sure I did not see him do it but still I am sure he did.<br />
<br />
Did you go there on the 10th March by instructions or of your [207] own accord?<br />
<br />
By arrangement - I think we arranged.<br />
<br />
Now let me see your note of the 8th May. I may take it it you did not attempt to speak to any man in the place.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Or attract any man's attention?<br />
<br />
I always avoided looking at them when I could.<br />
<br />
That is to say you did not attempt to do anything of the kind, did you?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You knew when you went there on the 10th March that Miss Reed had been turned out for something of the kind?<br />
<br />
I knew she had been turned out but not for something of the kind.<br />
<br />
Let me look at the 8th May. All this note was written when?<br />
<br />
On the next morning.<br />
<br />
And furnished to whom?<br />
<br />
Kept to myself.<br />
<br />
You have kept it to yourself to the present time, have you?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Curiously enough you write on one of Mrs. Chant's leaflets.<br />
<br />
Yes, I am secretary of our branch of the British Women's Temperance Association, and some of those were surplus bills which I used for scribbling. I do not know then [208] that those bills would be so historic.<br />
<br />
--- re-examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
What was that about making her lips red? What does it refer to?<br />
<br />
I went into the dressing room and one of these girls came in while I was there leaving my cloak. She went to one table where all the apparatus for keeping powder and so on is kept, and she took up some stick of red paint and reddened her lips.<br />
<br />
There was some paint if you wanted to paint yourself you could do it in this dressing room?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And this woman did want to, and did?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And that was in the dressing room to which anybody could go in the Empire?<br />
<br />
Any of the women.<br />
<br />
Any lady?<br />
<br />
Any woman, yes.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Whereabouts is this room that you saw?<br />
<br />
It opens onto the promenade. There is simply a curtain which screens it off from the promenade itself.<br />
<br />
Is it open to anybody?<br />
<br />
To any lady.<br />
<br />
A ladies' dressing room?<br />
<br />
Yes, a ladies' dressing room,<br />
<br />
And did you say there was paint there?<br />
<br />
[209] Paint and powder.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: You said you heard one of the women say "Cheeky man just said 'trade looks good.'" Did she make any reply to that or did you hear any further conversation about that?<br />
<br />
She said, "If I had not been in the Empire I would have shown him what trade was." Then she went on to say how hot it was - "If somebody doesn't take me out soon, I shall faint, and then they will carry me out."<br />
<br />
"If I had not been in the Empire I would have shown him what trade was."?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Might I ask a question on that?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: When you say "paint" what do you mean - lip salve?<br />
<br />
This was red stuff.<br />
<br />
Red stuff the woman put on her lips?<br />
<br />
It made her lips very red.<br />
<br />
Have you ever seen red lip salve?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Do you know such a thing in Crouch End in Hornsey.<br />
<br />
I have never seen it.<br />
<br />
You have never seen such a thing as red lip salve?<br />
<br />
There was also a powder puff. There was also rouge in little China pots placed as far as I remember on the table. [-- 'on the table' is crossed out, 'as far as I remember' written above--]. I did not notice it much.<br />
<br />
Be a little careful what you are saying/ I put it to you what saw there was a powder puff and lip salve.<br />
<br />
It was a stuff made of some red material which she took and put on her lips.<br />
<br />
And do you seriously say you have never seen red lip salve?<br />
<br />
I never have.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: Was there other paint that you saw, Mrs. Reed?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: She described what she has called paint.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: You have described it. Do you call it lip salve? Mr. Gill says it is lip salve.<br />
<br />
I do not know what lip salve is.<br />
<br />
And you do not describe it as lip salve?<br />
<br />
I do not know it was. I say it was something red with which she reddened her lips.<br />
<br />
And she put it on her lips and she made them red?<br />
<br />
Yes, a bright red.<br />
<br />
This idea of red lip salve is all nonsense then.<br />
<br />
I should think so. I do not know.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Who says so?<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: That is matter of comment.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: I mean if my friend says so he has got no evidence, and [211] it seems to me to be nonsense.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I will not discuss it. From the Crouch End point of view I daresay it is nonsense.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Cjharles Cory Reed called, examined by Mr. Snowdon<br />
<br />
I think you visited the Empire on the 10th March 1896?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You went to the 5s. promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see prostitutes there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
In what numbers?<br />
<br />
May I look at my note? Large numbers. It is difficult to count - large numbers - more than 50 I should say at the end.<br />
<br />
Did you hear any bargaining going on?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Could you give examples of bargaining?<br />
<br />
Yes. Standing near me were two men apparently Germans, talking with a girl. I heard the girl distinctly say her room joined the sitting room room, would not a hotel do, and after a little further conversation the three went off together.<br />
<br />
Give me another case of bargaining?<br />
<br />
Yes; a young man came and commenced to open conversation with one of these girls who was standing near [212] me and after some amount of conversation - they had been speaking about the programme - I heard him say "You want all the world," and turned off and went away.<br />
<br />
Can you give me any further case of bargaining or soliciting?<br />
<br />
I heard one girl say to another, "It is so sometimes, when the place is so crowded, you can't get anybody."<br />
<br />
Did you see any case of actual soliciting?<br />
<br />
I do not remember any more. I saw plenty of soliciting but I did not hear it.<br />
<br />
Tell us what you mean exactly by "you saw soliciting".<br />
<br />
I saw what I took to be solicitation, but mostly on the part of men.<br />
<br />
On the part of men?<br />
<br />
Yes, and generally it commenced by inviting to a drink.<br />
<br />
None with regard to the performance. Is it possible from the major part of the promenade to see the performance at all?<br />
<br />
No, absolutely impossible. It is very difficult to see the performance except you are in the front row of the promenade.<br />
<br />
I think you were there again on the 8th of May?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[213] Were there women there in numbers?<br />
<br />
Large numbers - very crowded.<br />
<br />
Prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Those you took to be prostitutes.<br />
<br />
Yes, without a doubt.<br />
<br />
Did they pay much attention to the entertainment?<br />
<br />
With very few exceptions, they seemed perfectly indifferent to the entertainment. They were not looking and for a long time they stood with their backs to the entertainment and some with their backs to the boxes.<br />
<br />
Were any of them the same as those you had seen before?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I think you went on the 3s. promenade also?<br />
<br />
Yes, that night. I just went up there for a few minutes only.<br />
<br />
Did you hear any bargaining going on there?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
I think you went again on the 28th September 1896?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see the same sort of things?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I do not know whether it is necessary to go through all these details?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Take it generally, will you?<br />
<br />
[214] Mr. Snowden: Taking it generally, did you see prostitutes present?<br />
<br />
Yes, in large numbers.<br />
<br />
Did you see cases of accosting at all on the part of men or women - of solicitation?<br />
<br />
Of treating, which I took to be - I saw one girl treated by three different men.<br />
<br />
You saw one girl treated by three different men?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you go to the 3s. promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes I did, and this girl was treated up there as well as on the 5s. promenade.<br />
<br />
She was treated on both promenades?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Were you personally accosted in the 3s. promenade?<br />
<br />
In the 3s. promenade I was considerably ogled very much so, and one girl came and look me right in the face, and I turned off. That is while I was walking round.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
The women that you saw there were they perfectly orderly?<br />
<br />
No, Sir.<br />
<br />
Not?<br />
<br />
Some.<br />
<br />
Disorderly, were they?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Were the women that you saw [215] there perfectly orderly and well-behaved?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
In what way did the women misbehave themselves?<br />
<br />
By loud talking, and by their constantly moving about and eyeing the men.<br />
<br />
Loud talking, moving about, and eyeing the men?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Anything else?<br />
<br />
I do not recollect any disorderliness beyond that.<br />
<br />
Did you upon any of the tree occasions that you went there see any disorderly conduct. Do answer a simple question.<br />
<br />
No, I cannot say that I did.<br />
<br />
That is the answer, no. Did you hear any indecent conversation?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
When did you hear indecent conversation?<br />
<br />
On the 8th May.<br />
<br />
What was the indecent conversation?<br />
<br />
A girl was standing with her back to the boxes. As I passed I overheard her say to a young fellow, "Don't you remember undressing on the chair in my room."<br />
<br />
You say you overheard that?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You made a note of that, did you?<br />
<br />
[216] Yes.<br />
<br />
Any further indecent conversation?<br />
<br />
I don't think so.<br />
<br />
That is you instance of indecent conversation?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see any instance of excess of drinking?<br />
<br />
Yes. I consider excessive drinking to take place when the same girl is treated by different men.<br />
<br />
That is what you mean by excessive drinking?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You say you saw that in one instance?<br />
<br />
Yes. I saw it in more than one instance.<br />
<br />
Did you go there with your wife and this Mr. Bernes by arrangement?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
With the Committee?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Your expenses paid for going there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
On each occasion?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And on each occasion I suppose you reported to the Committee.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Expenses paid on all three occasions?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You gave the notice of opposition yourself in this case?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[217] You know that you complained there in the notice of solicitation, immoral bargaining, excessive drinking, indecent conversation and disorderly conduct?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you even draw the attention of any person in the house - any of the officials - to any disorderly conduct?<br />
<br />
No, Sir.<br />
<br />
Or to any excessive disorderly drinking, or to anything at all?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Was this Miss Reed with you all the time?<br />
<br />
No Sir, not on each visit.<br />
<br />
Did you desire that your wife should go separately from yourself into the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you think she might be accosted?<br />
<br />
I had no fear of it because I considered she was quite able to take car of herself.<br />
<br />
I dare say; [illegible -- 'see'?] perhaps after upon that; but did you think she might be accosted?<br />
<br />
It did not occur to me.<br />
<br />
Were you afraid she might?<br />
<br />
No, not at all afraid.<br />
<br />
Not of the result but did you think that going in there by herself that that would be likely to happen?<br />
<br />
I do not know.<br />
<br />
[218] Why did she go by herself?<br />
<br />
Why, for the purpose of being able to report. Had we gone together we should have been singular.<br />
<br />
It is remarkable thing for a man and a woman to be seen talking there together?<br />
<br />
Not at all.<br />
<br />
Why should you and your wife be singular?<br />
<br />
Because I should say that people would be able to discriminate, and see that she was not of the same class at other women there, and that we should attract attention to ourselves, and we were desirous of not attracting attention to ourselves.<br />
<br />
Do you not think if your wife were by herself she would be more likely to attract attention?<br />
<br />
I do not know/<br />
<br />
Perhaps if you were with her she might not look so respectable as if she were quite by herself?<br />
<br />
It may be so.<br />
<br />
Would not a woman like your wife be much more likely to attract attention than if she were with you?<br />
<br />
I do not think so.<br />
<br />
Do not you think that?<br />
<br />
I do not think one way or the other.<br />
<br />
Did not she go in for the purpose of being accosted?<br />
<br />
No, certainly not.<br />
<br />
[219] Did she not expect she would be accosted?<br />
<br />
No, certainly not.<br />
<br />
Did not you expect she would be accosted?<br />
<br />
No, certainly not.<br />
<br />
You intended to report it if she was?<br />
<br />
I should have reported it, because I reported -<br />
<br />
You looked about to see whether you were accosted yourself.<br />
<br />
No, Sir.<br />
<br />
Were you not waiting to be accosted?<br />
<br />
Certainly not - far from it.<br />
<br />
Perhaps you hoped you would not be accosted?<br />
<br />
Exactly.<br />
<br />
And you were happy in the result - nobody did accost you?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was more comfortable.<br />
<br />
No-one did accost you?<br />
<br />
I was accosted one. I call that being accosted when a girl came up and looked into my face.<br />
<br />
She may have been surprised?<br />
<br />
Very likely.<br />
<br />
Except that a woman looked into your face, that is the only case of accosting?<br />
<br />
At the Empire.<br />
<br />
Mr. Marks: I should like to ask Mr. Reed a question. When you were at the Empire on March 10th was the promenade crowded?<br />
<br />
Yes, very crowded.<br />
<br />
About how many women would there be there?<br />
<br />
[220] It is difficult to estimate. I might say 50 or I might say 70. It is difficult to estimate because they are passing to and fro, and some of the pass from one promenade to another.<br />
<br />
What proportion of women in your judgment there were prostitutes?<br />
<br />
I saw - I do not think I saw anyone - a large majority certainly.<br />
<br />
About what proportion?<br />
<br />
Well, I did not see any women there whom I regarded as respectable women in the promenade.<br />
<br />
And then your information for the Committee is that all the women you saw that night were prostitutes?<br />
<br />
I should say so, in the promenade.<br />
<br />
Will you tell the Committee how you formed that opinion?<br />
<br />
By the general behaviour and demeanour of these women.<br />
<br />
Of the whole of them?<br />
<br />
Yes, and their dress.<br />
<br />
Now you saw you saw plenty of soliciting. Will you tell us what constituted the soliciting which you saw?<br />
<br />
I cannot explain further than I have done.<br />
<br />
And you take it that any women who spoke to a man, or any man who spoke to a woman, was evidence of soliciting?<br />
<br />
No, Sir.<br />
<br />
[221] Will you tell the Committee what you saw that constituted soliciting?<br />
<br />
I cannot say further than I have already done.<br />
<br />
Would looking at a man constitute soliciting?<br />
<br />
No, Sir, not necessarily.<br />
<br />
Or the presence of the women in the promenade?<br />
<br />
No, not necessarily.<br />
<br />
And you are utterly unable to tell me what was the soliciting you saw?<br />
<br />
Further than what I have said.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Have you any more witnesses?<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: Yes, I propose to call Miss Reed.<br />
<br />
--- Miss Carina Reed called, examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
I think you went to the Empire like the other witness or the first witness, on January 4th of this year?<br />
<br />
February 13th, January 4th, 1895.<br />
<br />
That was in 1895. We will not trouble with that, then. February February 13th was your first visit this year, was it?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Where were you on that occasion?<br />
<br />
I was in the 5s. promenade.<br />
<br />
Now you have heard the evidence of the other two witnesses, Mrs. and Mr. Reed, as to the number og prostitutes there, and their general behaviour. Do you agree with that, Miss Reed?<br />
<br />
I agree with it entirely.<br />
<br />
[222] Now, was it on this celebrated occasion that you were turned out, Miss Reed?<br />
<br />
It was.<br />
<br />
I should like you to tell the Committee what you were doing that induced them to turn you out. How did they go about?<br />
<br />
I do not know what I was doing. I was standing at the end of the promenade looking over to see if I could see the performance, which I could not do, and suddenly the female attendant came uyp to me and said, "Will you please take a seat," and I said, "Oh, thank you, I have been sitting down, I would rather stand," and then said said, "Will you come and speak to the manager?" I said, "Oh, why?" and she said, "Will you come and speak to the manager?" I said, "Certainly, if you like," and I went and I saw the manager. The manager said to me, "Will you take a seat?" and I said to him, "I don't want to take a seat, I don't care to take a seat," and he said to me, "Then I must ask you to leave the hall." I said to him, "Why?" He replied to me, "Because you look straight into the faces of men." I was not aware of looking straight in their faces.<br />
<br />
That was what he replied to you, was it?<br />
<br />
[223] He replied that to me. Then the female attendant tried to find me a seat. I was quite willing to take one. There was not one to be found, so I sat down in one of the wicker chairs at the back of the promenade. The manager came to me and said, "Will you leave the house, and I will return you the money." I did not want a row, so I lefty the house, and got my money.<br />
<br />
You were turned out and you got your money back.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Now, Miss Reed, while they were so anxious about you taking a seat, were there lots of women standing about?<br />
<br />
There were crowds of girls. I counted 70, and there were more than that. They were standing about with their purses in their hands, with their backs to the boxes along that passage.<br />
<br />
And this time you were singled out with such special attention?<br />
<br />
I did not see the attendant speak to anyone else.<br />
<br />
They were anxious you should take a seat?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I think I have asked you about the general character of the women there. Did you see any particular instance of solicitation on that occasion? What time was it when you were turned out?<br />
<br />
[224] It was 9.45 when I was turned out. No, I did not see anything in particular in the way of solicitation on that night. I did on May 8th.<br />
<br />
Notwithstanding that experience did you go to the Empire again on May 8th?<br />
<br />
On May 8th I did not see the manager on that night.<br />
<br />
Did you go there again?<br />
<br />
But I was recognised as I always have been when I have been to the Empire.<br />
<br />
I believe when you went before, you and Mrs. Shelton Amos, you were more than recognised, you were mobbed?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
That was the year before, so I do not trouble you with that, Miss Reed. Now, upon the 8th May: have you got your notes of the 8th May?<br />
<br />
Yes, I have my notes of that.<br />
<br />
Now I think you said you were recognised by a female attendant on going in?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How was the house that evening: was it full?<br />
<br />
The house was very full on that evening.<br />
<br />
Did you see any bargaining going on on that occasion?<br />
<br />
Yes, I heard one woman say to another, "I never ask the man, I have them to ask me - get more money that way."<br />
<br />
Now did you hear a group of them [225] talking noisily.<br />
<br />
Yes, I did.<br />
<br />
Did you hear what they said?<br />
<br />
Yes, they were talking about the men they had had the night before.<br />
<br />
What did they say?<br />
<br />
One remarked that she had had the fat man, and the other remarked that she had had the dirty little man, and then they asked one another if they were allowed to take them home to their lodgings. They live in Greek Street. The other said her landlady did not allow her to take them home but she had a latch key and she need not be in till 6 o'clock in the morning.<br />
<br />
Did you hear any further conversation between these women?<br />
<br />
One said to the other, "Are you engaged yet?" and she said, "No, I am struggling along still."<br />
<br />
Now were you yourself accosted on that evening?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was. I was followed by a man the whole time. He jogged my elbow first of all. Then he put out his hand. I refused it.<br />
<br />
Did he ask you where you lived?<br />
<br />
Yes, he asked me where I lived. He asked me to come and have a drink. He said the song was very dry because it was French and he could not understand it. Then asked me where I lived, if we could not go for a walk. [226] I told him that I lived at Highbury. He wanted to know if he could not go home with me. After a time he came up again and then he asked me if I was not ready to come with him. He said he wanted to go off quietly, because of his friends.<br />
<br />
And you had some difficulty in getting rid of him?<br />
<br />
I had a great deal of trouble in getting rid of him. Then he said, "I must be going now, but if you like come and meet me at the Café Monico."<br />
<br />
Then on the 28th were you there again.<br />
<br />
Yes, I was there on September 28th.<br />
<br />
The same general observations apply I suppose.<br />
<br />
Yes, it was more crowded than ever. The girls were gayer.<br />
<br />
All I wish to ask you about this is, Did you hear of any case of bargaining and solicitation on September 28th?<br />
<br />
There I heard one woman saying to another young girl, "There, go along and get yourself engaged," and the young girl did not see it quite, so the women took her round and introduced her to two or three men.<br />
<br />
She was in charge of an elderly woman?<br />
<br />
She was in charge of an elderly woman, She was quite a young girl.<br />
<br />
[227] Were you recognised again?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was recognised as Mrs. Chant, and I heard a great deal of conversation about myself all through the evening, and an attendant followed me through the evening, and when I was passing one man who was talking to a girl, he pushed them aside and said "Hush".<br />
<br />
Was that when you went by?<br />
<br />
When I went by. I heard two men talking to two girls who were there. They were noticing was a crowd was there that night and one said, "Do you see that girl in green, I think I shall have her," and the other man said, "I think I would have the one in the red blouse; she is better looking, come round and look at her face." They were constantly talking about the girls, and the girls were constantly going up to the men.<br />
<br />
That was the general atmosphere of the place?<br />
<br />
Yes, there were from 70 to 100 girls on the promenade that night. It was quite impossible to see the performance or to hear.<br />
<br />
Have you any doubt in your mind at all as to what those girls were there for?<br />
<br />
No doubt at all. I have seen just the same girls when I have been engaged in rescue work in Regent Street and Piccadilly through all the winter and the winter before. They are just the same [228] sort of girls that one sees in St. James's. In fact, I have heard them arranging to go to St. James's. One of them said to a young man if he was not ready to go to St. James's yet, and he was very reluctant.<br />
<br />
You have been very much engaged on rescue work on the street: did you notice whether same girls were constantly to be seen in the Empire?<br />
<br />
I have seen the same girls there time after time, and also I have seen these same girls in St. James's and seen them in the Streets.<br />
<br />
You have seen the same girls in all these places?<br />
<br />
I have seen the same girls in all three places.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
You say you have seen the women you saw in the promenade at the Empire walking the streets?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
Where?<br />
<br />
They go along Piccadilly and they go into St. James's and when St. James's is turned out they walk about and then they take a hansom and go to some club very often.<br />
<br />
You have seen the women in the Empire walking the streets?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
[229] Do I understand that you have only been to the Empire three times in the year?<br />
<br />
Three times this year. I have been before.<br />
<br />
How long was it since you have been in the Empire?<br />
<br />
I went last year. I can give you the dates. January 4th and November 27th.<br />
<br />
Of 1895?<br />
<br />
1895.<br />
<br />
January and November in that year.<br />
<br />
And February 13th, May 8th, September 28th this year.<br />
<br />
So to this first time, February 13th. How were you dressed on that occasion?<br />
<br />
I was dressed very simply indeed. I never dressed up for the occasion. I go in this or whatever I am in.<br />
<br />
Dressed quite quietly?<br />
<br />
Yes, just as I always am, for instance -<br />
<br />
Quite colourless then, quite quietly.<br />
<br />
Yes, just the same sort of thing I have on now.<br />
<br />
When you went to the Empire in February do you suggest that the people in the Empire knew you?<br />
<br />
Yes, I do.<br />
<br />
Do you suggest that the reason you were asked to go out and your money returned was because they knew you?<br />
<br />
Yes, I do, or because they knew I was unusual. They knew I was different to the usual run of girls that were there.<br />
<br />
[230] Do you mean to say that you were asked to go out and your money returned because you were respectable?<br />
<br />
Yes, I believe so, because they thought I was there to get evidence and they did not wish me to get it.<br />
<br />
You mean, in fact, when you went there the people thought you were trying to get evidence and turned you out. Is that what you seriously want these gentlemen to believe?<br />
<br />
Yes, I do seriously.<br />
<br />
That you went in there, and that they thought you were trying to get evidence and so turned you out and returned your money?<br />
<br />
Why should they have asked me to sit down and no-one else to sit down?<br />
<br />
You must not ask me questions. I could tell you if you did, but unfortunately you cannot examine me at present. Supposing they do interfere with a woman who pushes among a crowd or is soliciting people, they might perhaps have spoken to you if you did the same thing?<br />
<br />
I was not pushing about.<br />
<br />
Were you walking backwards and forwards in the promenade?<br />
<br />
I was just standing still and had been.<br />
<br />
I know you were at the time you were spoken to. Had you been walking backwards and forwards?<br />
<br />
I sat down chiefly. All the first part of the evening I was sitting in the balcony.<br />
<br />
[231] Where there were a number of other people?<br />
<br />
Yes, it was crowded.<br />
<br />
Ladies like yourself?<br />
<br />
Yes,<br />
<br />
Respectable women?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You had got too hot and you wanted to walk about?<br />
<br />
I went to take off my coat in this dressing room.<br />
<br />
And having taken your coat off, were you then walking about in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, and sitting chiefly in one of the wicker chairs.<br />
<br />
Were you walking about in the promenade?<br />
<br />
I did walk up and down the promenade.<br />
<br />
How long had you been there? You had first of all gone in and sat down in the seat?<br />
<br />
I went in at 8.30 and I went out at 9.45.<br />
<br />
How long did you sit down before you got up, went to the dressing room, took off your jacket and then came back into the promenade?<br />
<br />
I should think 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
Do you say that it got hot, and that was the reason you went into the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, that was the reason.<br />
<br />
Did not you go there to see if anybody would speak to you?<br />
<br />
No, indeed, I did not.<br />
<br />
Did you expect anybody might speak to you?<br />
<br />
[232] No.<br />
<br />
All the time you went there, did you think you might be spoken to by a man?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Such an idea never crossed your mind? When you were spoken to you were asked to sit down?<br />
<br />
I was.<br />
<br />
What was your objection to sitting down.<br />
<br />
I did not want to sit down. I wanted to walk about. There was not a seat.<br />
<br />
Was not there?<br />
<br />
No, not in the balcony. They tried to find me one. I pointed it out to the female attendant and she tried to take a gentleman's hat and coat off a chair and push me into it, but I objected.<br />
<br />
Where did you see the manager?<br />
<br />
He was standing on the steps of that, Americna bar is it?<br />
<br />
At the side?<br />
<br />
At the side, yes.<br />
<br />
Now tell me what was it he said that he had been informed you had been doing?<br />
<br />
He said these words to me, "You look straight into the faces of men and that cannot be allowed in this house."<br />
<br />
Do you mean to suggest that the manager invented that statement in order to have an excuse for getting you out of the house?<br />
<br />
I should say so.<br />
<br />
Why did not you say to him "That [233] is nonsense, you know me quite well. You know who I am: I am a friend of Mrs. Chant." Why did not you make known your identity?<br />
<br />
I did not wish to make any fuss, because I had been noticed before when we had been recognised as friends of Mrs. Chant.<br />
<br />
When was that?<br />
<br />
January 4th 1895, soon after the Empire case was up here and they told us then -<br />
<br />
Keep to something that it possible of contradiction. Do you mean to say that Mr. Slater, who spoke to you on that occasion, was a person who knew you and you knew then that he knew you?<br />
<br />
Yes, I know that he came and looked at us then, on that January 4th.<br />
<br />
Do you suggest that he knew you when he spoke to you in January of this year?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
Did you say so to him?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Why not?<br />
<br />
I did not wish to make any fuss. I simply went out.<br />
<br />
Then I understand that you went how long afterwards.<br />
<br />
The next date was May 8th.<br />
<br />
Did you go on the 8th May with Mr. and Mrs. Reed?<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
[234] Did you go in alone?<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
By arrangement.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
She went in by herself and then you went in by yourself and then Mr. Reed. Was there another gentleman to make a party of our? Mr. Barnes: was he there?<br />
<br />
I think he was.<br />
<br />
When you went in on that occasion did you keep by yourself?<br />
<br />
Yes, I did.<br />
<br />
What was that for?<br />
<br />
Because it is very much easier if you keep by yourself.<br />
<br />
Did you think you might be accosted?<br />
<br />
No, it was not for that object. It was for the object of seeing what was to be seen.<br />
<br />
What did you go there for?<br />
<br />
I went because I wanted to see what was going on.<br />
<br />
You went for the purpose of getting evidence?<br />
<br />
Exactly.<br />
<br />
Now I just want to know, when you went on that occasion and separated from Mr. & Mrs. Reed, did you think it was possible you might be accosted?<br />
<br />
I did not think about it.<br />
<br />
Such an idea never crossed your mind?<br />
<br />
I did not think about such things.<br />
<br />
As that you might be accosted?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[235] Did you see any excessive drinking?<br />
<br />
Yes, there was a good deal of drinking going on.<br />
<br />
Where?<br />
<br />
In the bar, round these little tables.<br />
<br />
Did you go in there?<br />
<br />
No, I did not go in.<br />
<br />
You did not go in there?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
--- re-examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
Miss Reed, as to your thinking the manager recognised you and so on, when you went in, on the last occasion - I think it was the last occasion - were you immediately recognised?<br />
<br />
Immediately, "Oh here is Mrs,. Chant. What does she come again for? She will do not good. I wonder if we are going to get the licence?"<br />
<br />
You were immediately recognised?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And were you followed about by an attendant?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
What date was that?<br />
<br />
September 24th.<br />
<br />
From the time you went in to the time you went away.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Followed about the whole time by an attendant?<br />
<br />
By an attendant, and latterly by the manager.<br />
<br />
And by the manager on September 24th.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You think he knew you perfectly well? When he turned you out before?<br />
<br />
[236] I quite think so.<br />
<br />
At any rate he recognised you the other day?<br />
<br />
Yes, and the time also when I went there on May the 8th.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
What date was that?<br />
<br />
May 8th.<br />
<br />
Mr. Roberts: Miss Reed, may I ask you did you ask for your money to be returned?<br />
<br />
Oh no.<br />
<br />
It was offered to you.<br />
<br />
Offered me.<br />
<br />
When you were first spoken to you were simply asked to take a seat.<br />
<br />
Exactly, which I tried to do.<br />
<br />
You tried to do that.<br />
<br />
Yes, but there was no seat.<br />
<br />
And then the attendant spoke to you again.<br />
<br />
Yes, because I found a seat in the balcony; one of those wicker chairs.<br />
<br />
Did the attendant object to you sitting there?<br />
<br />
The attendant came up and said, "I must ask you to leave the house, and I will return you your money."<br />
<br />
Although you had done what she first requested you?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
The attendant came up to you and asked you to take a seat?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You did so.<br />
<br />
[237] No, I went to the manager first, because there was no seat. She tried to find me one, but there was no seat.<br />
<br />
Then what did the manager say?<br />
<br />
The manager said to me, "Madam, you must take a seat" and I said, "Why?" He replied, "Because you look straight into the faces of men and that cannot be allowed in this house. I must ask you to take a seat." I went into the promenade and took a wicker chair.<br />
<br />
Were you turned out of that?<br />
<br />
Whereupon the manager came up to me and said, "I must ask you to leave the house."<br />
<br />
The second time?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
But the first time only, asked you to take a seat?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Then he came and turned you out of your seat?<br />
<br />
Yes, out of that wicker chair.<br />
<br />
And offered to return you your money?<br />
<br />
I said, "Very well, I will go and get my coat and go then, " because I saw there would only be a fuss if I stayed.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Will you just ask her, as this lady says that two years ago she was recognised whether two years ago she was a witness in Mrs. Chant's case?<br />
<br />
The Witness: No, but I was with Mrs. [238] Shelton Amos.<br />
<br />
But you were not a witness in that case?<br />
<br />
I was on the Committee then. I was not called as a witness.<br />
<br />
You were in that Committee?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
--- Mrs. Whyte Bamford called, examined by Mr. Snowden.<br />
<br />
I do not know your address?<br />
<br />
The oak, Southend.<br />
<br />
I think you visited the Empire?<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
Will you give me the date?<br />
<br />
On the 24th Janaury.<br />
<br />
Of this year?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You went to the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, I went purposely to see, just to satisfy my own mind as regards what the promenade was like.<br />
<br />
What was the character of the women there?<br />
<br />
It was my first visit to the Empire and a number of friends had asked me on several occasions if I had been there. I could not previously give any reply. My impression of the promenade of the Empire is that it is frequented largely by a class of women whom I should call prostitutes.<br />
<br />
And is it your opinion that they carry on their trade there?<br />
<br />
I should say so.<br />
<br />
Did you see any bargaining going on?<br />
<br />
[239] Yes, I saw soliciting while I was there. It would be after 10 o'lock at night.<br />
<br />
Soliciting by men or by women.<br />
<br />
Women to men.<br />
<br />
Can you give us any instance?<br />
<br />
Yes, I entered the building in the company of a gentleman friend about 9.30. There were very dew there in the promenade. Very quickly after my entrance I was asked by one of the ushers to take a seat. That I declined doing. I preferred walking around. Then after some time about 10 o'clock I had a seat along the outside of the promenade and close to an entrance where a number of women came in. In 30 minutes I counted 25 girls. Some came in singly, and some would recognise each other, and they hardly noticed the performance. They evidently did not come for the performance. Then the first thing they attempt to do there - these visitors who frequent the promenade - is to immediately go into a cloak room, and there they will put aside their mantle or what not, and just adjust themselves ready for the promenade. That in some instances I noticed myself. They went in to use paint and sundries.<br />
<br />
Was this in the dressing room?<br />
<br />
That would be in the dressing room.<br />
<br />
Did you notice them actually using paint?<br />
<br />
Yes, I did. I noticed that the attendant there seemed a superior individual, [240] and I noticed certainly that the women who frequent the promenade use various sundries to add to their appearance.<br />
<br />
Did you see them using this paint? Did you actually see them using it?<br />
<br />
They go to the side dressing benches, on dressing tables, where there is everything necessary for them.<br />
<br />
Was it a bottle, or sticks, or what that they used for this purpose?<br />
<br />
I cannot say whether it was a bottle. There would be jars.<br />
<br />
There were jars?<br />
<br />
Well, there were jars that would hold power or whatever it was that was used. I cannot say whether it would be paint from the jars or not.<br />
<br />
But did they paint in the dressing room?<br />
<br />
Yes, I should say they added paint to their faces.<br />
<br />
Were you yourself annoyed in any way?<br />
<br />
Well, I cannot say it annoyed me. On two occasions during the first visit I was followed by a man, and he on two occasions touched my cloak: I had on a clock. He pulled my cloak to attract my attention. I passed on.<br />
<br />
I think you said the attendant asked you to sit down?<br />
<br />
Twice.<br />
<br />
Once to take a seat in the front and once if I would sit down. That would be on one of the chairs there. [---'chairs' is crossed out and 'usher's' written above but I think writer has misread sentence---].<br />
<br />
[241] Did you hear other people round being asked to sit down by the attendants?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You were asked?<br />
<br />
I was asked but the visitors in the promenade are never asked to sit down. They come in evidently for the purpose they wish to visit this place for: that is to walk around and to speak to those friends whom they wish to.<br />
<br />
But you were twice asked to sit down?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
Only just one or two questions: Did I understand you live at Southend?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
Did you come up from there to go to this place, the Empire?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I am not clear - did you go into the dressing-rooms to see these ladies painting?<br />
<br />
I went to leave my mantle - a heavy mantle.<br />
<br />
In the dressing room?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was not sure whether it was a cloak room, but I found it was a dressing room for women who frequent this promenade.<br />
<br />
And while there you saw them using these different paints?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Do you distinctly say you saw paint [242] in the room?<br />
<br />
I could not positively say it was paint.<br />
<br />
I do not want to subject you to a cross-examination - you do not really say that you saw paint in that room?<br />
<br />
No, because I did not handle it. I could not positively say there was paint.<br />
<br />
Powder puff I daresay there was?<br />
<br />
Yes, doubtless there was powder.<br />
<br />
It is a ladies' waiting room.<br />
<br />
Yes, doubtless it is a ladies' waiting room.<br />
<br />
Do you object to a lady putting powder on her face?<br />
<br />
No, I have no particular objection. It may be needed sometimes.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Have you much more evidence?<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: We have two more witnesses. One is Mr. Barnes and the other is Mr. Le Pla.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jerome: All the same class.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: The same witnesses.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: We do not want to stop you in any way, but at the same time you quite understand there ought to be a limit in some way to this. You could go on for ever.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: Yes, I think my position is rather a difficult one, because I feel to some extent you may tell me "It is quite useless your calling this evidence. We have listened to what [243] they have said and you see what we did in the case of the Oxford." That presses on me a good deal.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Do not let me do anything to stop you in any way whatever.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: I will keep it as short as I can because in the event of our going further it might be advisable that we should have the evidence down.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Do not think I want to stop you in any way. You can call them in the Council afterwards.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: I do not know that.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: If you put them in the box formally.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: I do not know what the practice is.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: As long as they have been called, that is all that is necessary, and then you can call the at the Council afterwards.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: I am not quite sure about that.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: That is so.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. F.H. Barnes called, examined by Mr. Snowden<br />
<br />
Were you present with the last witness?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Do you endorse what she said on the last occasion?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see her asked by an attendant [244] to sit down?<br />
<br />
Yes, I saw her in conversation with one.<br />
<br />
I think you visited the Empire on December 14th?<br />
<br />
No, not December 14th. That was given in error.<br />
<br />
I think you visited it again by yourself?<br />
<br />
Chairman: The Committee want your name and address.<br />
<br />
F.H.Barnes, 16 Duke Street, Oxford Street.<br />
<br />
I think you paid other visits to the Empire?<br />
<br />
Yes, I have done so.<br />
<br />
You found the same with regard to to the character of the women on the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, very much the same character.<br />
<br />
Have you ever been personally accosted yourself?<br />
<br />
No, I was not, more than -<br />
<br />
Have you seen solicitation?<br />
<br />
I saw what I should regard to be solicitation, women who passed up and down would approach near to gentlemen, in this way and possibly look at them with an endeavour on their part to attract their attention, which I regarded as solicitation.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
What is your occupation?<br />
<br />
Agent - manufacturer's agent.<br />
<br />
In the employment of any particular individual?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
'Agent' is a pretty wide term.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[245] It covers almost anything, does it not?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Any place you carry on business in?<br />
<br />
My address I have given, 16 Duke Street.<br />
<br />
Have you an office there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Do you occupy the house?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Carry on business there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
With clerks?<br />
<br />
No, not with clerks. My business is for [illegible--- may be 'trimming'] manufacturers.<br />
<br />
You carry on your business by yourself?<br />
<br />
Exactly so, yes.<br />
<br />
In that house.<br />
<br />
Not in the house. That is my residence.<br />
<br />
Where is your place of business?<br />
<br />
Well -<br />
<br />
Any place of business have you?<br />
<br />
No, my business is transacted as an agent for manufacturers.<br />
<br />
Going about and seeing people?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
For any manufacturer?<br />
<br />
Exactly.<br />
<br />
How was it you came to take part in this? Were you invited to do so?<br />
<br />
I was invited to do os.<br />
<br />
By whom?<br />
<br />
By the Committee.<br />
<br />
[246] --- The Rev. James Le Pla called and examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
You have visited the Empire I think on two occasions?<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
September 1st and September 8th?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Now do you agree with the evidence that has been given as to the general character of the promenade?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
And as to the women who visit them?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And as to the purpose for which they go there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
On September 1st were you yourself personally accosted there?<br />
<br />
I was.<br />
<br />
Will you tell the Committee what took place as far as you were concerned?<br />
<br />
A woman came up to me and it was whilst the lights were lowered for the pictures and she said to me, "Will you treat me?" "No," I said, "I will not." "Well," she said, "will you come out to a certain hotel in the Square with me?" and I refused.<br />
<br />
That was on your first occasion?<br />
<br />
On the second occasion.<br />
<br />
Did you hear any indecent conversation on September 8th?<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
[247] Where was that?<br />
<br />
It was in the drinking saloon. That was off the end of the promenade, the 5s. promenade, You had to get a ticket to pass out; a ticket that would admit you to the upstairs promenade. You passed out of the door towards the stairs, and instead of going upstairs there was a large drinking saloon: it was in there.<br />
<br />
Were there many people in at the time?<br />
<br />
Yes, a great number.<br />
<br />
Was the conversation carried on in sufficiently loud tones for you to hear?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was sitting at the next table to table where these girls and young fellows were sitting and heard it quite plainly.<br />
<br />
Who was it between - a girl and two or three men?<br />
<br />
It was between a girl and two men, I think.<br />
<br />
Can you tell me what the subject of the conversation was? I do not want the details of it, but what was the subject matter of it, Mr. Le Pla?<br />
<br />
This girl was telling what she called the fun they had had when she and her girl friend got a young fellow home with them for the night who was not accustomed to that kind of thing.<br />
<br />
What was the subject matter of the conversation?<br />
<br />
[248] That was the subject matter of the conversation.<br />
<br />
Did you see any excessive drinking on your second visit?<br />
<br />
I saw three drunken men on one of the visits. I think I can tell if I refer to the note I have.<br />
<br />
Refer to the note please and let us see which date is was.<br />
<br />
That was on my second visit in the upper circle promenade.<br />
<br />
Were they obviously the worse for drink?<br />
<br />
They were obviously staggering about.<br />
<br />
Were they turned out, or anything done to them?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you stay to the end of the performance on that occasion?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Generally, Mr. Le Pla, do you confirm the evidence of Mrs. Red as to its character.<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Mr. Bailache: I am afraid I misled you as to the remark I made about the regulation of the Council. I want to call your attention to it so that you shall not be misled. No.4 "No party shall be allowed to call evidence unless he shall show to the satisfaction of the Council he was prevented from calling or tendering such witnesses before the Committee by surprise, want of notice, or other sufficient cause.' [249] So that you must rely at the Council meeting on the evidence you call here, unless you can show there was surprise.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: As I say, I am rather new to the Council procedure and I was under the impression that was so.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
Your particular case which you oppose is the Alhambra, I think?<br />
<br />
It is.<br />
<br />
It is the one in which you give your personal notice?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You are the gentleman who told us in the last case fixed the identity of 48 women in the Oxford as prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How do you pass your time usually? Is it passed in the West End, or at Crouch End or Hornsey?<br />
<br />
My time is usually passed in my work at Harringay.<br />
<br />
Nearly all the year round, I suppose?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
So that your visits to the West End are few and far between?<br />
<br />
Few and far between.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bailache: That will be the case [250] for the opposition.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: In this case I do not propose to address the Committee on the case as a whole. Every member of the Committee is very familiar with the story of the Empire. The steps taken by the management of the Empire are also well known to the Committee. I have today here in court Mr. George Edwardes to sustain the licence, who is prepared to give evidence with regard to the conduct of the house. I have here also Mr. Slater.<br />
What is done is this. Persons going in there pass the pay box - pass a man at the door of the pay box, and also pass two people at the entrance to the circle and the same condition of things exists practically with regard to the whole of the house. I shall be able to prove by any number of witnesses that there is no pretence for saying that this is a place where there is anything like disorderly conduct. I have a number of independent witnesses here who can give evidence with regard to that. Any suggestion that it is a place where there is excessive drinking could be disposed of. As a matter of act, in accordance with the practice that has obtained there for some time, no women are served at the bars [251] at all, and with regard to the conduct of women in the house, if any complaint is made, or if attention is directed to a woman in the house who does anything in the way of soliciting, she is turned out, and, being turned out, she is never allowed into the house again. I say with regard to the evidence of the lady who is opposing here, that it is absolutely untrue that she was recognised when she came there in January. It is absolutely without foundation. It is as without foundation as the statement that paint is to be found in the dressing room, or in the waiting room in that place. It is a statement made by her for purposes of her own, and for the purpose of leading you to suppose she is a marked women who would be recognised at once by the officials of the Empire. If a woman in this place attracts attention by her conduct, she is spoken to and ask to sit down, and if she does not sit down - if she does not do as she is told - the manager is spoken to - and you find in two cases here that from the conduct of the women who were going there they did attract attention from the way in which they were acting. I venture to say with regard to Miss Reed and with regard to Mrs. Reed that going there, and going [252] there as they did separately, they did rather anticipate that something like solicitation would take place, and that they were in fact looking for it. There is no imaginable reason why they should be separated - that she should have gone in by herself, that Miss Reed should have gone in by herself, if that were not the reason.<br />
Now, on the first occasion that she speaks to, when she went in there, the way she walked about the place, and her conduct in there did attract attention. She says she came in, sat down for a short time, then went out, took off her jacket, and was in the promenade, and she was seen there, as it was believed, acting in some objectionable manner, and the attention of Mr. Slater was called to her conduct. He did speak to her on the subject. She had been asked over three or four times to sit down, and he told her that complaint had been made of her conduct in moving about where men were, looking into their faces, and pushing against them, and he returned her her money and asked her to go. In doing that, Mr Slater will say that he did it absolutely without any knowledge as to who or what this woman was or where she came from - that he had absolutely no knowledge whatever of her identity.<br />
[253] Now that is the only matter in the evidence that I will trouble to deal with. It is a somewhat extraordinary thing that evidence should be given such as that by Miss Reed and by that lady who comes all the way from Southend for the purpose of visiting the Empire, but who I think would refrain from saying that she saw any paint in the room, or persons using paint. Miss Reed's evidence is that some person used the stuff for something upon her lips, and in such a condition of mind is a woman of this kind that she actually attributes importance to that - that persons who use lip salve on their lips or put something on their lips for the purpose of making them - stuff which happens to be red - that is a circumstance which should excite suspicion. And this lady tells you she has never heard of such a thing as red lip salve in her life - never happened by any chance to be in the room of a lady who had red lip salve on her dressing table. It is an extraordinary confession of ignorance apparently on her part, but I suppose she has no time to spare to trouble herself about the frivolities of life because she has directed so much attention to the pursuit of information for the purposes of a Committee of which she is so very active a Secretary.<br />
[254] I will call Mr. Slater before you and put Mr. Edwardes into the box.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Slater called, examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
You are the manager?<br />
<br />
I am the acting manager.<br />
<br />
Are you continually in the house?<br />
<br />
Continually.<br />
<br />
Have you also an assistant Mr. Hutchins?<br />
<br />
Mr. Hutchins is the manager, I am the acting manager.<br />
<br />
With regard to persons coming into the house, they have to pass the pay box at the door. Is there also a man stationed close by?<br />
<br />
They pass four men, one at the principal door, one at the inner door, passing the money taken and two at the door who receive their tickets. She has to pass four men.<br />
<br />
Now with regard to the conduct of persons in the house - what men are stationed in the promenade?<br />
<br />
There are 23 men altogether.<br />
<br />
In the whole of the house?<br />
<br />
In the whole of the house.<br />
<br />
With regard to persons going to the house, suppose any disorder occurs on the part of any male member of the audience, what is the course adopted?<br />
<br />
If he is violent and noisy he is at one ejected. If he is only apparently funny he is warned.<br />
<br />
Spoken to first of all?<br />
<br />
[255] Yes, and then after that there is no more warning, he goes.<br />
<br />
If he does not stop immediately?<br />
<br />
He goes at once.<br />
<br />
Now with regard to the bars, we have been told no women are served at the bars?<br />
<br />
No women are served at the bars.<br />
<br />
With regard to the question of women soliciting in the house, is that forbidden?<br />
<br />
Undoubtedly.<br />
<br />
If the attention of one of the men in the house is called to that, or there is any complaint with regard to a woman there what is done?<br />
<br />
The woman is taken out of the house, and told not to come back any more.<br />
<br />
And is she subsequently refused admission?<br />
<br />
Always afterwards.<br />
<br />
And is that a fact that is perfectly well known?<br />
<br />
Oh, undoubtedly, everybody knows that. I suppose there must be many stopped that cannot come in for that reason.<br />
<br />
During the past year have there been any complaints of any kind?<br />
<br />
No complaints of any kind.<br />
<br />
You saw this lady who gave evidence here today?<br />
<br />
I was here today, yes.<br />
<br />
She speaks of going there upon one occasion early in the year when she saw you?<br />
<br />
Yes, I remember her. I do not remember [256] the date, but early in the year she was there.<br />
<br />
Until you saw her in the witness box this morning in the other case, had you the slightest idea who she was?<br />
<br />
I did not know who she was until I saw her here this morning.<br />
<br />
And was if after she had gone into the witness box this morning that you communicated to the solicitor that you recognised her?<br />
<br />
Yes, it was while she was in the box.<br />
<br />
Is there the slightest trust in the suggestion that you acted towards her in February in consequence of knowledge of her, or that you supposed she was a friend of Mrs. Chant?<br />
<br />
Certainly not. I acted to her as I would to any women who was behaving strangely.<br />
<br />
If a woman is noticed acting in any peculiar manner in the place, or pushing about amongtst the men, what is the course that you adopt?<br />
<br />
She is warned if it is not very prominent. She is told to sit down if we are not quite sure what she is doing it for. We look for all sorts of purposes in that way. A woman going in that way might be a pick-pocket - threading her way among the people.<br />
<br />
Is that attention directed to a woman going on in that way?<br />
<br />
At once.<br />
<br />
Was your attention directed to this woman?<br />
<br />
[257] I saw her myself.<br />
<br />
What was she doing?<br />
<br />
She was apparently aimlessly walking about with no idea at first; then she put her back to the audience and looked at men as they passed. She followed two women and put her head in between them. If these women stopped she would stop and listen to them, but her principal objected seemed to be to attract men to speak to her; to incite men really to accost her.<br />
<br />
Did you send anybody to speak to her?<br />
<br />
I sent a female attendant to her so as not to cause attention - not a man in livery.<br />
<br />
In order that might sit down.<br />
<br />
That she might have a seat. A seat was found for her in the stalls, that she refused to take.<br />
<br />
She refused a seat?<br />
<br />
The attendant came back to say the lady refused to sit down in the stalls. What was she to do? I then spoke to her and said we should not allow that sort of thing; she must take a seat. She said she preferred to stay here, going back into the lounge chair, and then I said she must leave the theatre, and returned her money, and she went without any remark.<br />
<br />
At the time you did that, were you acting towards her as you would towards any woman in the same circumstances?<br />
<br />
[258] In the same way, just the same.<br />
<br />
Of course, there is in this theatre, as there is in every theatre, a ladies' room.<br />
<br />
A cloak room in every theatre.<br />
<br />
Ladies going into the boxes or into the stalls, leave their cloaks there?<br />
<br />
Leave their cloaks there. They may leave their bonnet on a wet night and arrange their hair.<br />
<br />
Is there slightest truth in the suggestion that they are supplied with paint there?<br />
<br />
I believe there is some cold cream in a pot. I believe that is the terrible weapon.<br />
<br />
And I suppose there is a powder puff?<br />
<br />
Undoubtedly; there is sure to be that.<br />
<br />
Not an unusual thing I suppose, in the dressing room of a theatre.<br />
<br />
Or in any lady's room, as far as I am a judge.<br />
<br />
Is every step taken that is possible in looking after this place, by the number of people employed, by the directions given to them to have the place properly conducted and in an orderly manner?<br />
<br />
Every possible care is taken, I assure you. Every man or woman is looked over before they come into the house.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
As to all these people that you speak of - you do not [259] object to a prostitute coming in as long as she behaves herself?<br />
<br />
It is a difficult matter to define what is a prostitute. A person claims admission to a theatre: how would you define - at least I must not ask you that - but you could not define it.<br />
<br />
Then any well-behaved woman goes in?<br />
<br />
Any well-behaved woman goes in.<br />
<br />
You are about there a great deal?<br />
<br />
A great deal about there.<br />
<br />
Then you know a lot of ladies who come there, by sight?<br />
<br />
By sight, yes.<br />
<br />
Seeing them there night after night?<br />
<br />
Yes, night after night some of them.<br />
<br />
Week after week?<br />
<br />
I would hardly say that.<br />
<br />
Month after month?<br />
<br />
I would not say that.<br />
<br />
You have seen them come for years, have you not?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Seen them there night after night?<br />
<br />
I have seen them there night after night.<br />
<br />
You know them well?<br />
<br />
No, pardon me, I do not.<br />
<br />
You know them by sight?<br />
<br />
Oh, I know some of them by sight.<br />
<br />
I am not attempting to take away your character at all, Mr. Slater. I [260] mean you know them by sight.<br />
<br />
I know some of them by sight.<br />
<br />
Then do you know that Miss Reed, when she went the other night, was immediately recognised by one of your attendants and followed by him.<br />
<br />
I cannot say that; I did not know that. She was recognised by me on the second time she came as being a woman who had been debarred from the house and asked to leave, and I made enquiries how she got in. It was an extraordinary thing she got in.<br />
<br />
Now then, when she the other night, she says she was recognised immediately by the attendant and followed about the place. You cannot deny that?<br />
<br />
I cannot deny it or agree to it because I do not know it was so.<br />
<br />
Now, Mr. Slater, your suggestion is that you thought she was either a pickpocket or a prostitute?<br />
<br />
No, I do not say that. I do not say that of this lady at all. I do not say that.<br />
<br />
I understood that to be -<br />
<br />
No, I said the reason we have to have so much care is that women going on as she did -<br />
<br />
I understood that you turned her out because you thought she was either pickpocket or prostitute?<br />
<br />
No, I turned her out because she was [261] inciting men to accost her; and she refused to take a seat in the auditorium. That is why I turned her out.<br />
<br />
Because she refused to take a seat?<br />
<br />
To take a seat.<br />
<br />
There were hundreds of other women there, I suppose who did not take seats?<br />
<br />
I will not say hundreds. There were others.<br />
<br />
Scores?<br />
<br />
There might have been scores.<br />
<br />
Why did you particularly want to get rid of this one woman?<br />
<br />
I did not wish to get rid of her. We rather punished ourselves in getting rid of the lady, because we returned her her 5s.<br />
<br />
Do you return disorderly women their money when you eject them?<br />
<br />
We so rarely have disorderly women that I can hardly remember.<br />
<br />
When you do eject them do you return their money?<br />
<br />
You think not.<br />
<br />
Just tell me about that.<br />
<br />
We do return the money. The reason I said "you think not" was because I did not like to contradict you.<br />
<br />
You do return the money?<br />
<br />
All men or women we eject we return them their money.<br />
<br />
Even if you eject them for being disorderly?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I should like to know exactly why you turned Miss Reed out - because [262] she would not take a seat? Is that the reason?<br />
<br />
No, it is not.<br />
<br />
Why did you, then?<br />
<br />
Because she continued to incite men to accost her.<br />
<br />
She says you recognised her.<br />
<br />
She says so, yes.<br />
<br />
Now I want to know what your system is.<br />
<br />
I did not know her. I did not know who she was till I recognised her here today.<br />
<br />
You knew she was not a regular frequenter of the place?<br />
<br />
Well, I can hardly say I knew that.<br />
<br />
You know the regular frequenters.<br />
<br />
No, I do not.<br />
<br />
Not by sight?<br />
<br />
Not all of them.<br />
<br />
And you are there every night?<br />
<br />
Every night.<br />
<br />
You know some of them.<br />
<br />
Some of them.<br />
<br />
What do you say these women come night after night for? What is their reason for coming night after night?<br />
<br />
I have never gone into the matter. It never occurred to me, as long as they behave themselves properly.<br />
<br />
Now let me suggest to you and see if you can answer. It does not require deep consideration. You know a lot of women who come there. you know them by sight?<br />
<br />
[263] Yes, I know them by sight.<br />
<br />
And they come night after night. They come to the promenade. Do you suggest that they come to see the play, that they come to see the pieces?<br />
<br />
I could not suggest anything of the kind.<br />
<br />
Then what do they come for?<br />
<br />
I think they come for the music. Many hundreds of people there come for the music, sit and smoke their cigar, and listen to the music, and they look at the stage.<br />
<br />
That is what these women come for?<br />
<br />
I think so. I -<br />
<br />
Do they talk to men at all?<br />
<br />
I have seen women talk to men, and I have seen men talk to women.<br />
<br />
In the promenade.<br />
<br />
In the promenade, in the stalls, in the private boxes, and in the gallery, I have seen the same thing.<br />
<br />
I am speaking about the promenade.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you seen prostitutes talking with men there?<br />
<br />
I should not recognise a prostitute unless she behaved - if I saw a woman ply her trade in the streetI should know what she was.<br />
<br />
So your view, then, Mr. Slater, that when you are in the Empire you do not know a prostitute unless she behaves in some disorderly way?<br />
<br />
[264] Unless she behaves as a prostitute would, disorderly or plying her trade - then I can see that a woman is a prostitute, and then she is removed.<br />
<br />
Until she does that you are not able to tell?<br />
<br />
No, I am not able to tell, and I do not think any other man can.<br />
<br />
What is your experience of the Wets End of London?<br />
<br />
15 years - at this theatre nearly 7 years.<br />
<br />
And yet you have not sufficient experience to tell you that?<br />
<br />
Not to say that a woman is a prostitute.<br />
<br />
Not noticing her night after night going to your place?<br />
<br />
I could not say she was a prostitute.<br />
<br />
And then you say you can only say that when she behaves in some outrageous way?<br />
<br />
If she is plying her trade and accosting people, and soliciting, then I say that woman is a prostitute.<br />
<br />
How do these women get drink off these men? Tell me how they manage it.<br />
<br />
By invitation I should think in many cases.<br />
<br />
By invitation?<br />
<br />
I should think so. That is the way a lady generally drinks with a gentleman.<br />
<br />
Do you suggest that does not arouse your suspicions when you can see two people who did not know each other before drinking together?<br />
<br />
I have not said that they did not [265] know each other.<br />
<br />
Then you think the women who come there know the men?<br />
<br />
I did not state that. You have not asked me the question.<br />
<br />
How do they come to drink together?<br />
<br />
I do not know.<br />
<br />
You do not know?<br />
<br />
It is not part of my business.<br />
<br />
No idea?<br />
<br />
As long as they behave themselves that is all I have to deal with.<br />
<br />
That is to say as long as they do not make a noise?<br />
<br />
As long as they behave themselves properly.<br />
<br />
Do you mean make no noise?<br />
<br />
Make no noise, create no disturbance, behave as an audience should behave - orderly.<br />
<br />
As long as they do that you do not interfere?<br />
<br />
Do not interfere.<br />
<br />
As long they do that you think they are brother and sister or husband and wife.<br />
<br />
I do not know.<br />
<br />
What is your opinion of it?<br />
<br />
I have no opinion upon the subject - whether they are brother or sister. None at all.<br />
<br />
You do not exercise your mind upon it at all?<br />
<br />
No, not upon it.<br />
<br />
And perhaps you do not open your eyes either to see?<br />
<br />
Oh, I think I open my eyes.<br />
<br />
[266] You open your eyes upon it, but you do not exercise your mind upon it.<br />
<br />
I did not say so. You say so.<br />
<br />
No business of you, only let them be quiet and then you let them alone. Is that your view?<br />
<br />
It is not my view.<br />
<br />
When do you interfere?<br />
<br />
When they misbehave themselves. If a woman accosts a man, or a man accost a woman, I interefere.<br />
<br />
What do you call accosting? Must it be verbally?<br />
<br />
Oh dear, no. Accosting is done in many many ways.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You must really keep within reasonable bounds. We do not like to interfere.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: My position is this. I have got Mr. Edwardes here. I tender him as a witness. I have a number of gentlemen here who frequently go to the Empire, gentlemen of position, and who would be prepared to give evidence as to this being a perfectly properly conducted place, people who come there to hear the music and so on. I do not know whether the Committee desire it?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I think we ought to have some evidence of that sort.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Edwardes called<br />
<br />
The Chairman: We do not care to hear Mr. Edwardes. We would like some independent gentleman.<br />
<br />
[269] ---- The Hon. Hugh Spencer Boscawen called, examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
You live at South Street, Park Lane? Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Wicklow?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You are a magistate of the county of Middlesex?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You know the Empire Theatre and you have visited it from time to time.<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
And have you been to these promenades, the promenade downstairs and the promenade upstairs?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you had an opportunity of seeing how the place is conducted?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
You have been in your time to a good many theatres, I daresay, and music halls.<br />
<br />
Certainly.<br />
<br />
How do you say the place is conducted?<br />
<br />
I should say that there is no place of entertainment more carefully or better managed.<br />
<br />
We know the entertainment is a remarkably good entertainment, a splendid orchestra?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
As to the promenades, will you say there are large numbers of prostitutes from time to time in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Well, I would not say a large number.<br />
<br />
Considerable number?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
[268] A few?<br />
<br />
I mean I cannot tell you.<br />
<br />
A few?<br />
<br />
I should think very likely, but I mean I cannot tell you more than that.<br />
<br />
Have you been solicited yourself in the Empire at all?<br />
<br />
Never.<br />
<br />
Never?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Never been accosted by a woman there at all?<br />
<br />
No, I do not remember ever being.<br />
<br />
Have you seen other cases of solicitation at all?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Never at all?<br />
<br />
Never noticed any.<br />
<br />
Have you been there pretty often?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
When were you last there?<br />
<br />
Last Thursday.<br />
<br />
Quite recently?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Roberts: Do you go to the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is it the promenade you normally go to?<br />
<br />
I go to different parts, sometimes a box, sometimes a stall, sometimes the promenade.<br />
<br />
Do you walk around the theatre, or do you simply go there occasionally to see the performance?<br />
<br />
I go there to see the performance and walk about and listen to the band before I go home.<br />
<br />
[269] You have seen nothing to object to in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Never.<br />
<br />
May I ask have you been solicited?<br />
<br />
No, not that I remember.<br />
<br />
Mr. Dixon Have you ever had women come up to you and ask you to treat them?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Not to give them drink?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Nor have you noticed it?<br />
<br />
No, I have never noticed it, certainly, they never have to me.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Charles L. Leatherby called, examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
Are you churchwarden and overseer for this parish of St. Ann.<br />
<br />
I am.<br />
<br />
Do you know the Empire? Have you been frequently there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You have seen the entertainments there for years past?<br />
<br />
Very often.<br />
<br />
Have you been in the promenades?<br />
<br />
I mostly walk through the promenade when I go.<br />
<br />
From what you have seen of this place, how should you say it is conducted as a place of entertainment?<br />
<br />
I should consider it is conducted in an exceptionally good manner, and is a great credit to those who manage it.<br />
<br />
Have you ever been solicited in the place [270] or asked to give women drink, or anything of the kind?<br />
<br />
Never.<br />
<br />
Is there any ground for saying it is a place where excessive drinking goes on, or indecent conduct?<br />
<br />
No, I think it is untrue.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
Do you say you walk through the promenade.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you stayed any length of time in it al all?<br />
<br />
Yes, sometimes I stand in the promenade and see the performance when all the seats are full.<br />
<br />
Have you been solicited there at all?<br />
<br />
No, not once, and I have been in on many occasions - ever since it was opened.<br />
<br />
You have not been solicited?<br />
<br />
No, I have not.<br />
<br />
Did I hear you say you were a Vestryman?<br />
<br />
Yes, I am a Vestryman, and again an overseer.<br />
<br />
Is that Mr [---blank space here---] parish?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I call one other witness.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Very well.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. S.A.Bartlett called, examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
Have you been to the Empire on many occasions?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
In the different parts of the house?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you been in the promenade?<br />
<br />
[271] I have been in the promenade, the fauteuils, the 3s. places.<br />
<br />
Have you had a full opportunity of forming an opinion as to how it is conducted as a place of public entertainment?<br />
<br />
I think it is managed excellently well.<br />
<br />
Is there any ground for saying it is a place where there is excessive drinking going on, or that men are accosted there?<br />
<br />
There is no ground whatever, in my judgment.<br />
<br />
Mr. Roberts: I should like to ask you one question: are you a shareholder in the Empire?<br />
<br />
No, I am not, and I have no connection with it at all.<br />
<br />
Do you often go there?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was there last on night of September the 24th but I have been away from London for a fortnight or probably I should have been there since.<br />
<br />
You have been frequently there?<br />
<br />
I have been there twice a week, possibly three times, since 1888 I should say.<br />
<br />
And do you often go into the promenade?<br />
<br />
I nearly always go into the promenade, I prefer it.<br />
<br />
And you have seen nothing objectionable?<br />
<br />
I have never seen anything objectionable.<br />
<br />
Mr. Dixon: Have you noticed any drunkenness?<br />
<br />
I have not. I saw a man trying to get in one night, he was probably turned out.<br />
<br />
[272] Mr. Gill: Very quickly, I think.<br />
<br />
Very quickly.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Henry Ashley Travers Cummings called<br />
<br />
You have visited the Empire from time to time.<br />
<br />
Very often.<br />
<br />
What do you say as to the way in which the place is conducted as a place of public entertainment?<br />
<br />
About the best in London, I should think.<br />
<br />
Is there any ground for saying it is a place where disorderly conduct goes on, or excessive drinking?<br />
<br />
Not the slightest.<br />
<br />
Have you ever been accosted there?<br />
<br />
Never.<br />
<br />
Or interfered with in any way?<br />
<br />
Never.<br />
<br />
You are in an official position?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Nothing whatever to do with this?<br />
<br />
Nothing at all.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You offered to put Mr. Edwardes in the box. The Committee think you ought to tender him, so that Mr. Bailache may have the opportunity to cross-examine him.<br />
<br />
--- Mr. George Edwardes called<br />
<br />
I am not going to take you over any details with regard to this. I will take from you first this fact: the entertainment presented at the Empire is a very high class entertainment?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[273] An enormous amount of money spent on it, and very great care?<br />
<br />
I believe it is the most careful entertainment in London.<br />
<br />
In connection with it a very large number of people are employed?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
With regard to the general conduct of the house, is there great care taken that it should be well-conducted?<br />
<br />
Every care that is possible is taken that the place should be well conducted, both on the stage and in the front of the house.<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Bailache<br />
<br />
I think I ought to ask you just a question or two. Do you agree with your acting manager Mr. Slater that as long as the women in the promenade do not make themselves conspicuous you do not interfere with them?<br />
<br />
No, we do not interfere with them so long as they behave themselves. Whether they are gay women or not, we do not interfere with them so long as they conduct themselves properly.<br />
<br />
Whether they are gay women or not, as long as they behave themselves you leave them alone.<br />
<br />
Absolutely.<br />
<br />
Now what do you mean by "as long as they behave themselves" - as long they do not make a noise?<br />
<br />
No, as long as they do not walk [274] about and attract attention unnecessarily.<br />
<br />
You know they do walk about all the time in the promenade. That is what the promenade is for, is it not?<br />
<br />
No, not altogether.<br />
<br />
Is it not to walk about?<br />
<br />
If a woman walks constantly up and down the promenade, she is stopped and told to sit down.<br />
<br />
Whether she makes a noise or not?<br />
<br />
Whether she makes a noise or not. If she is seen constantly going there walking up and down, she is stopped and told that she must not go there to walk up and down; she must take a seat. If she keeps on she is then after two or three occasions not allowed in the place again.<br />
<br />
I suppose you agree with Mr. Slater that the same women go there pretty frequently.<br />
<br />
They do, yes.<br />
<br />
You agree with him that you cannot tell whether they are gay women or not?<br />
<br />
You can tell that they are gay.<br />
<br />
You do not quite agree with at. You can they are gayish, you may say. Of course, there are a great number of respectable people in the promenade, and a great number of men that are a little gay.<br />
<br />
Yes, I am not saying a word against that. But you can tell that these women [275] are, as you say, a little gay, and they do come in fact a good many times night after night, the same women.<br />
<br />
Yes, they do come frequently.<br />
<br />
What you require of them is understood -<br />
<br />
That they should behave themselves.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I have a good deal of other evidence but it is all to the same effect. A number of witnesses, members of the public, not connected with the company in any way and no interest in it, are willing to give evidence, but I do not propose to repeat the evidence that has been already given.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Is that all?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: That will be the case.<br />
<br />
[The Committee Retired]<br />
<br />
After a short time they returned into Court.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: The Committee have decided to recommend the Council to grant the licence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-86097012609588588752016-03-18T07:37:00.001-07:002016-03-18T07:37:42.575-07:00Mrs Ormiston Chant and the Music Hall<i>Below is the full text of the LCC Theatres and Music Halls Licensing Committee's hearing on the Empire Theatre and Music Hall in October 1894. This was the famous session where Laura Ormiston Chant of the National Vigilance Association persuaded the authorities to enforce removal of the promenades at the theatre, notorious haunts of West End prostitutes.</i> <i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">(LMA ref. LCC/MIN/10803)</i><br />
<i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><br /></i>
<i style="background-color: #f9f9f8; font-family: 'Times New Roman', Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;">[see also </i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16.192px; line-height: 20.24px;"><i><a href="http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-empire-theatre-of-varieties.html">http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-empire-theatre-of-varieties.html </a>]</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
1894 Administrative County of London Sessions of the Licensing Committee<br />
Sessions House Clerkenwell<br />
Wednesday October 10th 1894<br />
<br />
R.Roberts Esq. in the Chair<br />
<br />
[transcript from the shorthand notes of Mr. E.Howard, 11 New Court, Lincoln's Inn WC]<br />
<br />
No.126<br />
<br />
Empire Theatre of Varieties<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I appear for the applicant.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Gentlemen, I beg to oppose the licence.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Whom do you represent?<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I appear as an objector myself.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: There are other objectors in order of time before you. Mr. Collin is the first objector that I have down here.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Has a notice been served?<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: Yes.<br />
<br />
The Chairman (to Mr. Gill): Have you had proper notice?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Yes, we have had notice.<br />
<br />
[2] The Chairman: Perhaps I had better read the notice of objection. "I beg to give you notice that it is my intention to appear before the Licensing Committee of the London County Council at this next sittings and object to the renewal of the Music and Dancing licence of the Empire Theatre and Music Hall, Leicester Square, on the ground that the place at night is the habitual resort of prostitutes in pursuit of their traffic, and that portions of the entertainment are most objectionable, obnoxious and against the best interests and moral well-being of the community at large."<br />
<br />
Mr. Collins: If it should please the Committee I should be quite content that any general observations which may be addressed to you in respect to this licence should be made by Mrs. Ormiston Chant, and therefore should content myself with stating the bald facts of my own evidence as to repeated visits [3] to the Empire Theatre. I am well acquainted with the Theatre and since March of the present year have been to the theatre.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Are you giving evidence?<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: I should like to do it in that form, Sir.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Then you will of course have to submit yourself for cross-examination.<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: With pleasure. Mr. Gill suggests that I should go into the witness box. I will do so.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Whatever is convenient.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I think it would be convenient if you came into the witness box.<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: Would it meet the wishes of the Committee if Mrs. Ormiston Chant were to make a personal statement first?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: And that you be called by Mrs. Chant?<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: Yes.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Mrs. Chant would you desire to call Mr. Collin?<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Yes, if you please.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: We have some other objections to deal with before that. Miss Hood.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I am empowered to saw that Miss Hood was cabled for last Saturday to America and therefore cannot be here.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Then Mr. Fish, Are you going to object?<br />
<br />
Mr. Fish: Yes, I object, but I should [4] like to follow the example of Mr. Collin.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: And Mr. Brooks. Is he here?<br />
<br />
Mr. Fish: He was here a short time ago.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Very well then, I will call upon Mrs, Chant.<br />
<br />
A Member of the Committee: Do I understand, Mr. Chairman, that this is Mrs. Chant's case, or Mr. Collin's?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I understand this is Mrs. Chant's case, and that she is going to call Mr. Collin. I understand, if you please, that these other names are practically witnesses of yours, Mrs. Chant.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Chant: My attention was first called to the Empire in the past months of the year by two American gentlemen, one of whom was a guest at my house, and who went there to hear Chevalier sing. They went to the Empire and they complained that they were continually accosted at night and solicited by women. They were very much shocked at the character and the want of clothing in the ballet. For that reason I determined to visit the Empire but I did not do so till the Living Pictures had made so much stir in July. I therefore paid my first visit to the Empire on the 30th July, chiefly with a view [5] of seeing the living pictures, and of ascertaining whether this open solicitation went on in the promenades as stated. I did not find the living pictures there at all objectionable. But in regard to accusations that I make against the Empire - namely that the promenade is nightly used by men and women for the purposes of prostitution, I intend to give testimony to bear out what I say, and to call witnesses to corroborate that statement. The second indictment is that parts of the performances on the stage are exceedingly indecent, and I intend to give testimony that I agree with such an indictment, and to call witnesses to corroborate it. To begin with the promenades. I am quite aware what a serious charge it is to bring against a place, and also what a serious matter it is to state that a woman is a prostitute, but I think before I have finished you will see I have good grounds for making the accusation. During the first part of the performance I sat in the five shilling seats, unreserved. There were very few people in the promenade, but bye and bye, after 9 o'clock, I noticed to my asto[nishment] a number of young women coming [in] alone, most of them very much [--torn page--] all of them more or less gau[dily] [6] dressed. I noticed that they did not go into the stalls at all, with two exceptions, that first night. I noticed that they either sat on the lounges and sofas, or walked up and down the promenade, or took up their position at the top of the stairs and watched particularly and eagerly the men who came out of the stall and walked up and down the promenade. In no case were any of these young women to whom I have alluded, accompanied by a friend or accompanied by others except of their own type. I also noticed a middle-aged woman amongst them, and from the fact that I particularly noticed her, I am able to say that there were very few middle-aged women in this crowd of gaily dressed and painted women. I particularly noticed this middle-aged woman, because she seemed to know so many of the young women and because she seemed to introduce gentlemen to them. I was standing by a gentleman at the back of the stalls, and she came and tapped him on the shoulder, took him away, and I followed them. She introduced him to two very pretty girls, who were seated on a lounge, one of them very much painted and beautifully dressed and I noticed that he must have been a stranger to them because he raised his hat to one [7] during the introduction and he raised his hat and finally shook hands, with the other and sat down by her. He called for drinks and I saw them drinking together. The middle-aged woman left them. I then, bye and bye, when 'God Save the Queen' was being played, and we passed downstairs, saw this man and this girl go off together. I also saw an attendant call a hansom for them. I noticed these women most of them paid no attention whatever to the performance on the stage, and that during the necessary darkening of the theatre for the living pictures their behaviour and the behaviour of the men whom they were with, was very bad indeed. There was a great deal of pulling about, jostling, touching and very unpleasant language used: so much so that while the very beautiful picture of the "Lost Chord" was being exhibited and when the singer had come to the last words "only in Heaven I shall hear that grand Amen," the words were completely drowned by the loud and exceedingly objectionable conversation of one very tall, highly painted young woman who stood near the stalls, and to whom, if I had been there for any other purpose than I was, I should have called "silence" at once. But I was there to take notes and make my observations, and did not wish to attract unnecessary [8] notice. I also noticed that which will be corroborated by other witnesses, that when we went quietly dressed we were very much marked by the attendants, so much so that I, who was very quietly dressed, heard one of the attendants say to a girl who was laughing noisily and using unpleasant language, "You had better mind how you behave tonight as there are strangers around."<br />
I have also been making endeavours to lead some of these girls who use the promenade of the Empire to a better life and the testimony they all give is that the promenade at the Empire Theatre is the best place where they can carry on their trade. One and another have told me they get higher prices from the men that go with them, and that they could not do without the Empire. I have had one or two of these girls to afternoon tea in my drawing room and have talked over this matter with them as to what this life is leading, and their testimony, absolutely frankly and candidly given, is that they go to the Empire night after night beause they can meet with gentlemen, and make better bargains. So much for what I wish to say about the promenade. I have nothing to say at all as to whether the attendants do their [9] duty or whether they know what these girls are, but I can say that they do appear to be on very familiar terms with a great many of them.<br />
Then as to the charge indecency of the performance on the stage, I can only say that "La Frolique" and "The girl I left behind me" seemed to me to be for the express purpose of displaying the bodies of women to the utmost extent. There is not the least attempt to disguise that which common sense and common decency requires should be hidden. To begin with, there was on dancer in flesh coloured tights, and I used no opera glasses at first, but at last I had to use them to see whether she even had tights on or not, so nearly was the colour of the flesh imitated. She had nothing on but a very short skit which when she danced and pirouetted flew right up to her head, and left the rest of the body with the waist exposed, except for a very slight white gauze between the limbs.<br />
Then there is another part of the ballet which is exceedingly objectionable, and that is where some girls come in dressed as monks. Opposite them stand a [illeg.] of girls certainly modestly and prettily dressed as Puritan maidens, and these monks stretch out their [10] hands in benediction on these girls, and then throw off their monkish robes, and cross and appear before the audience as cavaliers, with tights up to the waist with very little apology for extra clothing. Also there is one central figure as it were, in flesh coloured tights who wears a light gauzy lacy kind of dress, and when she comes to the front of the stage, it is a though the body of a naked women were simply disguised with a film of lace. There is also a dancer who dances in black silk tights, with a black lace dress and - I do hold no one, whatever their tastes may be, can question whether this is indecent or not - she gathers up all her clothing in the face of the man before whom she is dancing a stretches up her leg and kicks him upon the crowd of his head. I noticed that the audience took these peculiarly objectionable parts very quietly and that the audience threw much more enthusiasm into parts of the entertainments that were above reproach.<br />
Also there were some acrobats who performed, and the young of these performers is a little girl apparently of about 10. She is a very little person indeed, and I do submit to all of you that it is against decency and right feeling [11] and common kindness that this little girl of about 10 should stand on her head with her legs stretched out and that men should take her up, by her heels and then twist her round and kick her about the stage. I can only say to you gentlemen that even if you should not be able to feel as keenly on that subject as perhaps we should desire, we the women of England, in whose name I speak today, do feel the utmost confidence in approaching you in this matter and asking you to do what we have watched you do with so much interest, to purify our public amusements from those elements which we hold to be quite unnecessary and which we see bring so much shame and ruin in their train.<br />
I do not come before you as one who objects to dances or objects to theatres. I love these things, and because I love them I want other people to love them as well as I do, and to be able to look upon them without having the baser passions roused, and without having the standard of decency, which it has taken so much trouble to acquire, lowered and not raised; and if it should be said that these poor girls, who act in the ballet and are thus shamelessly exposed, do not mind it, I say that a civilized community is not to take its [12] standard of decency from those who to being with are not in a position to hold the highest but from those of us who have but one object in making this opposition, and in doing the work we have, and that is that the amusements of our great city shall be such that young men can go to them without being entrapped and seduced by these sad poor women, and that our young women shall be able to go with their lovers and brothers without having to feel what I felt that night, when two Frenchmen stood behid the stalls, behind my sister and myself, and wondered that any virtuous woman could look up such a performance as that upon the stage; and at last when this black tight dancer kicked on to the crown of the man's head, said "C'est trop fort" and he left and I did not see him any more.<br />
It is for that reason I appear before you this morning and I hope my witnesses will be able to corroborate the points of my accusation, namely that the promenade is made nightly a common resort for women who are leading the life of prostitutes, not only once or twice, but every night, and that some of the performances on the stage are indecent and objectionable.<br />
I should now like to call upon Mrs. Anne Hicks to speak of [13] what she saw that leads her to help us in our opposition to this licence.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I have some questions to ask this lady, either now or presently. She has made statements with regard to having visited the place herself, and whenever it is convenient to ask her questions, I will do so.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Mrs. Chant has of course tendered evidence in her speech, but I think it would be more convenient that you should cross-examine her after she has called her evidence.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mrs. Anne Hicks called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Will you tell these gentlemen when you visited the Empire Theatre?<br />
<br />
Last Friday, October the 5th.<br />
<br />
Will you tell us what you saw on the promenade to lead you to believe that it is a resort of prostitutes?<br />
<br />
When I went to the theatre about 8 o'clock at night I was very much surprised to find the promenade almost empty, and simply the seats of the auditorium were fairly well filled. About 9 o'clock I noticed there were coming into the promenade from the various doors women in twos and threes, sometimtes one would come in alone. But they did not come evidently for the purpose of seeing the performance, seeing that they simply walked round the promenade and took their places on the various seats [14] that were there and the lounges, sitting at the tables, not paying the slightest attention to the performance at all. Later on, about half past 9, men began to come on, many of them in evening dress, and then these women began to be more active, and to walk from place to place, glancing at the men as they passed by. That went on while the living pictures were being exhibited. I left my seat just about 10 o'clock and stood in the crowd - for it had become a crowd by that time - of people walking up and down the promenade. I took my seat about the centre of the promenade, facing the stage. The crowd that was behind me were talking. Some words caught my attention and made me listen to what was going on. A man and woman were talking, and the reply of the man to something the woman had said was "Oh you are not very young." It was said in half a jesting tone. A few minutes more their conversation was going on, and then I heard her reply, "If you and so jolly particular, I can find you a nice little one, quite young," and after a few minutes more conversation they went off together. The impression in my mind then, or rather the conviction, was that it was a case of offer to procure. I have not the slightest doubt in my own [15] mind from various signs - from various things that were said - that that was the full intention of the conversation. They went off together. A little later on I moved my place again into another portion of the crowd, and there were men and women talking, and one man came up to a girl - a rather handsome girl - and he said, "Oh, where is little ----" but I did not catch the name. She said, "Oh, she is not here tonight; it is not her night; it is my night. She comes on night, and I come the other." Evidently those women were in the habit of resorting to that place. I was particularly attracted too by the appearance of an almost child. She was a girl of about 16, rather beautifully dressed with a crimson silk bodice and white lace. She was standing near the edge of the steps leading down to the seats, and she continually glanced over her shoulders to two or three women that were sitting at the back. But from the manner of the child, from the glances she give into the faces of the various men that passed her, and by her brilliant dress, I was able to trace her into various parts of the promenade, and I have not the slightest doubt that that child was brought there under the protection of these women, or under the influence of these [16] women and that child, beautiful as she was, was placed there to attract the attention of the men, from the very fact of her half consciousness as she glanced into the face of the men - not one man, not two men, but various men - one was able to notice the glance that the child gave, and then the half-frightened look over her shoulder. I am sure in my own mind that that child was taken there for immoral purposes.<br />
<br />
Did you see girls asking me to treat them to drink?<br />
<br />
No, I did not see that.<br />
<br />
Did you notice girls going off with men?<br />
<br />
Oh, I saw a great number. I saw several of the women that I had noticed on the promenade, when I came out at the close of the performance - I noticed several of them going away in various cabs, and once there was almost an accident outside, for a girl had got into the cab with one man, and another man stepped out quickly into the road and caught hold of the cab as it was turning round, and it was only by someone catching hold of him that prevented what in mind would have been an accident. He would have been run down by the cab. I saw numbers of them go away together.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I think that is the [17] evidence I wish to ask for from Mrs. Hicks who is very well known among the working classes of London, and I felt her testimony so far valuable that her impression as a common sense working woman is that these girls are prostitutes and that they are carrying on their trade there.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
I do not know whether you said where you live?<br />
<br />
I live in Camden Town. I am pretty well known.<br />
<br />
I am not arguing that you are not the best known woman in London, but I want to know where you live.<br />
<br />
3 Wilmot Place, Camden Town.<br />
<br />
Do you occupy the house there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Are you a married woman?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Living with your husband, there?<br />
<br />
No, I am not. The house is mine.<br />
<br />
Does your husband live there?<br />
<br />
No, he does not.<br />
<br />
Where does he live?<br />
<br />
Am I bound to answer that question?<br />
<br />
You put it upon me that you are very well known. I want to know something about you.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You must exercise your own discretion in the matter.<br />
<br />
I think I will not answer that question. I think my character is [18] beyond any suspicion that you may cast upon it.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: You are here opposing.<br />
<br />
I am a ratepayer and I have been a ratepayer in St. Pancras for over 20 years.<br />
<br />
You have had a very full opportunity of making an elaborate statemen. Now you will not mind answering just a few questions?<br />
<br />
Not at all.<br />
<br />
You understand that you are opposing a licence where a very large number of people are employed?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
Do I understand you to say that you decline to answer whether your husband lives there or where he lives.<br />
<br />
I told you he did not live there.<br />
<br />
Or where he lives?<br />
<br />
Yes, or where he lives.<br />
<br />
Or what his occupation is?<br />
<br />
I can tell you what his occupation is. He is a cabinet maker.<br />
<br />
In London?<br />
<br />
No, he is not in London.<br />
<br />
In America?<br />
<br />
No, my son is in America.<br />
<br />
Are you an American?<br />
<br />
No, I am English.<br />
<br />
Living in Camden Town, are you?<br />
<br />
Yes I am.<br />
<br />
Have you any occupation?<br />
<br />
I live with my children, who are [19] all grown up.<br />
<br />
Have you any occupation?<br />
<br />
My occupation as far as any paid occupation is I am National organiser for the British Woman.<br />
<br />
Your paid occupation is national organiser for the British women?<br />
<br />
The British Women's Temperance Association.<br />
<br />
What does National organiser mean?<br />
<br />
I go from place to place and organise branches of the British Women's Temperance Association. I think that is pretty clear.<br />
<br />
Where are the headquarters?<br />
<br />
Farringdon Hall.<br />
<br />
What do you do? go about and address meetings or what?<br />
<br />
I am sometimes in town, sometimes in the country.<br />
<br />
That is your occupation. You go about and address meetings?<br />
<br />
Yes,<br />
<br />
Paid a salary for it?<br />
<br />
I told you I am the national organiser.<br />
<br />
It is a very simple question.<br />
<br />
I am paid a salary, yes.<br />
<br />
Your time a good deal occupied, I suppose, by travelling about and addressing meetings.<br />
<br />
Fairly well - not fully. I am with my family at home.<br />
<br />
Are these subscriptions? Is the Society supported by subscriptions?<br />
<br />
Membership.<br />
<br />
[20] They subscribe?<br />
<br />
There is a membership of 70,000 people.<br />
<br />
And what is your salary?<br />
<br />
Am I bound to answer that question?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You are no bound to do so.<br />
<br />
Then I refuse.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: There is nothing derogatory in it.<br />
<br />
I do not think it is at all relevant to the case, and I do not answer it.<br />
<br />
I must not at the moment express any opinion as to that.<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: It is a question for the Counsel.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I submit it is important that it should be shown who the people are or who the person is who is taking upon himself or herself the responsibility of objecting to this licence. Let us see what is the value of the evidence whether it is that of an independent person or whether it is that of a person who makes a trade of going about and speaking in public - whether this is done for advertising or for purposes of that kind.<br />
<br />
I can answer you most assuredly.<br />
<br />
I am addressing the Committee. Is this the first time that you have visited the Empire?<br />
<br />
Yes it is the first time.<br />
<br />
The first and only time?<br />
<br />
The first and only time.<br />
<br />
You did not, I suppose, while you [21] were there speak to any of the attendants in the place?<br />
<br />
No I did not.<br />
<br />
Did you see the entertainment?<br />
<br />
Yes I did.<br />
<br />
Did you take exception to the entertainment at all?<br />
<br />
Some portions of it I did.<br />
<br />
What do you say that you objected to?<br />
<br />
I strongly objected as a mother to see that baby - for she was but a baby in size if she was more than a baby in years - I strongly objected to seeing her kicked and thrown about the building. I strongly objected to that.<br />
<br />
Have you ever had an opportunity of seeing that child from what you saw on the stage?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You saw the Shaeffer family - she was one of the troupe?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you ever in your life see a more healthy or better looking family that the Shaeffer family?<br />
<br />
I could not tell you, because painting so often gives a colour to the face.<br />
<br />
You saw these people on the stage?<br />
<br />
I saw them on the stage.<br />
<br />
Did you ever in your life see more perfect specimens of human beings than those people you saw comprising that family?<br />
<br />
I would not say.<br />
<br />
Was this child that you saw there a very healthy happy looking child.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
She was not?<br />
<br />
No, not the night I was there at least.<br />
<br />
You saw this performance once?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Now besides the Shaeffer family - there are very few people who have not seen them, and seen them often for years past - is there anything else you took exception to?<br />
<br />
Yes, to some of the dancing.<br />
<br />
The dancing generally?<br />
<br />
Some of it.<br />
<br />
What was it you took exception to in the dancing the night you were there?<br />
<br />
Two girls and two men were dancing. The girls were in black skirts and wore tall hats - the whole four wore tall hats. I strongly objected to the kind of dancing - the gestures.<br />
<br />
Have you ever seen dancing at the Opera?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Objectionable in your opinion?<br />
<br />
Some of it.<br />
<br />
And at the theatres also, no doubt?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And in the pantomimes?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Objectionable entertainments?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[23] Is the Society that you are the organiser of the same Society that Mrs. Chant belongs to?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And that Mr. Brooks belongs to?<br />
<br />
I do not know Mr. Brooks. No we do not have any men belonging to our Society. It is a society of women.<br />
<br />
Is Mrs. Bailache a member of that Society?<br />
<br />
She is a member of that Society among others, but I believe -<br />
<br />
Are you a member of other Societies?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How many?<br />
<br />
Three.<br />
<br />
What are they?<br />
<br />
The East London Rope Makers Trade Union and the Women's Trade Union Association.<br />
<br />
In what way are you connected with those Societies?<br />
<br />
I am honorary secretary of the East London Rope Makers and have been for 5 years. I am on the Executive of the Women's Trade Union Association.<br />
<br />
These are all the three societies you are connected with.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You are able to give, I dare say, a good deal of your time and attention to these matters.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Do you know Mr. Fish?<br />
<br />
I saw him the other night - one [24] evening - and I have seen him here this morning: but I do not know him personally any more than I know you.<br />
<br />
You said you were very well known - I am very well known too. Tell me where did you see Mr. Fish.<br />
<br />
I saw him here in the hall.<br />
<br />
And Mr. Collin, do you know him?<br />
<br />
Yes, I saw him here too.<br />
<br />
Now with regard to women entering places of amusement. You have no objection to women going in all these places?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
It is perfectly reasonable that a woman should go to a place of entertainment if she pleases.<br />
<br />
Perfectly.<br />
<br />
And if she conducts herself properly, do you think she ought to be interfered with?<br />
<br />
I say that she ought not to be interfered with - that a woman ought to be able in a country like ours, to go into any assembly without being insulted.<br />
<br />
A woman ought to have in fact exactly the same rights as a man.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
She ought to go to any place entertainment that he goes to - have access to the same places.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
To go by herself or go with a friend, apart from any question of whether it is [25] a music hall or any other form of entertainment.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And as long as she behaves herself properly she ought not to be interfered with.<br />
<br />
Decidedly not.<br />
<br />
And I suppose if a woman is a good looking woman you would not object to her dressing as well as she pleased.<br />
<br />
Not the slightest.<br />
<br />
There is nothing in that.<br />
<br />
Nothing in that.<br />
<br />
With regard to aids to the complexion, do you say a woman has no right to do that - to improve her appearance?<br />
<br />
If she pleases.<br />
<br />
She may do that?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
She may go to places of entertainment; she may dress as she pleases, and she ought not to be interfered with if she behaves herself?<br />
<br />
She may do as she pleases as long as she does not shock common decency.<br />
<br />
That is to say as long as her clothes are all suitable and becoming.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see any ladies whose dress shocked common decency at this place?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You did not?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
[26] You saw a large number of men there?<br />
<br />
Yes. You saw men in evening dress?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You do not attach any importance to the fact of their being in evening dress?<br />
<br />
Simply I presume they had been to dinner somewhere and they had come there after dinner.<br />
<br />
You would give them the same right, I suppose, to go to a place of amusement after dinner?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You attach no importance to the fact of their being in evening dress. They may do that?<br />
<br />
Of course they may.<br />
<br />
How long did you stay there?<br />
<br />
The whole of the performance.<br />
<br />
Moved about the whole time?<br />
<br />
No. I sat on my seat some time. When I got tired of sitting down I got up and walked about.<br />
<br />
And so did the other people?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You walked about the promenade, I suppose?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
It is a relief from a variety entertainment?<br />
<br />
Yes, but my statement was that certain persons did not sit down at all. They walked about the whole time. They did not come to see the performance.<br />
<br />
Then you were not watching the entertainment?<br />
<br />
A portion of the time.<br />
<br />
[27] Where were you sitting?<br />
<br />
In the five shilling seats.<br />
<br />
In what row?<br />
<br />
The row nearest the promenade.<br />
<br />
Were you watching the entertainment?<br />
<br />
A portion of it, yes. I got tired of it sometimes. It was tiresome and silly.<br />
<br />
And then you looked about you.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Or walked about.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And you saw a number of other people walking about.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you go to this place of your own accord, or were you asked to?<br />
<br />
I was not asked to go.<br />
<br />
Had you communicated with Mrs. Chant before you went?<br />
<br />
No, not at all. I did not know anything about this affair.<br />
<br />
[28] Do you mean you went entirely of your own volition?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you know that there was any question about an objection to the licence?<br />
<br />
Well, I had heard things talked about it. I had heard the Empire and various theatres discussed.<br />
<br />
May I ask you had you heard them discussed at one of those meetings?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Had you discussed it with Mrs. Chant?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Then you went, I understand, upon this occasion entirely of your own accord.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You made, I suppose, no note of what it was you saw?<br />
<br />
I could not help making a note of it in my own mind.<br />
<br />
Did you make any written note of it?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you stay there till "God Save the Queen" was played?<br />
<br />
I stayed there till the people were going out.<br />
<br />
And the people all came out in a stream?<br />
<br />
yes.<br />
<br />
And drove off in cabs?<br />
<br />
[29] Yes, some of them.<br />
<br />
Was the house full?<br />
<br />
The promenades were full.<br />
<br />
Could you see the boxes occupied and the stalls?<br />
<br />
They were not very full - not so full as I have seen many other houses.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Mr. Gill, before you go any further: you asked a question some little time ago about asking Mrs. Chant certain questions. It appears to me on consideration that Mrs. Chant is conducting the case and calling witnesses and under those circumstances you cannot well cross-examine her unless she chooses indeed to tender herself as a witness.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: An enquiry of this kind is surrounded by difficulties. I have this sort of difficulty to contend with - that an objection can be made with regard to a licence and a statement made by an objector who can go into any subject and talk about the conversation had with some person who is in another country. This matter was introduced in the first instance by this lady saying that she had had her attention called to the Empire by a young American gentleman [30] who went there to hear Mr. Chevalier sing his coster songs. Those were the first words that were uttered by this lady. Now Mr. Chevalier never sung any coster songs -<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I did not say he did.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: The thing must be surely imaginary - the young gentleman who went there to see it. Now I can have no opportunity of asking him anything and if those kind of statements are made and if those are to be accepted without any question, the position of a licensed holder is an extremely difficult one because there is no sort of notice with regard to a matter of this kind. If it is said that this place is the resort of prostitutes there is the simplest possible means of testing it - that is to say, by an enquiry before a stipendiary magistrate where the evidence can be taken on oath and the rules of evidence would apply and persons would only be allowed to state that which they took the responsibility of stating upon their own knowledge which can be tested by giving dates and times and affording an opportunity of answering. [31] But as matters are now, a general statement of the vaguest possible description - hearsay of the wildest possible character - is permitted.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Mr. Gill, I am anxious that we should conduct our cases as regularly as possible and of course the Committee will be able to give due weight to such portions of Mrs. Chant's statements as may not be supported by evidence and the Committee will be able to judge of its value.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I have not intimated what I am going to ask in the event of her being called.<br />
<br />
Mr. McDougall: Perhaps Mrs. Chant may submit herself for cross-examination,<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: If it does not interfere with my power of conducting the case I am perfectly willing that Mr. Gill should ask [32] me any questions he likes.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: It will not interfere with your conducting of the case.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Then I am quite willing that Mr. Gill should ask me any questions.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill (to Miss Hicks): I am anxious to know whether you corroborate what Mrs. Chant has said with reference to women accosting men. Did you see any of the women in the Empire accost any men?<br />
<br />
It would all depend on your definition of "accosting". There are various way, as you know, I daresay, as well as I do, in passing along the streets without actually speaking. There are ways of accosting and then I say distinctly I did see accosting.<br />
<br />
Speaking?<br />
<br />
Not in a plain open way as sometimes you may be accosted in the lower parts of London as you pass through - in a rude way - but certainly accosting.<br />
<br />
Do you mean by that that two strangers - that is, a strange women and a strange man in the Empire - that the strange woman would go up and accost or speak to the strange man? Do you mean to imply that?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
[33] Mr. Leon: you wish to imply that there are other ways of accosting besides speaking?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Will you tell the Committee anything that you saw of that kind - if you did see anything to lead you to think that accosting, other than speaking, went on?<br />
<br />
For instance, the child that I speak of - her glances into the faces of the men as she passed - not one man and not two men - but several men - was certainly, in my opinion, an act of accosting.<br />
<br />
The Chairman - Is there any special part of the empire where what you complain of took place?<br />
<br />
It was in the promenade where the 5s seats are mostly.<br />
<br />
You stated the promenade was full?<br />
<br />
Yes - not the promenade below, on the ground floor, but the promenade above.<br />
<br />
They were full.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Were there people there standing to look at the performance?<br />
<br />
They were not looking at the performance. They were standing there and walking about, but not looking at the performance.<br />
<br />
[34] The people in the promenade were not looking at the performance, according to your judgment?<br />
<br />
The great majority of them were not looking at the performance. I was in the promenade. I was looking at the performance for a time until my attention was so markedly called to what I saw and heard and then I devoted my attention to what I saw.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mrs. Ormiston Chant cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
When did you know that Mrs. Hicks had been to the Empire?<br />
<br />
I think it was the 16th September that I first knew it - when I was asked to meet her at a friend's house.<br />
<br />
The 16th September?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You were called to meet Mrs. Hicks?<br />
<br />
Yes, at a friend's house to hear what she had seen at the Empire.<br />
<br />
The 16th September?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Was it long before that that she had been there?<br />
<br />
I do not know. I cannot speak as to the date of her visit. She gave it to you herself. I can speak for my own date.<br />
<br />
I understood her to say she went there last Friday the 5th October. That was what she conveyed to me. That was her first visit to the Empire because I was a little anxious to know. That was her first and only visit.<br />
<br />
I think I must recall about the 16th September. I have asked our friends to come to my house twice within the last week and I think I must withdraw that I met her at a friend's house. I think it was at those two meetings at my own house.<br />
<br />
When the thing was discussed, I suppose?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
When you had friends there?<br />
<br />
We have had to discuss it you see, with a view to conducting the case.<br />
<br />
Certainly, I quite appreciate that. You had consultations.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
As to what would be the method to attack?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And then, I suppose, it was decided that you should speak and Mrs. Hicks should give evidence?<br />
<br />
And I should call upon the others for their evidence.<br />
<br />
And I thin you all gave the [36] same formal notice - word for word: I suppose it was settled amongst yourselves?<br />
<br />
Yes, it was.<br />
<br />
You all agreed that portions of the entertainment were most objectionable and obnoxious and so on.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And I see there are about 7 letter written in the same terms.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
They are all written by people whom you of course know?<br />
<br />
It depends upon what you mean by "knowing".<br />
<br />
I see the name of Brook. Is that a person you know?<br />
<br />
It depends upon what you mean by "know". I know his name in connection with this thing but I do not visit with Mr. Brook nor he with me.<br />
<br />
How do you know him - in connection with what?<br />
<br />
I really do no know him in connection with anything - except that I think he is a clergyman.<br />
<br />
You know the service he conducts perhaps, do you?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Nothing about him.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Do you know Mrs. Bailache of Hornsey Rise?<br />
<br />
[37] [...] very well. I have known [...] for years.<br />
<br />
[...] are connected, I daresay, with a good many societies?<br />
il<br />
A good many.<br />
<br />
Actively engaged in the work?<br />
<br />
Yes, I suppose so.<br />
<br />
As much time as you can spare from your private affairs?<br />
<br />
Yes, I suppose so.<br />
<br />
I suppose you speak at meetings do not you?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
A good deal, I think, do not you?<br />
<br />
Yes, a great deal.<br />
<br />
Do you know Mr. Fish?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
He is a very active man, is he not?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And Mr. Collin - you know him?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
He is engaged in the work?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you take anybody with you the first time you went to the Empire?<br />
<br />
Yes, or rather they took me.<br />
<br />
Somebody took you?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
A lady who is not here?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And you both, I suppose, went [37] [...] dressed<br />
<br />
[...] and did, very quietly dressed [...]<br />
<br />
You would agree with me that there is no objection at all to any woman going where she pleases alone, or with another man?<br />
<br />
No, I agree with you heartily about that.<br />
<br />
Absolute freedom for women to go where they like unaccompanied?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You go the whole length with regard to that?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And she ought not to be interfered with if she conducts herself properly?<br />
<br />
Not as a woman.<br />
<br />
So long as she conducts herself properly she ought not to be interfered with?<br />
<br />
Or he.<br />
<br />
When you went there did you dress quietly?<br />
<br />
The first time I dressed quietly. Three times I dressed quietly; twice gaily.<br />
<br />
You and your friend, did you both dress yourselves to try and look like these women?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
What did you mean by gaily?<br />
<br />
[39] I mean putting on my prettiest evening dress. It is not a fast one.<br />
<br />
Your most attractive dress, we will say?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Was that because you thought you might get more information if you were more smartly dressed?<br />
<br />
Yes it was.<br />
<br />
The idea was that if you went there more smartly dressed you might get more information?<br />
<br />
When I went there quietly dressed they manifestly watched me very carefully.<br />
<br />
You say you believe you were watched?<br />
<br />
Yes, I was.<br />
<br />
Did you upon any occasions that you went there ever see a woman accost a man - and I use the term "accost" as speaking to a man.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You saw women accost men?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you know whether women knew the men or not?<br />
<br />
Their subsequent behaviour would show that they did not know each other.<br />
<br />
That was the inference you drew?<br />
<br />
From what they said.<br />
<br />
[40] Then you spoke to these women did you?<br />
<br />
Not those that were accosting men at the time that they were.<br />
<br />
Is there any woman that you during your visits even saw accost a man that you can speak to of your own knowledge?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And can you say it was a woman who did not know the man she was speaking to?<br />
<br />
My common sense would show me she did not know him.<br />
<br />
That is the only way?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Assuming she did know the man there would not be the slightest impropriety?<br />
<br />
Not the slightest.<br />
<br />
There is no reason why a woman should not go to a Music Hall and speak to any man she knows?<br />
<br />
Just so.<br />
<br />
Did you go with the same lady upon each occasion?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
A different lady?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Who was the lady you went with? Lady Henry Somerset?<br />
<br />
[41] The first time.<br />
<br />
She took you there did she?<br />
<br />
Yes, I called for her.<br />
<br />
Did you go with her more than once?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Afterwards, you went with other people?<br />
<br />
Yes, I did.<br />
<br />
You have been I suppose to the Opera and seen the ballet there?<br />
<br />
Yes, I have.<br />
<br />
Do you object to the ballet?<br />
<br />
No, I do not object to the ballet as such.<br />
<br />
You have seen the premiere danseuse at the Opera in a very short dress?<br />
<br />
Yes, but not so bad as these.<br />
<br />
You have been to the theatres and seen dancing there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you object to it there?<br />
<br />
No, the only theatre I have seen dancing at is Irving's and there is not an objection to be raised.<br />
<br />
That is the only theatre.<br />
<br />
That is the only theatre where I have seen dancing.<br />
<br />
In the pantomimes have you seen dancing?<br />
<br />
I have not been to pantomimes for the purpose of watching the performance.<br />
<br />
[42] You have seen ladies very scantily attired?<br />
<br />
I should not like to say I have been to a pantomime.<br />
<br />
You would not like to say os?<br />
<br />
No, because I have not been enough in the way of going to be a good judge.<br />
<br />
You have often seen a premiere danseuse at the Opera?<br />
<br />
No, I do not often go.<br />
<br />
Whenever you have seen them were their skirts about the same length?<br />
<br />
No, they were longer.<br />
<br />
You think they were longer?<br />
<br />
And they were kept down in some way which kept them from flying completely up.<br />
<br />
Did you expect Mr. Edwardes to come and see you when you wrote this letter?<br />
<br />
No, I did not expect anything.<br />
<br />
Have you said if Mr. Edwardes had been an gentleman he would have come to see you?<br />
<br />
Yes, I think I have.<br />
<br />
That is to say, the manager of this place, receiving your letter, if he were a gentleman, would come to see you. He did not know you - a pretty strong thing for a gentleman who did not know you to come and see you.<br />
<br />
[43] I think it was a strong thing that he did not.<br />
<br />
You expected he would come and see you.<br />
<br />
No, I did not expect anything.<br />
<br />
That is your description, You said yourself if he had been a gentleman.<br />
<br />
I made that remark to the person who has given you that information.<br />
<br />
There are means of getting information.<br />
<br />
Yes, I know that.<br />
<br />
Did you invite some of these ladies to your house?<br />
<br />
Yes, I did.<br />
<br />
And gave them tea, I suppose, and entertained them.<br />
<br />
One of them.<br />
<br />
And had a party to meet them.<br />
<br />
Oh no!<br />
<br />
Do you mean that<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Do you mean you only saw them yourself?<br />
<br />
Oh yes, only by myself.<br />
<br />
And more than one of them?<br />
<br />
No, only one at a time.<br />
<br />
Are any of them here?<br />
<br />
Did you happen to meet any people who had been refused admission to the Empire?<br />
<br />
No, I do not know that I have.<br />
<br />
Did not you meet any ladies [44] who had been refused admission to the Empire who were desirious of importing information?<br />
<br />
No, I do not think so. I have not said so either.<br />
<br />
That is as far as you go?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
That you do not think so?<br />
<br />
No, I think not. I do not remember hearing them say that.<br />
<br />
And your first anxiety I understand was for your young American friend who was staying in your house?<br />
<br />
I did not say so.<br />
<br />
Your first attention was directed to this matter on account of a young American friend who was a visitor at your house?<br />
<br />
But that is a very different thing - that my attention was first called to it by a young American friend.<br />
<br />
He was shocked?<br />
<br />
Two of them.<br />
<br />
They were both shocked?<br />
<br />
Yes, they were.<br />
<br />
Very much upset by it.<br />
<br />
Yes, there were, both of them.<br />
<br />
They had gone there to hear Chevalier?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And did they not hear him?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
[45] Are you American?<br />
<br />
No, I am very English.<br />
<br />
And these young gentlemen have gone back to America?<br />
<br />
They have.<br />
<br />
I may take it you never spoke to any attendant there in the place?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you move about the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Other people walked about the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Great numbers?<br />
<br />
Great numbers towards the close of the evening.<br />
<br />
And when you saw the place, as a rule was the house full?<br />
<br />
Not at the beginning of the entertainment.<br />
<br />
Did you go downstairs and see the stalls?<br />
<br />
No, the place to which I confined my testimony was the 5s promenade.<br />
<br />
You do not know anything about the stalls or the boxes?<br />
<br />
My other witnesses will give you information on that point.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bull: I was not clear upon the question addressed to the last witness as to whether there was accosting. Did you see anyone absolutely accosted?<br />
<br />
[46] The last witness did not say she absolutely saw anyone accosted in the way of speaking, but she told there were two or three ways of accosting. But I go further and I say I saw absolute accosting. I may also say I myself was accosted by men (laughter). This [is] nothing to laugh at gentlemen. You should be ashamed of that. [Mr. McDougall, crossed out in manuscript] (Hear Hear.)<br />
<br />
The Chairman: In what part of the theatre did this conduct of which you complain take place?<br />
<br />
In the promenade which I paid 5s to go into the unreserved seats upstairs.<br />
<br />
In the promenade - not in the part that was seated?<br />
<br />
No, I noticed particularly that there were no women whom one would imagine belonged to a certain class in the stalls or seat at any one time in the performance with two exceptions and that was when on two occasions two of these painted and gaily dressed women came and forcibly sat down between men where there was very little space on that unreserved row in which I was sitting. But that was the only time on which I saw any of them in the stalls or seats at all.<br />
<br />
It was mostly in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Almost entirely in the promenade.<br />
<br />
Where did that incident take place?<br />
<br />
In the promenade. May I just say for [47] the credit of that or the two gentlemen, that they both apologised when they looked into the face of the woman whom they had accosted.<br />
<br />
Mr. Leon: May I ask Mrs. Chant whether she would be satisfied if the promenade were done away with in this particular place?<br />
<br />
I should be very glad indeed to see the promenade done away with.<br />
<br />
Do you see any objection to the rest of the house?<br />
<br />
If there could be some terms about the modification of the ballet.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Now Mrs. Chant, you can call the remainder of your evidence.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: May I now call upon Mrs. Sheldon Amos to corroborate some of the statements I have made.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mrs. Sheldon Amos, called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I understand you have been to the Empire Theatre?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Will you tell us when?<br />
<br />
For the purpose of this enquiry I am prepared to give evidence as to two visits - Thursday and Friday the 4th and 5th of October.<br />
<br />
Is it your impression that the promenade is used nightly as a resort for prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Distinctly so.<br />
<br />
[48] Will you kindly tell these gentlemen your reasons for saying so?<br />
<br />
The first night I went there a little after the performance had begun and I went to the 5s seat and I found sitting there a girl whose character I thought doubtful. I therefore went and sat down beside her, being aware that perhaps my appearance would not be pleasant to a woman who was there for purposes I disapproved. She moved away at once and I watched her throughout the evening. Her conduct I should say was distinctly that of a person endeavouring to make arrangements with different men. I cannot say with whom she went away. In the course of the evening these seats filled gradually. The promenade was very nearly empty at first and did not fill up so as to be well filled until just before about the time of the living pictures.<br />
<br />
What time was that?<br />
<br />
I should say about a quarter past 9, but I cannot tell. I had no watch on and did not look at the time - had no means to knowing exactly. Therefore I can best denote it by what was then going on on the stage. The lights were then lowered and it seemed to me at once that it was a known time and that more women and more men came into the [49] promenade and I observed familiarity of conduct on the part of both the men and the women. Later on I myself left my seat and went into the promenade standing at point after point in order to watch what was going on, and I have no doubt as to its being a resort of women who are commonly called prostitutes, and of men who are of the same class.<br />
<br />
Will you tell us what makes you think that these women were prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Their dress, their manner, and their actual accosting of men and the scraps of conversation which I overheard.<br />
<br />
Did you hear any bargains made?<br />
<br />
I heard two or three in progress.<br />
<br />
Did you hear the girls ask the men to treat them to drink?<br />
<br />
I think in only one case actually asking for drink.<br />
<br />
Did you notice whether they went into the stalls?<br />
<br />
I should say I heard offers of drink made to women.<br />
<br />
Did you notice whether they went into the stalls and watched the performance?<br />
<br />
The next night I think there were three or four sitting in the stalls at first who got up and went into the promenade as the evening grew on and when when I should say their business hour arrived.<br />
<br />
[50] You did not notice them return to the stalls?<br />
<br />
No. Otherwise I should say the occupants of the stalls were respectable people.<br />
<br />
Is it your impression that the majority of them kept to the promenade?<br />
<br />
Solely to the promenade and in the promenade they paid no attention to the performance.<br />
<br />
Were you much in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, a good deal the first night and rather less the second time.<br />
<br />
Are there parts of the promenade from which the performance is not at all visible?<br />
<br />
I should think a large proportion of the promenade. The people standing just in front of the promenade and wishing to see could see easily. The people walking about and casually looking, unless they were very tall, I think would not be able to see. The persons sitting on benches at the back could not see at all.<br />
<br />
Have you been to many places of amusement of this kind?<br />
<br />
"Many" is a very indefinite word. I have been to several.<br />
<br />
Have you been to Operas and Theatres and Music Halls.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is it your impression that the Empire is better or worse than most of those to [51] which you have been in this respect of the conduct of the women that are called prostitutes?<br />
<br />
I think it the worst place that I know in civilised countries.<br />
<br />
May I ask you now to tell those gentlemen your reasons for thinking that parts of the stage performance are indecent. Will you tell them about the dances?<br />
<br />
On the whole I should say the dances are designed in order to excite impure thought and passions. There is a very great deal of high kicking and exposure of the person. There she dressed very carefully arrangement to call attention to parts of the figure which ought not to have attention called to them, and the skirts are a great deal too short and there are gestures which are improper and there are even whole parts of the exhibition which seemed to me ought not to be allowed from beginning to end.<br />
<br />
Was it your opinion that during the darkening of the theatre for the living pictures the conduct was more than it was before?<br />
<br />
Yes, I thought so.<br />
<br />
If you have any other points will you state them.<br />
<br />
I do not think I have anything else.<br />
<br />
I am not asking any more questions of you because I wish to be as brief as possible with the other witnesses that are coming and I wished you merely corroborate [52] what I have stated by your impression of these women.<br />
<br />
I think I had better just do what you want me to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
Just a word or two about the entertainment. You went there, I understand, on two occasions.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you carefully look at the entertainment?<br />
<br />
I looked at the entertainment more the second time than the first. That was why I was a shorter time in the promenade the second time. But altogether I tried to keep my eye upon it.<br />
<br />
The second time?<br />
<br />
Both times.<br />
<br />
Did you understand you to say it is the worst thing of the kind you ever saw in a civilised country?<br />
<br />
I think so, taking everything together.<br />
<br />
You have had experience both in civilised and uncivilised countries?<br />
<br />
It is rather difficult to define civilised. I meant in European countries rather.<br />
<br />
It is the worst entertainment you have seen in a European country?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Let us see about the entertainment - the variety part of it - did you object to that?<br />
<br />
I do not know how to draw the line. I thought the whole thing was a variety entertainment.<br />
<br />
You know there are a good many people who come on and sing. Did you object [53] to that?<br />
<br />
Some of them, I think, are objectionable but I am not prepared to go into details of that. I think if I had the program in five minutes I could make it a respectable performance by cutting out certain parts and the lengthening of certain dresses.<br />
<br />
You have not had any experience of providing entertainments for the public?<br />
<br />
Not at all. I may be rash [?hard to read this word?] therefore.<br />
<br />
Taking the entertainment generally, with regard to the people who came on and sang, do you take exception to that?<br />
<br />
It was more on vulgarity than indecency.<br />
<br />
All cannot be refined. So much for the singing. The living pictures. Did you take any exception to them?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Then there remains the ballet. What ballet did you see?<br />
<br />
I saw "La Frolique."<br />
<br />
You did not see the ballet of "The girl I left behind me"?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
I do not know whether you have heard that described as being extremely wicked? You did not see that al all?<br />
<br />
No, I did not see that. I understood it was taken off as the licensing session was coming on.<br />
<br />
What was there in that ballet different from the ballet you would see at an opera?<br />
<br />
Oh, it is far less carefully arranged; far [54] less properly arranged; far less decently arranged. I think the Opera ballet might be made far better but I think this needs it more.<br />
<br />
You would improve that off the face of the stage?<br />
<br />
Not off the face of the stage. I should improve it.<br />
<br />
Let them dance in long dresses?<br />
<br />
Let them dance in longer dresses.<br />
<br />
You have seen people dance in long dresses, I daresay, abroad.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You think that is less objectionable?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Now is there in the ballet any particular matter that attracted your attention?<br />
<br />
I objected very much to the dress that are made all in strips which float and fly about leaving the figure more noticeable than it would be without.<br />
<br />
You mean the leg exposed?<br />
<br />
The whole figure. That is one thing.<br />
<br />
That you take exception to?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is there anything else that occurs to you, that you would take exception to supposing you had the arrangement of the program.<br />
<br />
I think it was not in the ballet, but I have a difficulty in remembering the program enough; but there was a person who came on - a sort of comic acrobat: there were two together. [55] One was dressed as a woman and the other was dressed as a man. I mean to say they wished to produce the impression that they were a man and a woman I suppose, or else not to produce that impression; and one of them, who purported to be a woman, was dressed in flesh coloured tights and a short scarlet skirt and the dress and gestures in that case were very objectionable.<br />
<br />
You would object, I daresay, to a man taking a woman's part?<br />
<br />
It would depend upon how it was done.<br />
<br />
Have you been to a pantomime?<br />
<br />
Oh, many years ago.<br />
<br />
You have seen the dancing there?<br />
<br />
I have no memory of it at all. I am not awake on these subjects.<br />
<br />
Did you go by arrangement with Mrs. Chant?<br />
<br />
No, I knew Mrs. Chant was going to conduct this case and I went there for the purpose of giving evidence.<br />
<br />
Evidence hostile to the place.<br />
<br />
I will not say that. I do not accept that. Evidence hostile to that which is indecent and improper in the place. I am very anxious to have entertainments for the people.<br />
<br />
Are you connected with any societies that Mrs. Chant is connected with?<br />
<br />
I should think I must be. I am [56] connected with so many and so is she.<br />
<br />
You don't know where they begin or end?<br />
<br />
It would be really difficult.<br />
<br />
You do not yourself take so active a part as she does, do you? Do you speak yourself on these subjects?<br />
<br />
Yes, I do. I have done for 25 years.<br />
<br />
I understand on the first night of the entertainment you gave your attention to the audience. I<br />
<br />
I gave my attention to both in both case - rather more to the promenade on the first night.<br />
<br />
And you directed your attention, I thought, particularly to one lady?<br />
<br />
No, I directed my attention to everybody I could as far as I could.<br />
<br />
But you said you directed your attention particularly to one person.<br />
<br />
I spoke of her as being there when I went in, that was all.<br />
<br />
You did not see her go away?<br />
<br />
I did not see her go away.<br />
<br />
You would not throw any obstacle in the way of women going to a place of public amusement by themselves?<br />
<br />
Nor men, if they behaved properly.<br />
<br />
That is to say, not to interfere with either.<br />
<br />
It is very difficult to define that: it would take a week to do it.<br />
<br />
But so long as they do behave properly you would not interfere with them.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
[57] And I suppose you would not deny a woman of immoral character amusement?<br />
<br />
Not if they behaved properly.<br />
<br />
A woman of immoral character has as much right to go to a place of public entertainment as any other woman?<br />
<br />
I should think so.<br />
<br />
You would not cut them off.<br />
<br />
You are asking questions very difficult to answer because they require a volume to answer them. You ask me to give in two or three words what wants a long conversation and therefore I rather decline to answer the question without being able to give you the surrounding considerations.<br />
<br />
It is a wide subject.<br />
<br />
Yes, I think a question which can hardly be answered in the witness box.<br />
<br />
Broadly speaking you would allow a woman of immoral character amusements?<br />
<br />
Broadly speaking I should allow men and women of bad character to go where they will behave themselves properly and will not get harm from what they go to see.<br />
<br />
And you give to one sex as much right to do it as the other?<br />
<br />
I do not think it is a question of right.<br />
<br />
That would apply whether it was a place of amusement or a restaurant or whatever [58] it was?<br />
<br />
All I desire to see if society conduct itself properly and happily.<br />
<br />
How would you decide whether a woman was conducting herself properly or not?<br />
<br />
You are asking really about the Empire Theatre and what happened there. Where I see open accosting -<br />
<br />
Let us forget, if we can, the Empire Theatre for a moment and take an ordinary place of entertainment.<br />
<br />
Then I should say the question is too large to be answered here.<br />
<br />
We are agreed women can dress as they please - you would not interfere with their dress.<br />
<br />
I should if it is undesirable.<br />
<br />
You would interfere with the dress of the audience?<br />
<br />
If people dress unsuitably?<br />
<br />
Mr. Bull: I should like to repeat the same question I asked before: Did you see anyone accosted there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Absolutely?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Definite instances of women accosting men who were strangers?<br />
<br />
Yes, unmistakeably.<br />
<br />
Where did you see them accost?<br />
<br />
In the promenade - one woman standing beside me.<br />
<br />
Spoke to a man?<br />
<br />
[59] Yes.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Shelton Collin, called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Will you kindly tell these gentlemen what was your impression about the promenade of the Empire Theatre as a place of nightly visit for the purpose of prostitution? When did you visit the Empire?<br />
<br />
I visited it a great many times - probably 20 times - during the last 3 or 4 months and the circumstances of all these visits are so much alike in many cases that I have sifted the whole thing down so that very little will be repeated and I think if I just read to the Committee the facts without any comments, then the Committee could see if I was repeating anything and stop me and then I would go on to the next point. But on the several visits there were facts of a different kind and it is necessary to go through pretty fully the whole because these facts are germaine to the issue. You can judge for yourself Mr. Chairman as I go along [60]<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: If it is your pleasure, Mr Collin has written down his facts, and it will save time.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: One can hardly conceive anything more objectionable than such a course, but I know the difficulty of objecting to anything of the kind.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I agree with you. [To the witness] You must give your evidence.<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: It amounts to the same thing, Mrs. Chant has a copy of the evidence and if she takes her copy we shall simply double time.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You must give your evidence in the usual way.<br />
<br />
The Witness: Then I must say that I have been at the Empire as many a time as I have said - perhaps 20 in all - sometimes alone, sometimes accompanied - in three parts of the house - that is on the floor in the front seats, in the grand circle in the 3s. seats, in the box stalls the 5s. seats; and my evidence will chiefly relate to the grand circle up above the box stalls and to the stage. In regard to the stage I may say briefly that I think the ladies have said exactly what is right about it. The performance for the most part is objectionable, and I would go further than that, and say that individual items in the variety entertainment are objectionable. Dutch Daly's performance is [61] objectionable. The performance of a woman who introduces the names of Lord Rosebery and Sir. Wm. Harcourt and Mr. Gladstone into a very objectionable and indecent song is also offensive; and there are others - the case which is spoken to by Mrs. Amos. These individual items are indecent. There is innuendo in them; they is indelicacy. The dancing is also vulgar and indecent. It is not artistic; it is not pretty.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Please begin with the promenade and tell me was your impression about that?<br />
<br />
The promenade I have been in as many times as I have been there, and it is always rather loosely occupied - I mean rather meagrely occupied - until about 9 o'clock, and then it beings to fill up. Later on the Crowd is a surging crowd on almost every night, and only the fringe of those who are standing by the balustrade can possibly see the stage. I counted on one night the number of women there in the different sections of the house all of whom were of doubtful character. There were 170 women at one time in the box stalls and the grand circle and the large bar overlooking Leicester Square, and at the same moment I was not in the American bar, which judging by other occasions would be equally full. I should say there were 180 [62] women in these two sections on one night when I counted at 11 o'clock. The women go alone and in pairs. They sit down immediately on the lounges, where they cannot see the stage. If we had a plan here I could show the Committee how large a space there is in the Empire from which the stage cannot possibly be seen - as much [--illegible--] out from the stage as if it were in another in another building or in the street. And the women go and stand in these places, drinking at the tables, go into the American bar, go into the large lounge overlooking Leicester Square, never for a moment taking any interest in the entertainment. The conversation that one hears is quite sufficient to stamp the character of the women. The invitations given to drink are sufficient. I have seen women go away on different nights with different men - woman who came in alone. I have seen them leaving in hansoms. The attendants invariably call hansoms. These woman are known to the attendants. see gentlemen in Court none who are always moving about in the crowd - connected with the management of the place. [-- can't make sense of this sentence --]<br />
I have seen drunken men there and drunken women. On Monday last I called attention of the attendant to a drunken man drinking brandy which [63] had been served after he was obviously drunk. The attendant said that that was the business of the waiter, and not his. I have seen the police there, Constable 3 of the C Division, moving about one night a good deal. Last Saturday night Constable 4 of the C Division was in the house most of the time, and there cannot be a doubt in the mind of any one who knows the place at all that it is a show-place for this particular kind of thing, and is notoriously so throughout the whole country, and I imagine throughout the whole of Europe.<br />
<br />
Have you yourself been accosted in any way?<br />
<br />
Oh yes, every night - every night I have been there.<br />
<br />
Will you tell the Committee if you saw the same women there night after night?<br />
<br />
I know the women's faces now as well as I know the faces of these attendants who are here today and belong to the place. The same women go every night in many cases.<br />
<br />
Will you kindly tell us what is your reason for thinking they belong to the call which you say they do. What makes you think a woman is a prostitute?<br />
<br />
Oh, there is an unmistakeable stamp - their behaviour altogether.<br />
<br />
It is not their dress?<br />
<br />
[64] Their conversation.<br />
<br />
Not their dress?<br />
<br />
Not their dress, certainly, not in this case.<br />
<br />
Nor the painting?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Not that alone?<br />
<br />
Not that all, necessarily.<br />
<br />
Taken with their conduct, you say that a woman is a prostitute when she paints and dresses gaily and goes alone to a public place and behaves in a certain way with men.<br />
<br />
Yes, and when she uses indelicate language with men and lurks about in public places of entertainment with one man and another on the same evening and goes away eventually with a third man.<br />
<br />
Have you watched the performances? Have you any opinion about the indecent or objectionable nature of them?<br />
<br />
Yes, I have a very strong opinion about it.<br />
<br />
Will you give me one or two reasons for your opinion?<br />
<br />
In both ballets - both "The girl I left behind me" and "La Frolique" the high kicking dancing is very bad indeed. It is accompanied by gestures and suggestion and mock disgust on the part of the people who are taking part on the stage, at which is supposed to be exposed.<br />
<br />
Will you give us an instance?<br />
<br />
The character that takes La Frolique - the whole ballet of La Frolique is based on [65] suggestiveness. The authorities in the town determine to prohibit an objectionable dance, and they send the gendarmes to stop the dance. Instead of carrying out their orders they become infected with the dance and abandon themselves to the atmosphere, and there is a very indelicate scene indeed, concluding by one of them women putting her foot up on the man's hand, and as the drop scene goes down he holds her foot up very disgustingly high, and the soldier comes and puts his cap on the foot, and then turns his head away as much as to say "Too much": he cannot look at that sort of thing. That is the atmosphere of the Empire. That is the spirit of the Empire from beginning to end.<br />
<br />
May I ask you whether you were struck with the fact that the attendants seemed to know the girls in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, the attendants in some cases are on rather jovial terms with the women who go there frequently.<br />
<br />
Have you been in all parts of the Empire, or does this only concern the 5s. promenade?<br />
<br />
Is concerns the 3s. promenade as much, and the American bar as much.<br />
<br />
Have you been down in the 2s. seats - the lower part of the promenade?<br />
<br />
I was in the pit once in my life and of course I saw nothing there except what was on stage.<br />
<br />
[66] In the Empire?<br />
<br />
In the Empire.<br />
<br />
And you saw nothing there of what we complain?<br />
<br />
Nothing except on the stage. I am not aware that there is a promenade down in the pit. I could not say.<br />
<br />
Have you any other points to give these gentlemen?<br />
<br />
I was there on Monday night, and found things as bad as ever, and a new ballet up on Monday night, with distinctly objectionable features again - high kicking and the premiere danseuse as bad as ever.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
You say you saw a man served there who was under the influence of drink?<br />
<br />
More than once. I have often seen men drunk there.<br />
<br />
You know there is a very simple means of testing a question of the kind by taking out a summons before a magistrate?<br />
<br />
I know it is not such a simple means at all.<br />
<br />
You know it can be done?<br />
<br />
Yes, I know it can be done, and I know certain people who ought to do it and do not do it.<br />
<br />
You know that if it was done, then you would have to give evidence on oath.<br />
<br />
I am quite aware of that.<br />
<br />
But there is no provision for your [67] doing so here,<br />
<br />
I should not object to give evidence on oath here today.<br />
<br />
Do you remember the magistrate pointing out to you "If you are making a complaint against licensed premises, the proper course would to take out a summons."<br />
<br />
I knew that long before the magistrate made the remark, that it was a course, but not, the more convenient or the more desirable.<br />
<br />
I am reading from one of your own publication, for I will ask you in a moment whether it is not one of your publications, "The proper course would have been by summons under the Licensing Act, where the whole matter could be enquired into." Do you remember being that by the Justices?<br />
<br />
Yes, and I knew at the time, that I had found out a better way.<br />
<br />
You know a better way?<br />
<br />
Yes, a better way - much more effective.<br />
<br />
The magistrates dismissed your opposition?<br />
<br />
One does not attach much importance to what certain magistrates do at all.<br />
<br />
You do not attach much importance?<br />
<br />
To what some magistrates do. I have had a large experience of magistrates.<br />
<br />
You know what they are?<br />
<br />
Yes, I know pretty well what they are.<br />
<br />
These magistrates that you are now speaking of were magistrates in the County of London?<br />
<br />
[68] Yes.<br />
<br />
In fact, the St. James's Bench?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Baron de Worms was the Chairman who told you what you ought to do.<br />
<br />
Yes, he was. Therefore I was not much surprised.<br />
<br />
Now as you have given your opinion about magistrates, let us know something about who you are. What is your occupation?<br />
<br />
I am a merchant.<br />
<br />
That is a wide description.<br />
<br />
I am a tea merchant.<br />
<br />
Where do you carry on your business?<br />
<br />
In Mincing Lane, and Liverpool and other towns.<br />
<br />
We will deal with Mincing Lane first. What are your premises there?<br />
<br />
21 Mincing Lane.<br />
<br />
What have you got there?<br />
<br />
An office, a tasting room.<br />
<br />
Do you mean a room there?<br />
<br />
An office.<br />
<br />
Do you mean a room?<br />
<br />
I mean a room.<br />
<br />
That is what you have got there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How many other people have got the room?<br />
<br />
No one else.<br />
<br />
How many names are there on the door?<br />
<br />
I am connected with all the firms whose are on the door.<br />
<br />
How many names are there on the [69] door of this one room where you carry on your business?<br />
<br />
There are four names.<br />
<br />
What are they - 4 different firms or held out to the public as four different firms?<br />
<br />
No, they are 4 different firms in a sense, but they have all business relationships, and I am interested in them.<br />
<br />
We have heard of firms that have different names. Let us understand. There is one room?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you got your name there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How are you described?<br />
<br />
D. Shelton Collin & Co. - my own name with "Company".<br />
<br />
Is there another firm on the same door or Pegram & Co?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Another firm of James Pegram & Co?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Another firm of Alfred Cales and Co.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And then you say there is Shelton Collin & Co. What does the staff of all these firms consist of - a boy?<br />
<br />
Of about -<br />
<br />
What does the staff consist of at Mincing Lane, the place I am enquiring about?<br />
<br />
At Mincing Lane, a salesman and [70] an assistant buyer.<br />
<br />
All in this one room.<br />
<br />
You must remember you are dealing with -<br />
<br />
I am dealing with the address you have given on this notice of opposition. Do you live in Liverpool?<br />
<br />
I live in Southport.<br />
<br />
Have you got time to look after the morals of London as well as Liverpool?<br />
<br />
I am in town once a week, sometimes twice. I have other businesses in London, Mr Gill is dealing with firms with 200 or 300 men - one of the largest firms in the country, only he does not know it.<br />
<br />
Do you say that you visit London once a week?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Then do you go to the Empire every night you come to town?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
How many times in the year?<br />
<br />
I have told you.<br />
<br />
You have not, or if you have repeat it.<br />
<br />
I have been, I should say, nearly 20 times during the last 3 months.<br />
<br />
Then may I take it during the last 12 week you have come to town more than once a week?<br />
<br />
Occasionally I have been in town two nights a week, 3 nights in a week.<br />
<br />
[71] Where do you live at Liverpool?<br />
<br />
Southport. I do not live at Liverpool.<br />
<br />
I suppose you have a Vigilance Committee there?<br />
<br />
A very good one.<br />
<br />
And you are no doubt an active member of it?<br />
<br />
I am supposed to be.<br />
<br />
Surely it must be the Vigilance Committee that prosecuted "Pick-me-up".<br />
<br />
The Vigilance Committee had nothing to do with the prosecution of Pick-me-up. It was the Chief Constable of Liverpool that prosecuted Pick-me-up.<br />
<br />
Set in motion by whom?<br />
<br />
Set in motion by the police themselves or by the editor of a paper.<br />
<br />
Do you mean to say that your Committee were not parties to that transaction?<br />
<br />
Knew nothing about it.<br />
<br />
Took no part in it?<br />
<br />
Took no part in it.<br />
<br />
What are you in the Vigilance Committee there - Chairman or what?<br />
<br />
I am a member of the Executive.<br />
<br />
Do you belong to a Vigilance Committee in London as well?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Connected with the National Vigilance?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you appear with Mr. Coote at the St. James's Licensing Meeting?<br />
<br />
[72] Yes.<br />
<br />
You and Mr. Fish?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You say, as I understand that you have been to the Empire 20 times in three months - is that what you say?<br />
<br />
I won't swear to the number but it must be nearly 20. It is considerably over 12.<br />
<br />
Did you keep a record of the number of times you went there?<br />
<br />
More or less.<br />
<br />
Did you keep a record of any kind?<br />
<br />
If I have visited it on an important occasion, I have made notes.<br />
<br />
Have you got any notes made during the last 3 months?<br />
<br />
Do you mean note made at the time?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
No, not here.<br />
<br />
With regard to the women that have seen there, you say that they are immoral women?<br />
<br />
And immoral men.<br />
<br />
With regard to the immoral women, would you prevent them going to a place of entertainment?<br />
<br />
It would depend,<br />
<br />
I have asked you this before.<br />
<br />
No, you have not.<br />
<br />
At the St. James's meeting. I ask you now.<br />
<br />
[73] You did not ask me that question.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it was your friend Mr. Fish. Just tell me. Would you prevent immoral women going to places of public entertainment?<br />
<br />
Not because they were immoral women, no. The law differentiates among women.<br />
<br />
You would not prevent their going.<br />
<br />
I would not prevent a solitary women or a number of women going for the purposes of seeing the entertainment. It would all depend upon the facts.<br />
<br />
What is it that you would prevent their doing - soliciting?<br />
<br />
Certainly.<br />
<br />
Is there anything but solicitation you would prevent?<br />
<br />
I would prevent disorderly behaviour.<br />
<br />
Do you tell this Committee that you saw any disorderly behaviour at the Empire?<br />
<br />
I saw a very great deal of disorderly behaviour at the Empire every time I went.<br />
<br />
Soliciting?<br />
<br />
Certainly.<br />
<br />
Do you mean soliciting in the sense of a woman speaking to a man?<br />
<br />
Occasionally - often.<br />
<br />
Which is it?<br />
<br />
I wish you to understand that I -<br />
<br />
Which is it?<br />
<br />
That I mean oftener than I [74] first said.<br />
<br />
Oftener than you said?<br />
<br />
When I corrected my answer I meant that I had seen it oftener than just a moment before it occured to me I had seen it.<br />
<br />
Do you know whether the women knew the men or not?<br />
<br />
In many cases I should say they did. In many cases they did not.<br />
<br />
How did you know the difference between the women who knew the men and those who did not?<br />
<br />
When the men and women knew each other, or when I thought they knew each other, they approached each other in a familiar manner which would hardly have been possible had they not met on previous occasion.<br />
<br />
Have you made a special study of this subject?<br />
<br />
Not more than the state of Society has compelled me to make.<br />
<br />
You mean your anxiety about the state of Society?<br />
<br />
If you have a mind to put it in that way.<br />
<br />
Do I understand you to say that you have made a special study of what amounts to accosting?<br />
<br />
No, not a special study - not more than most men, I should say, who keep their eyes open.<br />
<br />
How did you know the difference between [75] the women who knew men and the women who did not?<br />
<br />
If I saw a man and woman meet each other as though they had been old acquaintances, I took it they had met before. But if I saw a woman sidle up to a man and elbow him, and ogling him, and not getting into conversation for 5 or 10 minutes, I took it they had not met before.<br />
<br />
That is what you have stayed there to watch?<br />
<br />
That is what I have seen without watching and what anybody else could see without watching.<br />
<br />
Is that what you have gone to see?<br />
<br />
No, I have gone to see the state of things there. I should have been better pleased to have given the place a good report.<br />
<br />
Have you gone to see that, or gone to see the entertainment?<br />
<br />
For the purpose of seeing the entertainment - I have never gone actually for that special purpose.<br />
<br />
Has it always been the same , what you have seen?<br />
<br />
Yes, I may say the first time I went it was quite a casual visit and it was what I saw then that led me to go again and take an interest in it.<br />
<br />
And it has always been the same?<br />
<br />
Always the same.<br />
<br />
[76] You went 20 times in 3 months. How many times have you been there the last 12 months?<br />
<br />
Before I made my purpose to investigate the state of things there, I think I had only been there once or twice.<br />
<br />
How many times have you been there altogether?<br />
<br />
Well, if we were to say 18 times during the last 3 months. I should just have to add two other occasions.<br />
<br />
During the last year?<br />
<br />
Yes, during the whole of my life.<br />
<br />
Alderman Beachcroft: Do you know whether the women who go to the Empire pay for their admission 5s. apiece?<br />
<br />
Alderman Russell: As I understand on the occasions of those visits there you were accosted yourself?<br />
<br />
Well, every night one has to get out of the way of women who come to stand up against one, and try to put themselves in one's way. One has to get away to prevent being made uncomfortable or the women accosting.<br />
<br />
You are no addressed by them?<br />
<br />
Not directly spoken to.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: May I ask did these women that you saw come in at the ordinary entrance with the other spectators, as far as you could tell?<br />
<br />
[77] Yes.<br />
<br />
Have you stood at the entrance to see them come in?<br />
<br />
Yes, and to see them go out. I have spent an evening inside and they come out in the middle of the entertainment with men and get into hansoms which are hailed by the attendants and drive off.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Have you any more witnesses?<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: There are more witnesses. It depends upon whether you gentlemen feel you have heard enough.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: That is for you to decide.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I think it might be well to ask one more witness to give testimony as to the indecency on the stage as shortly as possible.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- The Revd. J.Brooks called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Will you kindly tell these gentlemen what has been your experience at the Empire. There are two points upon which we are opposing the licence - the prostitutes in the promenade and the indecency of parts of the performance. Will you just very briefly lay before them either of these points or both?<br />
<br />
I corroborate all that has been said with regard to the entertainment, I think there were parts of it which were decidedly beautiful and entertaining in the highest degree, and it seemed to me that those parts were just the parts that were most applauded and most appreciated [78] by those who seemed to go there to see the entertainment and be amused. The parts of it to which I took special exception are the parts to which other witnesses have already given their evidence. Just with regard to the two ballets - the first one especially - the dancing of the premiere danseuse was especially, I think, indecent and suggestive. Not only was the length of the dress very short indeed, but her actions were such that the dress stood at right angles to her body, and with regard also to the amount of covering on those that took part in that ballet and the other I think it was obnoxious and hurtful in the highest degree, not only to those who took part in the entertainment, but also to those who witnessed it. I directed my attention more especially to the performance, because at that time of the evening, from 8 o'clock on to 9 or a quarter past, there was very little to be seen objectionable in any degree in the promenade. The promenade seemed to get most crowded from 9 o'clock onwards and before I left, which was about 11 o'clock, it was so crowded that it was with the greatest difficulty I could pass along. I have walked the streets of London a great many times and have noticed the women who promenade up and down Regent Street and Piccadilly from 11 o'clock on to 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning [79] and the women whom I saw on the promenade were, so far as I could judge by observation, of the same sort of character, and were going on in the same sort of way. I was not solicited myself (Laughter). Well I do not know why you should laugh, because I did not go dressed as a clergyman. I have been solicited be it paid to our shame, in the public streets dressed as a clergyman, but I did not go dressed as a clergyman on that occasion, because I thought I should not be able to see much evidence worth offering to the Committee. I went dressed as a layman on that occasion and the only remark I had address to me by a woman was "Why do you look so sad?". I think almost it would be a wonder if I did not look sad when I saw what went on in front and behind me. That is all the evidence I wish to give.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
Do you know the Vicar of the parish there?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You do not know his name, I dare say.<br />
<br />
No, I do not know his name.<br />
<br />
Do you hold services in the street?<br />
<br />
I can answer the question but I do not see what on earth it has to do with the case.<br />
<br />
Never mind. Answer the question.<br />
<br />
[80] Then I refuse to answer it.<br />
<br />
Do you parade the street at 12 o'clock at night with surplices on?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did anybody else assist you in that?<br />
<br />
Yes, the young men who form my choir.<br />
<br />
Go abroad in surplices at 12 o'clock at night?<br />
<br />
We have very good reason to.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Are you a clergyman of the Church of England?<br />
<br />
I am.<br />
<br />
Have you a church in the neighbourhood?<br />
<br />
No, my parish is in St Silas, Islington.<br />
<br />
You are the vicar?<br />
<br />
No, I am not. I am senior curate.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: You are the founder of what is called the White Cross League?<br />
<br />
Oh no. I wish I were.<br />
<br />
Is the White Cross League your league?<br />
<br />
How do you mean my league?<br />
<br />
Is it the league you are concerned with or connected with?<br />
<br />
I do no think I am a member of the White Cross League?<br />
<br />
You do not know?<br />
<br />
It is a matter of detail with regard to giving in your name. I do the White Cross work, if that is important.<br />
<br />
That is what I want.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mr. J.K. Livesey called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Have you visited the Empire Theatre?<br />
<br />
[81] Yes, several times.<br />
<br />
Where do you live?<br />
<br />
I live at Waterloo, near Liverpool. I am the representative of a tea firm.<br />
<br />
Will you tell these gentlemen what you have seen on your visits to the Empire first of all in the promenade.<br />
<br />
Speaking generally of the promenade, when I have got there about a quarter to 9, there have not been very many in the promenades, but by half past 9 both in the grand circle promenade which is 3s., and in the 5s., the one below there have been more. By 9.30 there would be a good many man and a good many women - women whom I should have no hesitation, in my experience in walking about the streets, and what I have come across in life, in considering as of the prostitute class. I simply say that of the promenade only - the promenade and the bar - apart from the seats.<br />
<br />
You saw none of these women in the seats?<br />
<br />
I cannot say none, but as regards the back seats of the promenade, when there was a vacancy there, perhaps towards the close of the performance, they would take a seat there - people had been walking about in the promenade.<br />
<br />
That is to say you did not see take place in the seats what you saw take place in the promenade?<br />
<br />
[82] No.<br />
<br />
Have you any experience of the behaviour of these women?<br />
<br />
On one occasion I went with a friend into one of the bars and we sat down at the only vacant table, and I saw a girl look at me and I took not the slightest notice. But before she passed out of the bar she came and stood with her hands on the table between me and my friend. But she turned to me and said "Will you stand me a drink?" I said, "no." She said, "Are you too fool?" I simply replied, "Too good for that, I hope." She then passed on. That was the only personal accosting that I have met with.<br />
<br />
What struck you about this conduct?<br />
<br />
Their lounging about from 9 o'clock until the performance is over at half past 11 and constantly going to the bar and sometimes wandering about for a long time and finding gentlemen. Then I would see a particular lady that I had noticed walking alone, and would find her in the bar sometimes with two gentlemen.<br />
<br />
What was your impression of the ballet of the dancing on the stange, and of what we call indecency in the performance?<br />
<br />
As regards "La Frolique", I support Mr. Collin's opinion - that is is not fit for any stage. The insinuations are not good. What struck me more particularly [83] was "The Girl I left behind me" where the girl indulges in high kicking. She faces two men that are dressed as soldiers, and she puts her foot above the level of her head, and the leering manner in which they turn away their faces - it is too suggestive for a public performance.<br />
<br />
Have you anything more to state?<br />
<br />
I cannot state anything beyond what has been already stated.<br />
<br />
What would be your reason for classing these women as prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Simply general observation and seeing them leering and looking at men as they passed by and from the fact that they went to walk in the promenade, and did not take seats.<br />
<br />
There is no doubt in your mind that these women behaved and dressed in a way that ordinary respectable people would not do?<br />
<br />
Certainly, especially women dressed as they are dressed. They were dressed very nicely, some of them. Undoubtedly lady like women would not parade the place and do as they do.<br />
<br />
Was it your opinion that they did not seem to pay any attention to the stage performance?<br />
<br />
I was very much struck with that. Some of the people might by leaning on the back of the last seat see the performance. But just behind them women [90] would be standing - simply watching them pass to and fro. Then also I have seen them sit a long long time - the same women - on the seats at the back - where they could see nothing but simply watch the audience pass to and fro, and make gestures with their eyes and call out to friends - persons who have seemed friends, and men evidently they knew.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
You say you are a traveller for a tea firm?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Where does the firm carry on business?<br />
<br />
In London?<br />
<br />
Where?<br />
<br />
Fenchurch Street?<br />
<br />
Where?<br />
<br />
4 Fenchurch Street. The name is Francis Pick & Co.<br />
<br />
You say you live in Liverpool.<br />
<br />
Waterloo, 6 miles from Liverpool. My business office is 7 North John Street.<br />
<br />
In Liverpool?<br />
<br />
In Liverpool.<br />
<br />
And may I take it your business is entirely in Liverpool?<br />
<br />
It is not.<br />
<br />
Where do you travel?<br />
<br />
I come down as near as Cheltenham.<br />
<br />
Does your business take you any nearer London than that?<br />
<br />
I shall have to think. I do not think so. Yes, I go to Bedford. [85] That is a little nearer.<br />
<br />
Have you any place of residence in London?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Then how is it that you are interested in this matter - as a visitor to London?<br />
<br />
Largely so, yes. Had I not been a visitor to London I should not have been in the matter.<br />
<br />
What is it brings you to London? That is what I want to know.<br />
<br />
Oh, to see my people - to see the people whom I represent.<br />
<br />
How often do you come up?<br />
<br />
I like to come once in 6 weeks. Sometimes I come once a month.<br />
<br />
About 12 times a year?<br />
<br />
Half a dozen times or so.<br />
<br />
How often have you been to the Empire?<br />
<br />
I cannot tell you. Several times.<br />
<br />
Can you tell me how often you have been to the Empire?<br />
<br />
No, I cannot.<br />
<br />
You have no idea?<br />
<br />
I have been there several times. I have been there more than 3 times, perhaps more than 5.<br />
<br />
But the visits have no made sufficient impression on you to say how many times?<br />
<br />
I have not made a note, therefore they have not.<br />
<br />
Do you know Mr Collin?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
Are you a member of the Vigilance [86] Society in Liverpool?<br />
<br />
I am -<br />
<br />
Cannot you answer a perfectly simple question? Are you a member of a Vigilance Society?<br />
<br />
I can if time is given but not if I am interrupted. I was asked if I was a member of a Vigilance Society and I had to think. I am not a member in the sense that Mr. Collin is, but I am a general member of a Society of which there are 300 or 400 people.<br />
<br />
Of the same Society?<br />
<br />
Of the same Vigilance Society.<br />
<br />
When did you know of the opposition to the Empire?<br />
<br />
I had hoped -<br />
<br />
Can you answer a perfectly simple question? When did you know of the opposition to the Empire?<br />
<br />
I cannot give you the date if I am to be so precise. I cannot give you the exact date.<br />
<br />
Within the last few days or a month ago?<br />
<br />
I should say possibly 3 months ago.<br />
<br />
From whom did you learn?<br />
<br />
From my friend Mr. Collin.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Have you any further evidence?<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I have a witness whom I have omitted to call because I thought he was going to make a separate statement, but he desires me to call [87] him; that is Mr. Fish.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Thomas Fish called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: You have been to the Empire Theatre?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How often?<br />
<br />
Three times.<br />
<br />
What is your impression about the promenade?<br />
<br />
I can generally corroborate what the witnesses have said - that it is a fact it is a place frequented by women of doubtful character for the purpose of prostitution.<br />
<br />
Will you give us your reasons for thinking them to be of doubtful character?<br />
<br />
I arrived on the three evenings about the same time as the other witnesses, and I walked about. First of all I sat on the seats looking at the performance, and then I walked about the promenade. About 9 o'clock the women began to assemble, and towards 10 the place was crowded. I was accosted myself personally several times in a variety of manners. I saw a great number of women accosting other gentlemen who seemed to be perfect strangers. Then I saw them adjourn upstairs to have drink. Then on one night - the second night - I went in and out of Leicester Square several times by permission of the attendant. I saw several of these women that had been previously promenading - I saw them go into cabs with gentlemen [88] and drive off. On the third night - that was on the Saturday - I noticed at least a dozen women that I had seen on the previous Wednesday soliciting men. And I should like to say that I saw several men drunk on the Saturday. I must say on the Saturday there were several respectable women who had evidence come up from the country, and they were walking about the promenade.<br />
<br />
That was on the Saturday night?<br />
<br />
On the Saturday night. Three nights I went.<br />
<br />
How did you know them to be respectable women?<br />
<br />
They were there with either their sweethearts or their husbands. They came in with them. They came upstairs. They came into the performance arm in arm, or together. They were talking the whole time, and I did not see these women accosting any other women.<br />
<br />
You did not see them go to the bar to have drinks?<br />
<br />
I do not remember to have seen these whom I call respectable women go to the bar at all.<br />
<br />
You saw women go away with men with whom they did not go into the theatre?<br />
<br />
Yes I did.<br />
<br />
Did you see them get into the hansom cabs and drive away together?<br />
<br />
Yes I did.<br />
<br />
What was your impression of the [89] behaviour of the attendants to most of the women?<br />
<br />
Evidently they were on very familiar terms.<br />
<br />
You noticed that?<br />
<br />
I noticed that. I also noticed that at the time when the pictures were on, and the lights wer down - I noticed on the three occasions I was present there was a great deal of pushing and talking, and several objectionable remarks made by the women, and by the men too. The men were just as bad. I noticed when the lights were low the attendants did not seem to check this. The attendants were moving in and out among the people. I do not remember that ever any of them spoke to the women at all.<br />
<br />
You never saw an attendant call a woman to order?<br />
<br />
I did not.<br />
<br />
For their loud laughter?<br />
<br />
Not once.<br />
<br />
What is your impression about the performance on the stage? Mr. Collin has told you that he objected also to one or two of the songs in the variety part, besides the ballet as being objectionable and suggestive. What is your impression?<br />
<br />
The first night I went I heard Dutch Daly. I thought some of his remarks were very indecent and improper. But I must say, Mr. Chairman, that I do not consider that I am competent [90] witness as to the performance. I went with an open mind, and I felt sure it was the question of the promenade that I ought to give my full attention to, and therefore I could not say very much about the performance.<br />
<br />
Have you any further statement to make?<br />
<br />
No, I have not.<br />
<br />
Alderman Beachcroft: You say you were accosted on several occasions.<br />
<br />
I was.<br />
<br />
Will you tyell us what words were used by the women to you?<br />
<br />
Many of them wished me good evening, and asked me whether I would take them to drink, and one of the women was rushing about and saying "do not look at the wicked pictures" when the lights were out. They seemed to roam among the audience and say "do not look at the wicked pictures". She particularly spoke to me.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
What part of London do you come from?<br />
<br />
Finsbury Park.<br />
<br />
And you I suppose are also a member of the Vigilance Committee.<br />
<br />
A similar work.<br />
<br />
Vigilance Committee?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
That is the work you are engaged in?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
What part of London do you direct your enquiries to - the whole of it [91] or any particular part of it?<br />
<br />
North London generally.<br />
<br />
You have been engaged in it for years I suppose?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You gave evidence, I think, with another witness before the St. James's Licensing Bench, did you not?<br />
<br />
I did.<br />
<br />
You speak of seeing person under the influence of drink. Was it pointed out to you on that occasion that the proper course was to take out a summons before a magistrate?<br />
<br />
Are you referring to St. James's?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I do not think it was referred to.<br />
<br />
You do not remember that?<br />
<br />
I did not think that was particularly referred to.<br />
<br />
Do you remember the Chairman saying that if there was cause of complaint that -<br />
<br />
Cause of complaint with reference to prostitution but not for drinking.<br />
<br />
For harbouring prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
But he pointed out to you that the proper course was to take out a summons before a magistrate?<br />
<br />
He did.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You saw the St. James's Bench and did you state what you have stated here wit regard to prostitution?<br />
<br />
It was as to the St. James's Hall.<br />
<br />
<br />
[92] --- Miss Mary E, Phillips called and examined<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: You visited the Empire Theatre?<br />
<br />
Yes, on the 14th September.<br />
<br />
Is that the only time?<br />
<br />
The only time.<br />
<br />
What induced you to go?<br />
<br />
Mrs. Bailache asked me to accompany her.<br />
<br />
What was your impression about the promenade?<br />
<br />
We went into the promenade at half past 10 and we remained there till 20 minutes past 11, and my impression was that with the exception of Mrs. Bailache and myself, and one women who passed through, the whole of the women there and most of them were persons of immoral character.<br />
<br />
What makes you make such a statement?<br />
<br />
Well, I have been a good deal accustomed to speak and deal with that class of women, and I have frequently spoken to them, and I have never made a mistake outside the Empire. There is a generaol carriage and manner which to those who are engaged in such work as I am is very unmistakeable. They were not attending to the performance at all. Many of them were standing - quite a row of them - in a part where the performance could not be seen. Some were sitting and those who did turn towards the performance seemed not to be occupied with the performance, but with rather edging up to [93] some gentleman who was looking at it.<br />
<br />
The fact of the matter is that you wish to convey the strong assertion that these women were wholly taken up with the men who were in the promenade?<br />
<br />
Yes, if they turned their attention to anything they did.<br />
<br />
Did they turn much attention to the men in the promenade?<br />
<br />
We went in our ordinary dresses and we were so marked , and two men hustled me so, and one smoked to persistently in my face, it was extremely difficult to observe what was going on. Of course I felt if men would behave to an elderly lady in that way, they would behave rudely to a young lady.<br />
<br />
You say you were so marked. Can you give evidence of what it means to be marked and followed?<br />
<br />
I heard some men turn to the attendant and ask if they knew who these women were, who had been walking up and down, and the attendant apparently called out in a rather loud rude way, as though he wanted us to hear, "They have been walking up and down here: they don't seem to know their way in or out," or something of that kind he said.<br />
<br />
Did you observe girls going up to men or being introduced to men by a [94] third person?<br />
<br />
No, we were too closely watched ourselves for that. I saw one man making up to a woman in a way that gave the idea he was soliciting her. I did not see any women attempt more than pushing up a little and edging up to men and looking in their faces. I did not see anything more than that.<br />
<br />
Were you able to see anything of the performance?<br />
<br />
I watched the performance the whole of the time, till we went up into the promenade. The promenade was very crowded and you could hardly see anything of the performance unless you pushed to the front, from the promenade. I had never been in a regular theatre before. It was an astonishment to me that any English public would tolerate it. I think it is a disgrace to the whole nation that such a performance should be tolerated. I could not have believed it. I expected to see what I disapproved of, but certainly no imagination of mine reached anything of the disgustingness of some of the performances on that stage.<br />
<br />
What was it you saw on the stage that you particularly objected to?<br />
<br />
Several of the figures were so clothed and their clothes so arranged that you could entirely see their figures. Those that had skirts on wore ribbons, but [95] more what one sees like the [--illegible - "beads" or "rends"?--] of savages than anything I can compare them to. Then of clothing there were some women apparently nude wrapped in gauze but I hardly think that was so objectionable as were their attitudes, and I think three who had longish skirts were almost more indecent than those that were unclothed, for they simply used their skirts for purposes of indecency. As I said before, I never could have believed that any English public would have tolerated such a thing.<br />
<br />
You have had a good deal of experience in rescue work, I take it?<br />
<br />
Perhaps you would call it a good deal - hardly as much as you have, I think.<br />
<br />
Have you found that some of these young people are led into a life of shame by facilities of this character -<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I have not objected to anything this lady has said, because I desired that she should have opportunity of saying anything she wished; but this is getting -<br />
<br />
The Chairman: It is a very leading question.<br />
<br />
The Witness: I think it may be taken for granted that everybody would understand that it would be so.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
I understand this was about your first experience of a theatre?<br />
<br />
I have seen parts of plays at the [96] Crystal Palace and that kind of thing.<br />
<br />
It was your first experience of a theatre?<br />
<br />
I have been to a Temperance meeting in a theatre - Covent Garden Theatre.<br />
<br />
You have seen performances at temperance meetings, have you?<br />
<br />
Yes, performances if you like to give a wide meaning to the word.<br />
<br />
Do you come from Edmonton?<br />
<br />
Tottenham.<br />
<br />
This was practically your first appearance in a theatre.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And anything more terrible you never witnessed in your life. It was the most distressing thing that you ever had beheld.<br />
<br />
Yes, my imagination had never reached it.<br />
<br />
There was something apparently very distressing in the naked savage, but you say it would not have been worse than seeing this.<br />
<br />
It was the seeing an Enlglishwoman exhibiting herself in that way for the purposes of indecency.<br />
<br />
The form of women exposed at all is as very distressing thing?<br />
<br />
Certainly not, under suitable conditions - under innocent conditions.<br />
<br />
That depends in a very great measure upon the people who are looking on, does it not?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I understand your case is now concluded.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Yes.<br />
<br />
[97] The Chairman: Now it is Mr. Gill's opportunity. You will be able to cross-examine Mr. Gill's witnesses.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I do not intend to avail myself at any length of the opportunity of addressing you upon this case. I should be quite willing to take any one of these witnesses who are called here for the purpose of giving evidence against this place of entertainment, and naturally the evidence of the witness last called is freshest in one's memory, and it certainly is an appalling condition of things when one realizes that it is possible that a body such as that I have the honour to address should be called upon to listen to such evidence - that is to say that a lady should come forward whom you have just seen in the witness box to tell you her experience of life has been such that she has seen practically nothing of theatrical entertainments except upon some occasions at the Crystal Palace or temperance meetings. Her visit to the Empire was practically the first time that she had been to a theatre, and she says that the performance and what she saw was so appalling that it went far beyond what her imagination could ever have pictured. Would it be too much to say that you have before you people of most violently extreme [98] views? People who are taking upon themselves - well-meaning people no doubt - the very onerous duty of arranging what entertainment should be offered to the people living in London or to people visiting London from different parts of the world. No single independent witness has been called before you. No witness who was not a person of the most extreme views - a band of them all closely connected together, all of exactly the same class - the class of persons who instead of attending to their affairs take upon themselves the responsibility of looking after the morals of others, and who will go the length of not merely attending to their own immediate neighbourhoods, and the places in which they live, but persons who come from places so far away as Liverpool, and who are taking upon themselves the duty of settling the kind of entertainments to be presented to London audiences. I submit to you that it is an extraordinary state of things that one shall have to listen to evidence of this kind at all. It is given in the most unsatisfactory way. I take no exception to any questions the lady asked, though the questions are ridiculous and absurd as questions which are asked for the purpose of getting reliable testimony; because although the questions put to the witnesses were "Was [99] your impression as the result of your visit so and so", of course if such a question were asked under other circumstances what would happen one can well imagine. But these people with minds made up - because they are persons who are prepared to see in entertainments that which is not apparent to the ordinary observer, and who go there, having talked this thing over - having discussed this at the house of Mrs. Chant, where from time to time consultation have apparently been held so that the form of attack should be decided upon, and each of them over the tea supplied I hope by one of those numerous firms which have their names on the door in Mincing Lane - over the tea so supplied they have discussed the form which their evidence will take, and each of them has given to the other his or her experience of this place, and one call well imagine how they have each view in telling stories so that each might have seen something which was worse than the other. If it was shown that the witnesses in a County Court case where the question was an accident with a tram car had in some room at a solicitor's office talked the matter over that they were going to give evidence about - if such a thing were once established the greatest discredit would at once [100] be thrown upon their evidence. These people have discussed this matter. That they all come in the same way and that they are speaking in the same words is shown most conclusively by the fact that Mr. Edwardes received 7 letters from different addresses, all couched in exactly the same language - word for word the same, though written upon different paper, and written by different persons, following to the very syllable the objection that is taking by these different people. This shows that it was a question of arrangement between them, and they are here all for the purpose of saying exactly the same thing with regard to this place.<br />
[101] Now what is it that they say? They attack the entertainment at this place. It is a very strong thing to do, that entertainment has been witnessed by an enormous number of people during the time this place has been licensed. There has been no difference in the class of entertainment that has been presented to the public. All that has been done there is this. Men with large capital - men with a knowledge of their business - men of great enterprise - have been lavish in their expenditure in putting upon the stage the best entertainment that money can possibly produce; and whether it was an acrobatic performance; whether it was a ballet;whether it was a juggler; whether it was a singer; they very best that was obtainable has always been found upon the Empire stage; with the result that during the years that this place has been licensed the place has been continually full; and to make reflections upon the entertainments upon that stage is as I said in another case, a reflection upon the persons who have gone to see that entertainment and who have gone over and over again. Members of the Royal Family have been there repeatedly as spectators of that entertainment. Members of both Houses have been there. Persons of all classes have been there and apparently it [102] has been largely visited by members of Vigilance Committees so much so that the gentleman from Liverpool, who pays these frequent visits to London to the office with so many names on the door, must have gone to the Empire every night he was in London; and one is somewhat surprised at the curious condition of the mind of a man who devotes himself to this sort of occupation, going there prying and watching, looking at everything from the point of view of seeing whether he can get hold of something that is objectionable in an entertainment which is of course open to everybody and which is witnessed by persons of every class and which is criticised by every journal. Now here, with regard to this entertainment, what suggestion is there that there has ever been placed upon that stage any ballet or any singer or any performance of any sort or kind to which the slightest exception could be taken? Of course it is unnecessary for me to tell you that the practice is adopted here that is adopted at other places of keeping a record of the criticisms passed upon the different entertainments; and with regard to one matter that is introduced her, the ballet called "The girl I left hind me", ut us really almost inconceivable that persons could be found to come here and take exception to that entertainment. If any [103] of the Committee saw that entertainment - and I hope they did - if they saw it once I am certain they saw it upon many other occasions. But how any human being could come forward and say that in the ballet of "The girl I left behind me" there was anything to take exception to of any sort of kind I cannot conceive. I am indeed very much in the position of the lady who was last called. My imagination cannot grapple with the situation: it goes far beyond anything that I could possibly look forward to or could possibly suppose to be the case.<br />
With regard to the ballet here produced at great cost; the best dancers procurable secured for the purpose of the entertainment; the dresses designed by persons of the greatest possible skill and the greatest possible taste; with the result that a spectacle is there to be seen which no place in Europe can equal; and as to the evidence of these people who come and see something that is objectionable in an entertainment of that kind, it is not difficult to understand that if their minds are in that condition they see in the audience and see in the conduct of persons that they are brought into contact with that which is not observable to the ordinary spectator. One of the children performing in the [104] Shaeffer troupe - a troupe that any person who has been to places of entertainment for years past must have seen - a troupe which all the time it is on stage is received with thunders of applause - applause from every part of the house - unceasing applause; and looking at the family which has been brought up to the calling of acrobats or athletes, it only would require the slightest observation to see that to suggest that there was anything damaging to them in that which they were performing is the idlest possible nonsense; that it is a statement absolutely without foundation and that their performance is in every way without objection. Now so much for the entertainment. What is produced there is the subject of careful consideration: whether it is the ballet, or whether it is the living pictures, or the persons that are engaged, the greatest possible care is taken by the management with regard to the entertainment of the public.<br />
With regard to the place what is it that is said? It is said that in parts of the house - in the promenade - persons of objectionable character are to be found. Now where is the independent evidence with regard to this? I am not going to say for a moment that there are [105] no persons of immoral character in the promenade of the Empire. But what I do say is that: that to any place of entertainment persons of immoral character are perfectly entitled to go and going there are not and ought not to be interfered with so long as they conduct themselves properly in that place of entertainment. Now, here there has not been the slightest complaint of any sort or kind with regard to the conduct of the spectators - with regard to the conduct of the persons in that place of entertainment - made during the time that has elapsed since this licence was renewed by the County Council. Now if there was the slightest ground for supposing that there was truth in the statement that persons were served there who were under the influence of drink - that prostitutes were harboured in the sense of being served at the bars, and that a nuisance was therefore created - surely an enquiry with regard to that should take place before a magistrate who could take evidence which is really evidence - that is to say, a definite positive statement of the individual who takes upon himself the responsibility of saying, "I saw this take place" and of giving an account of when it took place so that that evidence [106] could be reduced to writing in order that the person upon whom the reflection is made might have an opportunity of answering it. That is surely the desirable course to take; and I submit to you it is clear when such statement are made that they are statement without foundation - that they must be so; that as a matter of ordinary precaution in an establishment of this kind, persons would not be served when under the influence of drink and that to assert the contrary is a statement that carries with it a denial: that is it no possible that such things should take place. But if anything of the kind takes place, what is more simple than to draw the attention of some official or police constable to it? Is it to be said that everyone is false to the duties they have to discharge: that no one is to be trusted? Reflections are made here upon a Bench of Magistrates; and one of these gentlemen who takes upon himself the guidance of us all with regard to morality speaks lightly of the honesty of magistrates. Is the same sort of criticism to be passed upon all persons who have duties to discharge - upon the persons who are employed at a place of this kind - [107] upon all the police? Are they all people who are unreliable, and do these people stand alone as honest people in this great city? As one lady said, "With the exception of myself and my friend, every man and women in the place was an immoral person. That shows the Christian spirit: that shows the class of persons who give utterance to such statements.<br />
Now the Empire authorities have taken every possible precaution. They have acted in this year as upon other occasions - that is to say, no woman has been allowed in that place to misconduct herself in any way. No woman who is known as a woman walking the streets or who may be identified as a prostitute has been allowed into the place. A large number of women undoubtedly from time to time come in there but there is no attempt upon their part to solicit men in the place; and if anything of the kind takes place - either an act of solicitation by a woman to a man or an act of solicitation by a man to a woman - at once the thing is stopped and the women prevented from going there and prevented from going there ever afterwards: with the result that nothing of the kind does in fact take place - no solicitation in the sense of persons speaking. If you ask whether persons look at one another or whether there is some definition of [108] solicitation which is the result of long study by people who have given their attention to matters of this kind, that is a matter no Board of Management can deal with. It is impossible that they can deal with it. All they can deal with is to see that their instructions are carried out with regard to the general character of the audience. And a very difficult matter it is.<br />
In this place there are paid in wages, during the course of the year, between £70,000 and £80,000 - a very large sum which gives employment to an enormous number of people. There are nearly 700 people employed there and numbers of other people are dependent upon those who are employed there and very large capital is embarked in such an enterprise. It is to the interest of those who are concerned in a matter of this kind, to take every precaution that is possible. What are they to do? This is a very difficult matter to exercise right discretion as to how an individual should be dealt with. A lady not very long ago was spoken to there with regard to her dress. She resented it and within a few minutes an American gentleman demanded to see the person who has responsible for his wife being spoken to. Instances of that kind have occurred, and have [109] occurred as a the result of attention being attracted to women in the place who have been spoken to. A very difficult duty it is for persons to discharge who are looking after the government of this place and the conduct of the persons in the house.<br />
Now these witnesses go so far as to say this, that women should be allowed to go a place of entertainment as much as men. They accept that position. That they may go unaccompanied by men. They accept that position. There is no suggestion here, of course, that women are allowed to go into the place who do not pay for that any woman going there does not pay for the purpose of going into the place. Now if you get an admission that women are to have the same rights with regard to a place of amusement as men and are to be allowed to go into a place, what right is there to interfere with them so long as they do, in fact, behave themselves properly in a place of entertainment? I submit that there is no such right - that the management of an entertainment of this kind cannot take upon themselves any such responsibility, and that they ought not to be called upon to take upon themselves any such responsibility. The [110] reflection cast upon this entertainment by the notice being given by persons coming forward here and saying that the entertainment is of an objectionable character - that the dancing is improper - is most mischievous and most damaging to any place of entertainment, and would be still more damaging if it were not from the fact that it is too widely known that it is not the case, and those who read this sort of attack will most likely be people who have themselves seen the entertainment, and, reading that kind of statement, will appreciate that the evidence is utterly valueless of persons who make such reckless charges as are made by the persons who are called upon the part the objectors in this case. They have had an opportunity of being fully heard here. No objection has been taken to anything upon the ground that it was not evidence. Each witness has been allowed to make the fullest possible statement of matters, whether they would be evidence or whether they would not be evidence and indeed you have got the whole matter before you.<br />
I will call before you the gentlemen who has held this licence for years past - Mr. Edwardes - and I will ask him some questions with [111] regard to the management of the Empire, and our excellent friend who is opposing this licence will have the opportunity of putting any questions she pleases to Mr. Edwardes; but I do in conclusion suggest to you that you should not be led by any body of people of extreme views - that you should look with suspicion upon the statements made by persons who are persons of extreme views - that you should weigh any statement made under those circumstances with the greatest possible care, and then I will satisfy you that, in the conduct of this place of entertainment, every possible precaution has been taken by the managing director and by the other directors to see that no act of impropriety of any sort or kind should take place upon the stage or in the house at any time.<br />
<br />
<br />
[112] --- Mr. George Edwardes called and examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: You are the holder of this licence?<br />
<br />
I am.<br />
<br />
You have had a very large experience in connection with places of entertainment?<br />
<br />
I have had some fifteen years' experience.<br />
<br />
You have been and are now connected with various theatres?<br />
<br />
I am.<br />
<br />
And you have from time to time had the licence of the Empire renewed and you have held it.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
With regard to the conduct of the Empire last year, has it been conducted as it always has been in the past.<br />
<br />
Exactly the same.<br />
<br />
There are employed in the place altogether between 600 and 700 people? And I think in actual salaries and wages in the place there is paid something like £1600 a week?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
With regard to the entertainment that you put upon the stage is the question of each production the subject of careful consideration?<br />
<br />
Very careful indeed.<br />
<br />
Exception has been taken to a ballet known as "The Girl I left behind me." Were you yourself the author [113] of that in the first instance?<br />
<br />
I was.<br />
<br />
Was that ballet a great success?<br />
<br />
A very great success indeed.<br />
<br />
How long did it run for?<br />
<br />
It was practically a year.<br />
<br />
And was of course seen by an enormous number of people.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Was there with regard to that ballet from its beginning to the end any thing which was in the smallest degree objectionable?<br />
<br />
Absolutely nothing.<br />
<br />
Was the slightest reflection made by any of the papers upon that ballet in any of the criticisms?<br />
<br />
Not that I heard of.<br />
<br />
With regard to a recent ballet - the ballet that is now there "La Frolique" - was that produced during this year?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And something has been said with regard to the dresses in that ballet. What would you desire to say to the Committee with regard to the dresses?<br />
<br />
The dresses of the premiere danseuse in every theatre of the country and abroad have been exactly the same length. Therefore the dress of the premiere danseuse at the Empire is the same as the dress of the premiere danseuse at the opera. It is about 62 inches - it is the same dress, made of tulle that is always the same. [114] There has been no difference in every theatre all over Europe. So far as the other dresses are concerned the long skirts referred to by one of the witnesses - that one of the girls lifted her foot up, absolutely if she did lift her foot up, her skirts were tied down and it was impossible to see anything beyond her knee.<br />
<br />
Are these dresses designed by persons of considerable skill and a great deal of care taken in the selection of colours for the purpose of getting the result on the stage?<br />
<br />
They are designed by Mr. Wilhelm, one of the greatest designers in the country.<br />
<br />
On the production of a ballet of that kind is a very large sum of money expended?<br />
<br />
Of several thousands of pounds.<br />
<br />
Now with regard to the other part of the entertainment where there are acrobatic performances and singing and so on, is each item put upon the stage the subject of careful selection?<br />
<br />
Each item is as a rule exhibited before it is put upon the stage.<br />
<br />
And is the best of its kind procurable?<br />
<br />
Absolutely.<br />
<br />
Has there ever been any sparing of expense in securing the best talent?<br />
<br />
None whatever.<br />
<br />
Some reference has been made to the [115] Schaeffer troupe of acrobats. Are they people with a world-wide reputation?<br />
<br />
People of the greatest reputation.<br />
<br />
And during their performance is the applause almost continuous?<br />
<br />
Yes, unquestionably there is nothing in the entertainment given by the Schaeffers which would injure the child in any way. I have constantly seen the child myself before she has gone on the stage and when she has come off the stage. She is more anxious for the entertainment really than her father.<br />
<br />
Thoroughly enjoys it?<br />
<br />
Absolutely.<br />
<br />
With regard to the conduct of any person singing do you take every precaution against there being any impropriety either in the words of the song or the conduct of the actor or singer on the stage?<br />
<br />
Every song has got to be submitted and it is read over before it is allowed to be sung.<br />
<br />
Now with regard to the building itself and with regard to the audience tell me who are the people employed in the front of the house with regard to looking after the audience?<br />
<br />
We have a very large staff in the front of the house, principally for the good conduct of the people going to the theatre. I think we have a retired Inspector of Police. We have several [116] Sergeants and on the whole I should say there are a hundred people absolutely employed for taking the money and for the good conduct of the people going to the theatre; and every one going to the theatre must pass the Box Office and must pay for a ticket, and every one absolutely is inspected before they are allowed to go in.<br />
<br />
The question was asked by me of the members of the Committee as to whether every one pays who goes in there - would any women going in there pay just as an ordinary member of the audience?<br />
<br />
Absolutely there has been no woman in London ever allowed in the Empire free.<br />
<br />
Now with regard to the conduct of persons when they are in the house - either men or women - have the attendants instructions as to how they are to act in the event of any act of impropriety upon the part of any member of the audience?<br />
<br />
We have a Serjeant and a Detective walking up and down during the Promenade to see if any of these ladies who have been so graphically described by other witnesses - to see in what way they behave themselves. If they are seen soliciting any one markedly they are touched on the shoulder and cautioned and if a second time they do they they [117] are not allowed in the theatre again, and they are at once taken out of the building.<br />
<br />
If there is any offence of any kind does that apply equally to men?<br />
<br />
Certainly. A man would not be allowed to do so. This case of a man being served when drunk - I do not believe it is possible - I do not believe it ever occurred.<br />
<br />
From your knowledge of the place and the persons employed there do you think it is possible such a thing would occur?<br />
<br />
I do not think so. Of course, everything is practically possible, but such as thing has never to my knowledge taken place, and both the Inspector and the Sergeant on duty would have been instantly dismissed had it come before us, or had we known in any way about it.<br />
<br />
Have there been many instances in which persons have been prevented from going in?<br />
<br />
Oh frequently. Possibly three or four women a night have been stopped.<br />
<br />
There is somebody stationed at the door to see the persons as they pass in?<br />
<br />
Absolutely, at each door.<br />
<br />
In your opinion, with your knowledge of places of entertainment, and your knowledge of how this place is conducted, is every possible precaution taken to insure [118] the good conduct of the persons who constitute the audience?<br />
<br />
Yes, no doubt it is.<br />
<br />
I ought to ask you perhaps this question. This lady seems to have been amazed or thought you not act as a gentleman in not answering her letter - did such a thing ever occur to you at all?<br />
<br />
I should have thought Mrs. Chant would not have liked to have seen me fearing I might have tried to influence her.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mrs, Chant<br />
<br />
You say how very carefully you scan the songs before they are put upon the stage. I do admit frankly it is an exceedingly unpleasant question to ask you; but I must ask in both your interest and mine, One of your performers I named Dutch Daly - I am not very certain about the name - but he sang a song in which in the course of his singing with a very unpleasant gesture he tell us how a young lady comes up to his counter and says I wish to see your winter night-wear. Do you mean to say you passed that?<br />
<br />
No, madam. That line I never saw in a song. It is possible you may have heard it on the stage; but you may possibly have been mistaken also. It is more than Mr. Dutch Daly dare do.<br />
<br />
[119] He did do it.<br />
<br />
Did he really?<br />
<br />
But I am glad to hear that you would not have passed it.<br />
<br />
Certainly not.<br />
<br />
Then you have said that the skirt of this dancer to whom I have taken particular exception is 62 inches long.<br />
<br />
I believe that is the length.<br />
<br />
I am a better judge of length of skirts than you are?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And you could will that a skirt when it flies up direct from the waist show from the knees above the head cannot possibly be 62 inches long. [-- cannot make sense of this sentence --]<br />
<br />
Well I do not know the exact measurement. It may be 32 inches.<br />
<br />
There is a great difference between 32 and 62. I should say the skirts are not a yard too long.<br />
<br />
The exact length of the skirt of a premiere danseuse has been the same as long as I can remember. In every theatre it is the same length and this is made of tulle, and as you know they wear tights and there are trunks, and it is absolutely the same back in the opera and in every theatre in the world - there is no difference in the skirt of a premiere danseuse at the Empire and anywhere else.<br />
<br />
Now may I ask you another question? I spoke in my opening statement of the [120] night that the "Lost Chord" was being beautifully sung and that picture exhibited of how the last two lines of that lovely song were totally drowned by the rude loud laugh and the unpleasant words of a painted woman in the promenade. I distinctly stated - Mr. Gill will perhaps remember that - that there seemed to be no effort to stop her. Can you account for that?<br />
<br />
Well it is possible that such a thing could on any single occasion take place; but I assure you, as I said, there are people walking up and down to wait for such occurrences as those and if they sing or make any disturbance or do anything of that sort they are quietly told they will not be allowed in the theatre again. They are taken to the theatre door and thy never are allowed to enter again; and there is a list of these people now at at the Empire door. If you can suggest anything else as a means of stopping these people I shall be very glad to hear it.<br />
<br />
You have assured these gentlemen that you saw nothing at all objectionable in any single part of the ballet "The Girl I left behind me" or the ballet called "La Frolique". But I should like to ask you one very delicate question. I admit it is. But we are not here before a Court of Justice in the ordinary sense of the term; we [121] are before gentlemen who are hearing what we have to say at great and kindly and patient length and who are drawing their own conclusions. I should like to ask whether, in saying that you know nothing at all objectionable in this ballet you would wish me to infer that if it were your own wife whose body were exposed as these are, you would not object to it -<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill - I take exception to such a question as that.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: I think it is a fair one.<br />
<br />
I will answer it, if you will allow me, Mr.Gill. In the first place, my wife is not a dancer, and secondly there is absolutely nothing indecent in any dress on the Empire stage. It does show the form it is true, and in every opera in the world there are tights; there are trunks, and there is a gauze, which is in every ballet, absolutely, to cover the trunks. Therefore nothing can possibly be seen but simply the shape of the leg can be seen and that is all. Now if you consider that is indecent then it has been considered by everybody practically in this country as indecent.<br />
<br />
The gauze is not visible from the promenade?<br />
<br />
It is.<br />
<br />
Then I should like to ask you this question, from no wish to be insulting [122] in the slightest degree, but because I simply wish to make it plain that necessarily our standard of decency and yours are apparently very different, and I am not at all ashmed to confess it -<br />
<br />
I do not think so.<br />
<br />
But my standard is an exceedingly different one from yours -<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I think you must confine yourself to questions to your Witness.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Then I think I have only one more question to ask Mr. Edwardes. It is distinctly denied that it would be possible that drink should be supplied to a person who is areadly drunk, Our witnesses say they have seen it.<br />
<br />
Well, madam, of course, I do not wish to say your Witnesses have been mistaken, but if such an event did take place, it is but one event in the entire year. It is practically impossible for such a thing to take place I can assure you, and I may mention also that I heard some of the Witnesses say that the women were taken to the bars to drink.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Now, believe me, madam, that is not so. Women do not go to the bars to drink. They are not allowed to drink at the bars.<br />
<br />
They stand round the bars.<br />
<br />
No they do not.<br />
<br />
I have seen them.<br />
<br />
[123] I assure you, you are mistaken. Such a thing as never taken place. They can go to the tables; they are not allowed to drink at the bar.<br />
<br />
Do you say that in the American Bar the women are not allowed to stand there?<br />
<br />
Not to drink at the bar itself. They are allowed to go to a table and be served by a waiter; but they are not allowed to go to a bar. I gathered just now one of these women was supposed to have accosted a man and to have said "Come to the bar and get me a drink." That is giving the impression that these women if they can induce men to give them drinks. That is a totally false impression: it is absolutely wrong: it is not so. I do not know these people who have given evidence here today are accustomed to go to Theatres of Variety, or to draw proper conclusions at all. I have never heard of such extraordinary statements in my life about the Empire as from these good ladies, who have come here today - it is absolutely totally false in a good many instances.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: Mr. Edwardes, with regard to the continuous applause you referred to - is that from all parts of the theatre?<br />
<br />
Do you mean the continuous applause [124] in regard to the acrobats?<br />
<br />
Yes, when the performance was going on.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Was that from all parts of the theatre?<br />
<br />
Yes, indeed it was. It is from the gallery, pit, stalls, everywhere.<br />
<br />
Just follow me. There is a fringe of people standing in the Grand Circle, for instance.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Three or four deep?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
When your house is full the people behind certainly cannot see so well as those in front of the fringe.<br />
<br />
Perfectly so.<br />
<br />
Does the applause come from the people who can see or from the people who cannot see?<br />
<br />
It is very difficult to tell where the applause comes from. It comes from all over the building.<br />
<br />
Even from those people who cannot see?<br />
<br />
Certainly they can hear the Orchestra very often. They hear lots of things. It is impossible for me to say that the applause comes from the Gallery or where it comes from.<br />
<br />
Now, women are inspected night after night before they are admitted?<br />
<br />
Yes; they pass under the box office; they have got to pass.<br />
<br />
Who is the person who decides whether they can be admitted or not?<br />
<br />
[125] The acting Manager.<br />
<br />
Are you constantly in the House yourself?<br />
<br />
I am there about two or three nights a week.<br />
<br />
Do you recognise faces readily?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Are there not hundreds of women who go to that place that there practically night after night?<br />
<br />
No: there are not hundreds; there are several perhaps who have been there once or twice a week.<br />
<br />
When you say "several" how many do you mean by that?<br />
<br />
I should say possibly three or four faces have been familiar to me that I have noticed before; and I have called the attention of the Inspector of Police to the matter - saying "Have you noticed these women before?" "Yes" "How did they behave themselves?" "Quite properly." What can we do?<br />
<br />
Pardon me, that is not the point. I am suggesting to you that these women are behaving most excellently low [-- transcriber has 'insolently' crossed out replaced by 'excellently', not clear if they caught words properly here--could be 'now' instead of 'low', or even 'but'--] the point is, Do they come to your place to see performances or are they there night after night during the performances?<br />
<br />
Well, I should say they come to see the performances, and the only evidence I have got of that is that when we produce new Ballet we play to £250 a night more, and we get a large part of the money from the very places you are [126] speaking of.<br />
<br />
One of your Ballets ran I think you said for a year.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
During that time are you in a position to state whether or not more than 100 or more than 500 perhaps of the audience has not seen that at least 20 or 30 or 40 times?<br />
<br />
Would you mind repeating your question?<br />
<br />
In the run of a piece as long as you put it, during a year, do you suggest to me that there are not members of that audience, who may have seen or 20,30,40 times?<br />
<br />
I say there are several members of that audience who may have seen it say 15 or 20 times.<br />
<br />
In fact, a very large proportion.<br />
<br />
No, not a large proportion.<br />
<br />
In fact a very large proportion of the female portion of the audience have seen the performance much more than 10 times.<br />
<br />
No, I should say a small proportion of the audience, and not a large one.<br />
<br />
You are not able to give me any figures as to that.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You have had your attention directed as to whether they behaved properly and decently.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
[127] That has been your object?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I do not know whether there could be any objection to my calling attention to the fact - no doubt the learned member of the Committee will correct me if I am wrong - the first witnesses who have been called here are several of them members of the Council of the National Vigilance Association. I see the name of Mr. James F. Torr as one of the Council, and if that is so I think perhaps it would be a desirable thing that Mr. Torr should not take part -<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: Do I understand that these proceedings are brought about by the Council of which Mr. Gill is speaking?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Mrs. Chant is a member of the Council and Mrs. Sheldon Amos is a member of the Council: perhaps it would be desirable that a member of the same Council should not take part in the consideration of the matter.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: If Mr. Gill desires to put it on that ground I do not desire to say any more.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I think it would be perhaps betters Mr. Torr as you are on that Council.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: I was not aware the proceedings are instituted by them.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: No, they are not.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: I do not ask any more. But may I ask Mr. Gill whether he will object [128] to my voting on the question for the same reason.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I have no power to object and I do not put it in the form of an objection. My attention has been drawn to the fact that several of the people who have given evidence and who have given these notices in the same terms are members of the General Council of the National Vigilance Society and that Mr. Torr is also a member.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: That is right.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Having drawn Mr. Torr's attention to that, I do not make it any objection if he thinks it desirable to vote or take any part in this. I accept whatever his conduct may be in the matter.<br />
<br />
<br />
-- Mr. Charles Dundas Slater called and examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: You are acting Manager at the Empire?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I do not propose to take you through this matter. Have you heard the evidence given by Mr. Edwardes with regard to the instructions given to persons employed.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Were those instruction carried out to the best of your ability?<br />
<br />
Yes, to the letter.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mrs. Ormiston Chant<br />
<br />
Do you know the difference when you see it between a very well dressed respectable [129] woman and a woman who is not respectable? How would you know the difference?<br />
<br />
I could not judge by their dress.<br />
<br />
How would you judge when she comes into the theatre?<br />
<br />
As to whether she was respectable or not?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I could hardly judge that.<br />
<br />
How do you refuse her admittance, then?<br />
<br />
She must be known to me, for me to refuse her admission; to be a street walker or a prostitute.<br />
<br />
Who will know that she is a street walker?<br />
<br />
I should myself.<br />
<br />
Do you know all the women that are street walkers?<br />
<br />
Most of them.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- re-examined by Mr. Gill<br />
<br />
With regard to the question you have been asked as to forming an opinion as to whether a woman was a respectable women or the contrary, have you spoken to a woman with regard to her dress?<br />
<br />
Yes, unfortunately. I did on one occasion. She was a lady, gaudily dressed, with an opera cloak on, and her hair down her back. I then told her she would have to put her hair up and cover her body. On that she fetched her husband and I got into a good deal of trouble. He was an American gentleman on his first [130] visit to this country and he felt very sore.<br />
<br />
Did he tell you his wife had been to the Opera and the Lyceum in the same dress?<br />
<br />
He did, and that she had not been objected to.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bull: Are you in the house every evening?<br />
<br />
Every week.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Robert William Ahern called and examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill - You are Superintendent over the persons employed at the Empire I think?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You were formerly an Inspector at Scotland Yard?<br />
<br />
You have heard what Mr. Edwardes has said as to the instructions given with regard to the audience of the Empire?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
Are these instructions carried out strictly?<br />
<br />
They are.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mrs. Ormiston Chant<br />
<br />
May I ask you whether your exclusion of women that you know to be street walkers also includes men whose character you know to be that of bullies?<br />
<br />
I make it a practice to walk about the streets of London in different characters.<br />
<br />
[131] At the Empire do you make a practice of not only refusing admission to women whom you know to be street walkers but to men whom you know to be bullies.<br />
<br />
Yes I do.<br />
<br />
And these men have been sent away from the Empire.<br />
<br />
They have.<br />
<br />
And refused admission.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How have you refused them?<br />
<br />
If I have found them in the house they would go out at once.<br />
<br />
And you do the same with the women?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Can you account then for the number of made up painted women in the promenade?<br />
<br />
I cannot account for it.<br />
<br />
Cannot you account for it by their being street walkers?<br />
<br />
They are not known to me as such.<br />
<br />
Are you prepared to say as the last Witness did that you know all the street-walkers in London?<br />
<br />
The bigger portion of them.<br />
<br />
And you do not see them in the Empire Promenade?<br />
<br />
I have a few.<br />
<br />
Would you be surprised to hear that at least four told me how they came off the streets on to the promenade of the Empire?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I object. They may have enjoyed themselves [132] at this lady's tea party.<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: That is not a proper question.<br />
<br />
Mr. Leon: Mrs. Chant mentioned a certain class of men, and you said you would not allow them to come in.<br />
<br />
Certainly.<br />
<br />
Tell me how many have been sent out of the house?<br />
<br />
Within the last month I have sent out about four men.<br />
<br />
For what reason?<br />
<br />
I have known them to be men who live on women. I could not allow them in the house.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Hitchins called and examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: you have considerable experience in the management of places of public entertainment. You are Manager in front of the Empire.<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And we are told that a very large number of persons are employed in front.<br />
<br />
Yes, between 600 and 700 altogether. In front of the house over 80.<br />
<br />
With regard to the persons coming into the house there is no re-admission to the house at all?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
And with regard to the orders given to you by Mr. Edwardes or by the Directors are they carried out strictly to the letter?<br />
<br />
Strictly.<br />
<br />
[133] You are always there?<br />
<br />
Always there.<br />
<br />
Those orders, I think, apply to objectionable characters of either sex.<br />
<br />
Of either sex.<br />
<br />
Mr. Beachcroft: They are only very high class women who are admitted into the promenade?<br />
<br />
Well dressed people - different parts of the house different classes of people. Pits and so on, gallery and so on, different classes of people.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mrs. Ormiston Chant<br />
<br />
Are you prepared to say that these women who are admitted to the promenade are women of respectable character?<br />
<br />
To the best of my knowledge.<br />
<br />
You are prepared to say that those of them who come in and use very unpleasant language are respectable women?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: He does not say they do.<br />
<br />
The Witness: If they did such a thing as that they would be immediately ejected from the house and not readmitted.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: Do you say they are always ejected? How was it that the woman was not ejected?<br />
<br />
Any persons misconducting themselves are immediately put out of doors and not re-admitted.<br />
<br />
Why was not the woman ejected that night she prevented us from [133] hearing the last words of the song in The Lost Chord?<br />
<br />
My attention was not called to that thing occurring, madam. It did not come to my knowledge.<br />
<br />
Are you there every night?<br />
<br />
I cannot be in every part of the house at the same time. I am always in the house - going from top to bottom.<br />
<br />
Can you account for that gentleman who was very drunk being served with drink?<br />
<br />
I cannot indeed; and I say such a thing could not have occurred. If a man had been drunk it could not have occurred.<br />
<br />
We saw him drinking from his glass and dropping the drink because he was too drunk to hold the glass steady.<br />
<br />
I am sorry to doubt your statement.<br />
<br />
There are two witnesses to that, you know. Do you grant passes out?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Therefore, when a witness stated that he got a pass to go out from one of your attendants, how do you account for that?<br />
<br />
We give a pass to go from one floor to another.<br />
<br />
But not to pass out of the building?<br />
<br />
Not out of the building.<br />
<br />
Did you hear him state that he passed out two or three times?<br />
<br />
I did not.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: It was upon that I asked the [135] question as to whether there was a re-admission at all. there is no such thing as a pass out allowed.<br />
<br />
Mr. Collin: There is a question of fact. May I state-<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I cannot hear you.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: I do not call any other witnesses. I suppose the Police of the district are here. I do not call them at Witnesses.<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: You do not call them?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: They are here and prepared to give information. Where is the Inspector of the District?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Will you call the Police then?<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Yes, I will call the Inspector of the District.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- Mr. Harry Tildensley, Inspector C Division called and examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: Have you been frequently at the Empire?<br />
<br />
Frequently.<br />
<br />
Of course the Police can go in there at any hour - at any time?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Free access to the whole of the building?<br />
<br />
That is so.<br />
<br />
It has been said here that persons under the influence of drink have been served there and seen to be served. Have you ever seen anything of the kind?<br />
<br />
Never.<br />
<br />
Not upon any occasion?<br />
<br />
Not upon any occasion.<br />
<br />
[136] With regard to the conduct of the audience - are they all a well-conducted audience.<br />
<br />
Well conducted.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- cross-examined by Mrs. Ormiston Chant<br />
<br />
Do you remember my face?<br />
<br />
I do not, madam.<br />
<br />
You have not seen me at the Empire?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You did not see me that night that gentleman spilled his drink and I called upon somebody - I will not swear it was you - but it was an official - to witness he was drunk.<br />
<br />
It was not me.<br />
<br />
You are certain?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I could not swear it was.<br />
<br />
I am not there every night. I make periodical visits. I am not there every night.<br />
<br />
Are you prepared to say that all these women in the promenade painted and dressed are of a respectable character?<br />
<br />
I would not like to say that, no.<br />
<br />
You know many of them are not that?<br />
<br />
Reputed prostitutes - I cannot say they are prostitutes.<br />
<br />
But they are reputed prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Some of them are - not all of them are - some of them are.<br />
<br />
Are you aware that men of bad character are there?<br />
<br />
No doubt about that sometimes - but I do not interfere with them as long as they [137] conduct themselves with propriety. The same applies to the women.<br />
<br />
And would you interfere is they behaved badly?<br />
<br />
Yes; I should call the attention of the management.<br />
<br />
Can you tell me why no one interfered the night I am speaking of?<br />
<br />
I should say they did not see it?<br />
<br />
They did not hear?<br />
<br />
They did not hear and did not see it.<br />
<br />
Is it possible for you to be at one end of the promenade and not know what goes on at the other end?<br />
<br />
Quite possible.<br />
<br />
A former witness said no orders were given for the going out of the theatre and coming back again. But permission is given by an attendant to go outside and come back again..<br />
<br />
That is not within my knowledge.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gill: With regard to anything approaching disorderly conduct; is your experience of the place that a person would be immediately told to leave?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is there anything like any ground for suggesting that people are allowed to stay there under the influence of drink?<br />
<br />
No, I am positive.<br />
<br />
Mr. MacDougall: What are the women doing in the promenade. Are they attending to the performance - watching the performanes on the stage?<br />
<br />
[138] Some of them are. Some are promenading, talking together. I may say I have never seen any one single case of solicitation.<br />
<br />
You are there in uniform?<br />
<br />
In a uniform. I do not suppose they would do that to let me see them. I am there in uniform, so that they can see me and I can see them.<br />
<br />
Mr. Yates: In the course of these occasional visits have you ever known a case of a woman being admitted free of charge?<br />
<br />
No, sir.<br />
<br />
Mr. Doubleday: How often are you there a week?<br />
<br />
Sometimes twice a week; but the hall is visited every night.<br />
<br />
And you yourself twice a week.<br />
<br />
Twice a week.<br />
<br />
Do you go into the lounge occasionally?<br />
<br />
Yes, I go through the whole of the place.<br />
<br />
As you are there twice a week - nearly 100 times in the year - are you familiar at all with the faces of the women you have seen there?<br />
<br />
Yes, some of them.<br />
<br />
You have seen some of them frequently?<br />
<br />
Some of them.<br />
<br />
Almost every night.<br />
<br />
I would not say that.<br />
<br />
When you say "some of them" do you mean a large number that you know and have seen there repeatedly.<br />
<br />
I have, some of them.<br />
<br />
You do not like to say a large [139] number; but more than 20?<br />
<br />
I would not go so far as that; a few of them.<br />
<br />
Mr. McDougall: Unless you saw solicitation you would not take any notice at all.<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Although they were upon licensed premises?<br />
<br />
They are witnessing a performance. It is not like a public house. You cannot deal with people there as you can in a public house. You could not deal with these people for permitting them to remain longer than necessary. They are there from the time that the performance commences and may remain there till it ends.<br />
<br />
You do not look upon it as a public house.<br />
No.<br />
<br />
They are only allowed to remain in a public house so long as to take refreshment?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Have any people been ejected from the Empire and charged?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
For disorder within the Empire?<br />
<br />
Sometimes within and sometimes outside when people in a drunken condition have been refused admittance.<br />
<br />
Have women been mixed up in such disorders?<br />
<br />
No, I have never known a woman [140] brought in from that.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bull: What do you say about it being visited every night by the police?<br />
<br />
By an Inspector and a Sergeant.<br />
<br />
An Inspector and a Sergeant visit the place every night?<br />
<br />
Yes, and the result of their visits are repeated to the Superintendent.<br />
<br />
And entered into the book?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Do they go at different times or at a special time?<br />
<br />
At different times.<br />
<br />
During every night?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Torr: Before the Committee retire may I make a statement. I do not profess after what has fallen from the learned Counsel in this case to vote upon this matter at all. I should have thought that Mr. Gill would have seen that my only object was to ascertain whether the performance was not a colourable excuse for the presence of the women. I shall not vote.<br />
<br />
Mr. Leon: Has any of the Vigilance Society money been used for the purpose?<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ormiston Chant: No.<br />
<br />
<br />
--- the Committee retired<br />
<br />
The Chairman: The decision of the Committee with regard to the case of the Empire is, that they will recommend the renewal of the licence on the condition [141] that the promenades be abolished and the space now occupied by them disposed of to the satisfaction of the Council and that no intoxicating drinks be sold in the auditorium.<br />
Mr. Torr wishes me to state with regard to the question that has been raised, that, as membership of the National Vigilance Association may be supposed in any degree to affect his impartiality or efficiency as a County Councillor, he has decided to at once tender his resignation of that Association.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-14502562143672218802016-03-16T01:37:00.000-07:002016-03-19T09:24:36.221-07:00The Empire Theatre of Varieties<i>The Empire Theatre of Varieties (a high-class West End music hall) is famous in Victorianist circles for the attempt by self-described 'social puritans' to close it down in 1894, principally on the grounds of prostitution in the dress circle promenade (the most expensive part of the house). The 1894 licensing session at the London County Council's Theatres and Music Halls Committee was prefigured by this similar, briefer effort by the notorious anti-music hall home missionary Frederick Charrington, in the 1890 sessions. (LMA ref. LCC/MIN/10803)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>[see also <a href="http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/mrs-ormiston-chant-and-music-hall.html">http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/mrs-ormiston-chant-and-music-hall.html</a> ]</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>[see also <a href="http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-reeds-and-empire.html">http://catsmeatshop.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/the-reeds-and-empire.html</a> ]</i><br />
<br />
<br />
Hearing at the Session House, Clerkenwell, October 7th [? illeg.] 1890<br />
<br />
Mr. Forrest Fulton: In this case I am instructed to ask the Committee to recommend the Council to renew the Licence. We have had no notice of any opposition.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I oppose this licence.<br />
<br />
Mr. Frye: Have you had any notice of opposition?<br />
<br />
Mr Forrest Fulton: No none whatever.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Would you prefer to go on at once?<br />
<br />
Mr. Forrest Fulton: I have conferred with Mr. Edwardes, who appears on behalf of the Directors, and he prefers that the matter should be gone into immediately.<br />
<br />
Major Probyn: I think it is exceedingly unfair to applicants not to have notice opposition. I think for the opposition to come up in this way is not at all in conformity with English ideas of fair play.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: The Committee were not aware that any opposition was intended until this moment.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: Your rules require notice of opposition, and whether it comes from your own body or from the general public it is only fair to applicants that they should have [20] notice of it.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Our rules do not provide for that.<br />
<br />
Mr. Foster: Would not the justice of the case be met by giving the applicant an opportunity of adjournment?<br />
<br />
Col. Rotton: Would it not be for the advantage of the cases generally that it should be distinctly understood that the Claimant should not be in any worse position in consequence of it coming on now than he would have been if the case had been adjourned.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: The difficulty would at once occur to every member of your body that we have no knowledge whatever of the nature of the complaint that it made. The notice of complaint should contain the reasons - as for instance "harbouring prostituets"; "indecent dance"; "indecent songs;" and matters of that kind, and days and dates so that we might know what is the complaint: otherwise, of course, we have no means whatever of meeting it.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: It is quite as inconvenient to the Committee as it is to the applicant.<br />
<br />
Mr. Westacott: May I suggest that if any notice had been given by any one beforehand outside the Council they would have had to give the grounds of their objection: if Mr. Charrington is now objecting he should state the grounds of his objection and if afterwards the Counsel wish for time it would be only fair to give them time to get in the evidence.<br />
<br />
[21] The Chairman: Mr. Charrington proposes to make a statement.<br />
<br />
Mr. Beachcroft: I would ask, whether the course now being adopted by this Council is not precisely the same as that adopted by the Bench of Magistrates.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: No, the practice of the Middlesex Magistrates was that the unopposed cases were taken on a different day from the opposed. The moment Notice of Opposition was given the case was put in the opposed list: it was taken that day week, and, in that way the difficulty was met.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: I should like to say that the Magistrates always felt they could raise any opposition on the Bench without giving any notice.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: I quite agree with that.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: We are prepared to do that today in any case where there is opposition at the last moment by a member of the Council.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: We have now a different tribunal and I was always of opinion - it was the general opinion of the profession - that the practice of the old Middlesex Magistrates was in that respect an exceedingly unfair one, and now we have a new tribunal we hope it may be altered, and that we shall have the same notice from a member of the body as we do from an objecting member of the public. That is the view I take of it.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: What is your objection, Mr. Charrington?<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: In the first place I think it is perfectly reasonable what Counsel urge on [22] the other side, and for my own part, I should be prepared to adjourn this case to tomorrow or a later day - a fortnight if he likes - to give him the opportunity that he desires. I entirely agree on that point - I do not wish to press this matter to-day. I willingly give notice today.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: It will be better that you should state the grounds of your objection.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: The reason I am opposing this particular house - the Empire - is that from the evidence I have it is not only the resort of prostitutes - it is not only that prostitutes go there but that the prostitution is of the most dangerous character possible to those that go to this house. The licence I opposed recently affected the poor at the East End of London, and now I oppose this licence on the ground that it is particularly dangerous to young men of the better class. I am given to understand, on good authority, that there may be seen young fellows up from Oxford and Cambridge, and there they see prostitution and vice in its most attractive form. The evidence I think will prove to your satisfaction that not only is this prostitution going on and prostitutes there frequently and night after night I believe - but that the whole matter is arranged quite different to any other Music Hall - that prostitutes in this Empire Music Hall and Theatre are dressed very often in evening dress and instead of occupying the cheaper seats they are found in the best part of the house so that as I say you may find young fellows up from [23] Oxford and Cambridge just entering life and there they are inveigled into this scene of vice and prostitution. I think it is most injurious and on these grounds I beg to oppose the licensing of this Music Hall today. If the Committee do not see their way to actually taking away the licence I trust it may be the means at any rate of drawing attention to it, and perhaps deterring many from being inveigled into this place who otherwise might be if they did not know the character of the house. I consider it does a great deal of good if we only draw attention to the character of some of these houses.<br />
<br />
Mr. Foster: Would Mr. Charrington indicate the nature of the evidence he proposes to call?<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: He is stating the case generally.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I will if a member of the Committee wishes it. I shall be happy to say my informant went to the Empire Theatre on one or more evenings.<br />
<br />
Mr. Foster: Is he here?<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Yes. He thought the ballet was very indecent indeed.<br />
<br />
Mr. Bassett Hopkins: I am very sorry to interrupt my honourable colleague, but I venture to submit to you, sir, that there is nothing in our regulations of procedure which justifies a member of the Committee in opening his case.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I entirely agree at once.<br />
<br />
Mr. Hopkins: I suggest that Mr. Charrington should now call his evidence.<br />
<br />
Mr [blank] He was asked to state his ground of opposition.<br />
<br />
Mr. Hopkins: Yes, but he now purposes, as far as I [24] gather to state what he expects his witnesses will hereafter state. That will necessarily be occupying time.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: He was rather asked to do it.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: Having heard Mr. Charrington's statement as to the grounds of his objection would you prefer now that we should go on?<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: Certainly the management are perfectly satisfied that nothing can be proved against it.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: My further objection and reason for opposing a licence to this Music Hall is that not only is it a source of temptation to young men of the better class but it is a most frightful source of temptation to young women of the poorest class to be tempted to live such a life of luxury instead of having the drawbacks and the hindrances that there are in a life of prostitution in the ordinary way. On those two grounds especially I oppose the licence of this particular house. Then a members of the Committee asks me to give some idea of the evidence that is to be submitted on this occasion, and I quite agree with my legal friend that it is rather out of place, but still if the Chairman rules it is right for my friend to ask the question, I am very pleased to have an opportunity of answering the question.<br />
<br />
Mr. Westacott: May I ask if there are any grounds of objection other than the harbouring of prostitutes?<br />
<br />
[25] The Chairman: Mr. Charrington has stated some grounds and, unless he states any more, we must assume they are all.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I have been asked to speak as to the character of the evidence being present in this particular way, my informant will, I think, prove that the dresses are very indecent indeed - especially in the ballet called "The dream of Wealth".<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Of the performers you mean in this case.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: The dress of the ballet girls in the piece entitled "The dream of Wealth." And then I believe he will be able to prove that not only were there prostitutes present but present in considerable numbers, In fact, I may mention that a member of this Committee - Mr. Macfarlane - on a previous occasion - and this is one of reasons for coming today -<br />
<br />
The Chairman: That really will not be evidence unless you propose to call Mr. Macfarlane.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington : I am not proposing to bring it as evidence but I have been asked the reasons for my opposing the licence for this particular house.<br />
<br />
Col. Rotton: I do not think you were asked to state your reason.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I was asked to state my grounds of objection; and I think certainly I am entitled to give my reasons also for opposing this particular licence. However, all I was going to say was this, Mr. Chairman - that I have been upbraided for opposing the licences to poor places [26] and I have been asked by members of this Committee - especially Mr. Macfarlane - why I do not oppose a place like the Empire Theatre where you may see 70 or 80 prostitutes any night; and other people said the same thing to me. That is one reason for my especially opposing this licence today, at any rate I shall not be accused in any way of partiality in the matter, for if I attack the poor places I attack the rich ones also. However, I do not know that I have anything further to say in regard to this particular house. Mr. Barclay is the name of my informant: he will come forward; but if he is not present I will ask that this case may be adjourned till tomorrow.<br />
<br />
-- Mr William Barclay called and examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Besley: This is our friend the Grocer.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I think you paid a visit to the Empire Theatre and Music Hall on Friday August 3rd: did you pay one visit.<br />
<br />
Yes, about that time - I could not tell you the date exactly - about that time.<br />
<br />
Col. Rotton - You do not know the date?<br />
<br />
No, I do not.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: It was about the first of August?<br />
<br />
About that time, yes.<br />
<br />
And on that occasion I should like to ask you what you thought of the dresses of the performers. Whether you thought it decent [27] or indecent?<br />
<br />
Mr. Hopkins. Not what he thought.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You really should not put leading questions, Mr. Charrington. You should ask him what he saw which in his opinion was objectionable.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: What did you see that you was objectionable?<br />
<br />
I thought the dresses exposing the shapes of the performers very much - and the remark I heard from people sitting before me alluded to the same thing.<br />
<br />
Did you think it was indecent or not?<br />
<br />
I did think it was indecent.<br />
<br />
Very indecent?<br />
<br />
Very indecent.<br />
<br />
And that was in a ballet entitled what? Do you remember the name of the ballet.<br />
<br />
The Dream of Wealth.<br />
<br />
And did you see any people that were disgusted besides yourself?<br />
<br />
Yes. One lady sitting before me with her daughter. She stopped during some portion of the performance and then at least she said "I am so thoroughly disgusted I will not stay."<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: Is it possible you can admit statements by this witness of something that somebody said she is not here and who is not called, and whom I shall have no means of cross-examining, because that is such a defiance of the first principles of evidence as administered in this country for centuries.<br />
<br />
[28] Mr. Charrington: Did it evidently produce disgust in the minds of others of the audience besides yourself?<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: I object.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Did they evidently show by their behaviour that they were disgusted?<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: I object.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Did they get up and go out disgusted with the whole thing. Did you hear them say so?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Objection is taken to the question, and we must be governed, as nearly as we can by the practice of Courts of Law and we must hear the objection that Mr. Fulton has to make.<br />
<br />
Mr. Forrest Fulton: I object upon every point of view. The impression upon this witness' own mind he can give us, but the impression upon the minds of other people it is impossible he can give - for the best of all reasons - he is not able to peer into their minds; and the mere fact that a person went out would not be evidence that he went out because of what he saw. The question was in a leading form, but I pass by that, for it is objectionable on much wider grounds than that it is in a leading form.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Did you have any sort of real evidence - that they actually said they were disgusted?<br />
<br />
I only heard "No - no".<br />
<br />
The Chairman (to Mr. Charrington): You must confine yourself to what the witness saw which [29] in his opinion was of an objectionable character.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Tell us what you saw as to the indecency of the dresses and so on - the impression produced in you.<br />
<br />
The impression was that the dress was indecent.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: You have told us that, because it exposed the shapes of the performers.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Perhaps you will say how I might ask the question.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: The witness has twice or three times I may say stated that in his opinion the dresses were objectionable - he has not said why they were objectionable or anything beyond that.<br />
<br />
Col. Rotton: He says they exposed the form.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: His evidence, as I have taken it down, was this "The dresses were objectionable as exposing the shapes of the performers."<br />
<br />
The Witness: And the necks of the dresses were so law that you could simply see their dresses.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Do I understand you to say that the upper part of the dress was indecent and also the lower part of the dress was indecent too?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
In exposing the person?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
I take it that clearly you consider it indecent in both ways?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
That it exposed the person above and exposed the person of the performer below?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Frye [?]: Did you ever go to the Theatre?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Now as to the presence of prostitutes in the place: can you tell us whether you found it was the resort of prostitutes?<br />
<br />
In the dress circle there were a great number of prostitutes - respectably dressed prostitutes walking about in twos promenading round from one end to the other - some were sitting down.<br />
<br />
Were they particularly well dressed compared to other places?<br />
<br />
Very well dressed indeed.<br />
<br />
And I understan you to say you found them in the better parts of the Theatre?<br />
<br />
In the upper part of the building - the better part.<br />
<br />
Can you give us an idea as to how many were present at the one particular part where you were?<br />
<br />
They were principally in the dress circle - I should say there were from twenty to thirty.<br />
<br />
Twenty to thirty in one part alone?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
In the dress circle. And did you find any in other parts of the house?<br />
<br />
No. As I came down back again to the bottom of the building one went down before me - looked round - and went down the stairs - looked round and then went up again. She came down to find some one and went [31] back again.<br />
<br />
You saw some of these prostitutes pace from one part of the house to another - apparently looking after customers - and then going back again?<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: The witness has never said so.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: No: the witness did not say that.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I did not quite catch you.<br />
<br />
One lady came down stairs from the upper part to the basement. She looked round and went back again.<br />
<br />
And were you there a tolerably long time?<br />
<br />
I was there about three hours.<br />
<br />
Did you see them drinking with gentlemen?<br />
<br />
No, I did not.<br />
<br />
Is there any other instance you wish to tell us of?<br />
<br />
No more than on leaving I stayed outside and saw a great many of them go away in hansom cabs.<br />
<br />
With gentlemen?<br />
<br />
Some with gentlemen. One went out with a decanter of brandy on her arm and a gentlemen with her. They went away in a hansom together.<br />
<br />
You saw one prostitute go away with a decanter of brandy?<br />
<br />
Col. Rotton. He did not say so.<br />
<br />
Was she a prostitute?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: You believe it was a prostitute?<br />
<br />
Major Probyn: What do you draw your inference from that the lady was a prostitute?<br />
<br />
[32] From their parading around by themselves.<br />
<br />
To the best of your knowledge you think that this woman was certainly a prostitute who went off in a cab?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You do not think it was a very lady-like thing to go off with a bottle of brandy under her arm?<br />
<br />
It was not wrapped up in paper. It was simply lying on the arm. Ladies as a rule get them wrapped up.<br />
<br />
-- Cross-examined by Mr. Fulton<br />
<br />
How many times did you visit this place?<br />
<br />
Only once - one occasion.<br />
<br />
Have you ever been to the theatre?<br />
<br />
Many times.<br />
<br />
Have you seen a ballet at the theatre or at the opera?<br />
<br />
No I have not.<br />
<br />
Never have?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Have you ever seen ladies in evening dress?<br />
<br />
Oh yes, very frequently.<br />
<br />
At other place than the Empire?<br />
<br />
Yes, at theatres.<br />
<br />
Will you be good enough to tell us in what respect did the dresses of the people there differ from ordinary evening-dress worn by people in this country as a matter of habit?<br />
<br />
Nothing very different that I can tell you.<br />
<br />
[33] Now then about exposing the shapres of the performers - do you suppose any ballet could be performed without the person wearing tights underneath the dresses?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You know it is the universal practice in every city of the world for dancers to wear tights underneath short dresses?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Was that done here?<br />
<br />
They did not have short dresses?<br />
<br />
Did they have long ones?<br />
<br />
No - open down the side.<br />
<br />
Open down the side - this is a new description to me.<br />
<br />
They were drawn up at the side.<br />
<br />
Were they dancing as men do you mean?<br />
<br />
They were dancing in this ballet.<br />
<br />
They had open trousers fastened at the knee - is that what you mean?<br />
<br />
No, I do not.<br />
<br />
What do you mean? What were these dresses which you say exposed the forms of the performers?<br />
<br />
Some of them changed so often it was impossible to bear in one's mind how they were dressed - they kept coming on in groups.<br />
<br />
It was a ballet where sometimes they appeared in one character and something in another?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You were very much shocked?<br />
<br />
Not over shocked I was not - but I did not think it decent.<br />
<br />
[34] If you did not think it was decent I suppose you were shocked?<br />
<br />
No, I am not so easily shocked.<br />
<br />
You were not shocked?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Yet you thought it was indecent?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Was there any note taken by you of what you saw?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How came you to go there? You went there about the first of August. In July you were appointed an Inspector under the Council - it was the 16th July you were appointed I think?<br />
<br />
I could not say the date.<br />
<br />
Do you really mean to tell me on your oath that you do not know perfectly well?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: He is not on his oath.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: You ought to have the power to administer an oath.<br />
<br />
Mr. Hopkins: We can take the evidence on Statutory Declaration.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: Do you really mean to tell me that you do not know that on the 16th July or thereabouts you were appointed an Inspector under this body, the County Council.<br />
<br />
I do not: as far as a my memory serves me I had a note to that I should be required to attend, but I do not believe I had my instructions and rules at that time from the County Council. I am not clear.<br />
<br />
From whom did you receive your instructions to go there on the 1st of August?<br />
<br />
[35] From Mr. Charrington.<br />
<br />
Did you submit a report to him of what you have seen?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Where is it?<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington has it, I believe.<br />
<br />
Was that the result of notes you made at the time?<br />
<br />
Notes I made next morning when I got home - not at the time.<br />
<br />
When was it you submitted this Report? You went home on the first of August. This is the first of October. When was it you submitted the Report?<br />
<br />
To Mr. Charrington?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Some few days ago.<br />
<br />
Only a few days ago?<br />
<br />
That is is all.<br />
<br />
Will you tell us seeing these things which shocked you and were so indecent on the first of August, why it was that you did not make a Report until a few days ago?<br />
<br />
I had several places to visit for Mr. Charrington; and I was to send all my reports in together. Mr. Charrington has been away from home and I sent them to him when he came back again.<br />
<br />
That is the reason you only sent them a few days ago?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You say you saw several prostitutes in the dress circle?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Had you ever seen any of the persons whom you [36] describe as prostitutes before?<br />
<br />
No: it was my first visit there.<br />
<br />
Will you be good enough to tell me how you know they were prostitutes?<br />
<br />
By their manner of walking round.<br />
<br />
Tell me how they walked round different from other people?<br />
<br />
In twos walking about.<br />
<br />
Do I understand you to ask this Committee to say that because they walked round in twos - therefore you came to the conclusion that they were prostitutes?<br />
<br />
By the manner of their going about - the manner of passing by people and looking with their eyes and the suggestion -<br />
<br />
Did they look at you?<br />
<br />
They might have done.<br />
<br />
Did they look at you?<br />
<br />
I do not know that they did.<br />
<br />
Did they look at you?<br />
<br />
Not in the manner I suggest - they did not.<br />
<br />
But you suggest they looked at other people?<br />
<br />
I was hardly swell enough for them I expect.<br />
<br />
Do not say that. I do not disparage your appearance at all. They did not as a matter of fact look at you, but at other people. Did anything come of the looking?<br />
<br />
No, I did not see any engagements made.<br />
<br />
How long were these ladies in the dress circle?<br />
<br />
An hour.<br />
<br />
An hour walking about in twos and looking [37] at people and nobody took any notice of them?<br />
<br />
I think - I am not on my oath - I might say there was one walked away - sat down by the side of a gentleman and got into conversation with him.<br />
<br />
There were 20 or 30 according to your evidence?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
But only one of them sat down by a gentleman?<br />
<br />
That I noticed.<br />
<br />
And whether she knew the gentleman before or not you do not know?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
That is the only instance you can give of any one of them speaking to any gentleman there?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Did you see any of these undergraduates and persons who were being corrupted by what they saw?<br />
<br />
I could not discern them.<br />
<br />
They did not seem to take much notice of these ladies?<br />
<br />
I should not know an undergraduate from anybody else.<br />
<br />
You say these ladies were very attractive?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
And yet you were there for an hour and only saw one go and sit down by a gentleman?<br />
<br />
Only one I noticed.<br />
<br />
You were there for the purpose of noticing: that [38] is what you went there for?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You kept your eyes open and walked about?<br />
<br />
I sat down occasionally.<br />
<br />
Can you tell us anything else which caused you to come to this conclusion. Were there any walking alone?<br />
<br />
Not many -several.<br />
<br />
What did they do - anything?<br />
<br />
Walked round about - looking out I suppose to see -<br />
<br />
Do not tell us what you suppose. Tell us what you saw. They had as much right to walk about as you?<br />
<br />
Most decidedly.<br />
<br />
Tell us what they did besides walk about.<br />
<br />
I cannot say.<br />
<br />
Did they do anything?<br />
<br />
I saw them do nothing.<br />
<br />
As to this one unfortunate lady you say she was going downstairs and she looked round and turned back?<br />
<br />
She wet downstairs and sat downstairs perhaps a minute.<br />
<br />
And looked round and came back?<br />
<br />
Came back again.<br />
<br />
Did she see you when she looked round?<br />
<br />
I could not say.<br />
<br />
You could not say whether that is the reason she turned round - because she saw you?<br />
<br />
I could not.<br />
<br />
Nobody stoke to her; she went downstairs and came back again?<br />
<br />
[39] Yes.<br />
<br />
Is that the reason you can say she is a prostitute?<br />
<br />
I go by her manner when she was walking about upstairs.<br />
<br />
You have told us that she went downstairs - she remained there about a minute - she turned back again and went upstairs: now I want to know whether that is the reason why you ask the Committee to say that she was a prostitute.<br />
<br />
I do not ask the Committee to say so. I say I have reason to say she was a prostitute.<br />
<br />
She never solicited you?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did any of them solicit as far as you know?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
There is only one other matter to which you have deposed and that is the decanter of brandy.<br />
<br />
I corrected myself and it was spirit.<br />
<br />
It might have been sherry, might it not?<br />
<br />
It might have been sherry.<br />
<br />
Or toast [?] and water?<br />
<br />
Why do you come here - you are not upon your oath as I am reminded - and tell us that this decanter contained brandy when you do not know in the least what it contained?<br />
<br />
I corrected myself and said it might not have been brandy.<br />
<br />
In the report you gave Mr. Charrington did you put down that the decanter contained brandy?<br />
<br />
[40] I could not be certain.<br />
<br />
Do you think you did?<br />
<br />
I do not think so.<br />
<br />
How was it carried?<br />
<br />
Simply carried on the arm.<br />
<br />
Uncovered?<br />
<br />
Uncovered.<br />
<br />
Do you know where she got it from?<br />
<br />
Came from there with it.<br />
<br />
Was it glass?<br />
<br />
A square glass cut decanter.<br />
<br />
Where did you first see this lady?<br />
<br />
Coming down the steps from the dress circle.<br />
<br />
Carrying a bottle?<br />
<br />
Carrying a bottle.<br />
<br />
Did she walk out with the bottle?<br />
<br />
She walked out with the bottle and she got into a hansom cab with a gentleman.<br />
<br />
Did you see her come in?<br />
<br />
No, I saw her go out.<br />
<br />
Did you see her in the place except going downstairs with the decanter?<br />
<br />
I saw her in the evening with the others.<br />
<br />
Had she the decanter then?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you see her go out?<br />
<br />
I saw her go out.<br />
<br />
With a gentleman?<br />
<br />
With a gentleman.<br />
<br />
She got into a cab and drove away?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
How do you know she was a prostitute?<br />
<br />
[41] By her manner.<br />
<br />
Because she carried the bottle?<br />
<br />
No, by seeing her walking about in the evening up there.<br />
<br />
You have told us that.<br />
<br />
I cannot tell you any more.<br />
<br />
You did not see her soliciting anybody.<br />
<br />
No I did not.<br />
<br />
But you have told us that you saw her carrying a bottle which you say contained some spirits?<br />
<br />
I saw her with this bottle on her arm.<br />
<br />
You do not suggest she was not sober?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
Did you see any persons that were not sober?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
All perfectly sober and perfectly orderly.<br />
<br />
A Member: We are all satisfied we do not wish for any more evidence.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I wish to call the responsible manager.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: I do not know whether there is any report by the official employed by your body in regard to the conduct at this house?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: We have no complaint whatever against the Empire.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: On the part of your official.<br />
<br />
Mr. Chairman: Certainly not. If we had we should have opposed the licence.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: I only wanted to know that as a matter of fact.<br />
<br />
-- Mr. George Edwardes called & examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Are you the responsible manager?<br />
<br />
I am the Managing Director.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: Mr. Edwardes has been authorised by a decision of the Board to appear and apply here in the name of the Directors.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I should like to ask you whether you do admit prostitutes or not to the Empire.<br />
<br />
Not knowingly - certainly not.<br />
<br />
Not knowingly?<br />
<br />
We refuse prostitutes every night - ten or twelve.<br />
<br />
And you do not allow them to remain in the place even if they are orderly and quiet and behave themselves?<br />
<br />
If we know a woman to be a prostitute and a notorious character she is not admitted. There is an Inspector of Police at the entrance to refuse admission.<br />
<br />
You deliberately undertake to say, on behalf of the Directors of the Empire, that you do not admit prostitutes into the Empire?<br />
<br />
I do. We do not admit them knowing them to be prostitutes.<br />
<br />
If there is a gentleman, and even a member of the Committee who says he saw 50 or 60 at one time he must be making a mistake?<br />
<br />
I should ask him to come with me and point them out.<br />
<br />
You would say it could not be true?<br />
<br />
Could not be true.<br />
<br />
You never admit prostitutes into the Empire?<br />
<br />
[43] Not knowingly.<br />
<br />
You do not admit any women into the Empire that you know are prostitutes?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
You deliberately say that?<br />
<br />
I do.<br />
<br />
And brothel keepers?<br />
<br />
Certainly.<br />
<br />
You never admit the brothel keepers?<br />
<br />
No. I may say we keep a large staff of police and detectives to stop this particular business.<br />
<br />
We know all about that.<br />
<br />
I do not know what more we can do - if you will suggest.<br />
<br />
You deliberately say in this place, the Empire you admit no prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Not knowing them to be such,<br />
<br />
Nor keepers of the houses?<br />
<br />
No.<br />
<br />
No bullies connected with them?<br />
<br />
Certainly not.<br />
<br />
Rough appearance or genteel appearance.<br />
<br />
Of course, if we do not know them we cannot help admitting them.<br />
<br />
To your knowledge they have never been admitted?<br />
<br />
Certainly not.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I do not think I need ask any more.<br />
<br />
Mr. Foster: Does Mr. Charrington propose to call any other witnesses?<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: Yes, I shall ask the Inspector of Police to come as usual and swear [44] probably - well -<br />
<br />
Mr. Corbett: I protest against that insinuation against the Police.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: If we have the same experience that we had last year.<br />
<br />
-- Edward Birch (Inspector C Division) called & examined<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: What is your evidence as to this house?<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Have the Police made any complaint against the Empire?<br />
<br />
None. It is visited two or three times a week by the Police, and by me, during the year; and our Report to the Commissioner of Police is that it is well conducted. That is my evidence here today.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: My particular question to you is this - Are there or are there no prostitutes in that place - are they present in the Empire?<br />
<br />
Not known to me as a prostitute. There are plenty of women, but I could not say they were prostitutes.<br />
<br />
You deliberately say there are no prostitutes to your knowledge in the Empire?<br />
<br />
Not harboured there. It is my opinion that women - reputed prostitutes - do go into the Empire; but to say that they are prostitutes I could not.<br />
<br />
Reputed prostitutes do go into the Empire?<br />
<br />
Do go into the Empire.<br />
<br />
[45] Mr. McDougall: In any numbers - considerable numbers?<br />
<br />
Well, I should say some - many sometimes. Sometimes I can see people of what I call questionable character perhaps ten or twenty; but I could not say they were prostitutes.<br />
<br />
Mr. Frye: Because you do not know them?<br />
<br />
Mr. Foster: Your opinion of them is that they are prostitutes?<br />
<br />
Reputed prostitutes I should say they are.<br />
<br />
We are asking your opinion.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: You have seen them on your beat behaving as prostitutes.<br />
<br />
Not as prostitutes. I have seen them at the place some times.<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: These who as you say are reputed prostitutes, have you ever had an opportunity of seeing them there at different times?<br />
<br />
I have.<br />
<br />
You have seen reputed prostitutes again in the same place in the Empire.<br />
<br />
Mr. Beachcroft: Have you been engaged in turning away any prostitute from the Empire Theatre in the evening?<br />
<br />
I have not; but it has been reported to me by the Police that they have been requested to stop the entrance of prostitutes or reputed ones by the management; but I have not been called upon to do it.<br />
<br />
[46] --- Examined by Mr. Fulton<br />
<br />
You have been a great number of years in the force?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
You have had a large experience in the control and management of house of public resort?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Is there any truth in the suggestion which has been made from the Bench that you deliberately falsify your evidence on these occasions and state that which you know to be untrue?<br />
<br />
Mr. Hopkins: I do no think that question ought to be put, Mr. Chairman, especially in the form in which it was put.<br />
<br />
Mr. Fulton: I thought that was the suggestion that the Police evidence was not to be believed?<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: I said I hoped we should not have the evidence in the same way that we did last year from the Inspector.<br />
<br />
Mr. Davies: I visited this house, and a gentlemen who is as actively engaged in work among the people of London as Mr. Charrington - we went there on a Saturday night and we found that the place was decently conducted. It is true there were prostitutes by their manner but at the same time they behaved themselves decently. We found when we got into the streets that we were [47] accosted; but whilst in the Empire we were not accosted, and the place in my opinion was conducted quite as it should be.<br />
<br />
Mr. Frye: I have been there many times with my wife, and it is a most respectably conducted place.<br />
<br />
The Witness: I may inform you that all the times I visited the house and each Inspector it has never been recorded that he had had to call the attention of the management to any misbehaviour on the part of any women in the house.<br />
<br />
Mr. McDougall: Do you go officially to the house?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Are you instructed to report as to the conduct of it?<br />
<br />
Yes. I was never there on special duty. They do not employ an Inspector -<br />
<br />
An Inspector in that district?<br />
<br />
Yes.<br />
<br />
Ever since it was opened?<br />
<br />
Yes, before it was opened.<br />
<br />
I should like to be able to say in reply to two members of the Committee that I do not complain of the behaviour of the prostitutes inside the house, but to the presence of prostitutes in the Theatre.<br />
<br />
Mr. Davies: May I say in reply to that Mr. Chairman that you will find prostitutes in the fashionable West-End churches.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: Have you anything further?<br />
<br />
Mr. Charrington: No.<br />
<br />
[48] Mr. Westacott: I move that we recommend the granting of the licence.<br />
<br />
The Chairman: The Committee are agreed that we should recommend the Council to grant the licence in this case; but I should like to say that Committee generally do not agree with the remarks which have fallen apparently as to the evidence of the Police. So far as we have been able to judge the Police have endeavoured to give evidence satisfactorily. There is a great deal of difficulty with regard to the Police, because their duties do not take them inside these buildings and it is impossible for them as a general rule to give evidence which entirely depends upon the nature of the performance inside the buildings, and it is unjust to the Police to make a general accusation that they evidence is untrustworthy.<br />
<br />
<br />Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-27774044785890569152016-03-10T11:24:00.001-08:002016-03-20T03:47:12.944-07:00A Visit to a Music Hall (no.5)AMUSED LONDON V.<br />
<br />
A cowardly sort of sensation, such as one experiences on the road to the dentist's, took possession of my soul, as one night last week, my friend and I turned into the narrow ill-lighted, and disreputable looking street in the neighbourhood of the Strand, which led to the music hall of our destination. "I wonder whether women ever go there?" I ventured to remark, as the courage oozed out of my finger-tips. "At any rate, two are going there to-night," was the scornful and uncompromising retort, and we trudged on in silence through the darkness and damp.<br />
After an absence from such haunts for nearly six months, it takes an effort to screw one's courage to the sticking point, especially as our last experience, when we visited one of the most celebrated West End Theatres of Variety, had been a peculiarly disgusting and painful one. On that occasion, we witnessed two long ballets, lasting about an hour each, in which clothing was conspicuous by its absence. But the brilliant scenes of the semi-nude corps de ballet on the stage were surpassed in indecency by the conduct of the audience. The whole was nothing but an open market for vice, no attempt whatever being made at concealment of the purposes to which the crowded promenades in the pit and balconies were given up. According to the price of the various parts of the house, was the smartness of the attire of the wretched painted women openly plying their horrible trade, and of the guilty, foul-eyed men, seeking whom they might devour.<br />
Between the ballets we were treated to some acrobatic performances, and music-hall songs, one of them describing the adventures of two married men "out on the spress" and containing the favourite allusion to the house in St. John's Wood, with the refrain, "We'd both been there before many a time." The entertainment concluded with "God save the Queen." What a religious people we are! And as to the solemn strains of the National Anthem, this palace of vice disgorged its horrid contents, similar streams poured out from the other great theatre of varieties and music halls in the neighbourhood, until all the Haymarket, and up Piccadilly, was a dense mass of humanity, through which we could scarcely make our way, congregated for the vilest purposes. Streams of hansoms mingled with a few broughams - all in the hire, we understand, of different notorious houses - waited at the doors of the great cafés; and night was made hideous by the half-drunken rollicks of the elegantly dressed men - many of them mere beardless boys - and the occasional shout or piercing laugh of a hilarious unfortunate, which sounded more like the yell of a disembodied spirit.<br />
But to return to last Saturday night;s experiences. Arrived at our music hall we found the prices of admission very moderate - the balcony being only 6d., including intoxicating liquors to the value of 4d. But, seeing the already crowded state of that part of the building, we resisted the temptation, and secured reserved stalls at 1s. each. The object of our visit was to verify information we had received as to the little children said to be performing there. We had not long to wait for the appearance of a troupe of acrobats, which consisted of a young man, two elder boys, and three children - two pretty little girls, aged apparently about six and nine, and a tiny boy, dressed in a grotesque man-of-the-period costume, with top hat, who played the part of the irrepressible guinea-pig. The little girls, who would hardly have been distinguishable from boy acrobats, but for the ribbon in their hair, went through a clever performance, which, apart from the iniquity of employing children for such purposes, and the cruelty involved in their training contained nothing in the least indecent. On the other hand, the real indecency lay in quite another part of the entertainment, in the dancing of two other little girl children, rather older than the girl acrobats, who were dressed in the ordinary girl's clothes, and who had been taught to kick their feet over their heads in a hideous manner. The children also belong to a troupe, consisting of a hard-voiced woman, with a face to match, a little blackened nigger boy of about five, and an apoplectic-looking nigger-minstrel. There were, of course, the usual number of vulgar, low-toned songs, but none specially immoral. Our curiosity was aroused by remarks on all sides of us <i>apropos </i>of a lady singer. "<i>Now</i> you'll hear something!" said on gentleman to his neighbour; and another exclaimed, "What she don't know ain't worth knowing!" At last this embodiment of wisdom appeared, clad in a short-skirted toilette of grey silk, very <i>décolleté</i>, but not more so than may be seen amongst ladies in society drawing-rooms. She subsequently changed, appearing as a barmaid, in a neat black gown and linen collar and cuffs, and sang a song comparing her "customers of the male persuasion" to the various sorts of dogs - the aristocratic greyhound, the plebeian bull, and the mongrel cur, their various styles of advances to the pretty barmaid being wittily described. The refrain ran thus:-<br />
<br />
"I take their pieces, that is all,<br />
But if they try their larks, why they soon feel small;<br />
I am nice to every man, no matter what he spends,<br />
I give him what he asks, and there the matter ends."<br />
<br />
Apparently the audience recognised a faithful portrait, for the men thundered forth the chorus with a vast amount of knowingness and good-humoured jollity.<br />
A favourite performer was a nice-looking little boy, of about twelve, in a sailor costume, who bawled sentimental songs, of quite unexceptionable morality. Of course, there is a great deal to object to in the continuous consumption of drink, natural thirst being enormously increased by the heated, ill-ventilated and smoke-laden atmosphere. Two girls, who had with them a little boy of about three, had had too much, and had to be ejected; but as far as the actual performance itself went, we came to the conclusion that, with a little alteration and priming, it might be made quite decent; and for the sake of our respectable working population, many of whom frequent the cheaper seats in these places with their daughters and sweethearts, this ought to be done.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>The Vigilance Record, </i>April 1889 p.28</div>
<br />Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-78798081705261309182016-03-09T11:37:00.000-08:002016-03-09T12:48:38.560-08:00VICE UNDER THE GUISE OF MASSAGEThe question of massage will, 'ere long, have to be very seriously taken in hand. That a number of these establishments are run purely in the interests of vice, is a well known fact; while the business of those few which are conducted in the interest of medical science, is very seriously interfered with, owing to the growing impression of the public that the whole of them are tarred with the same brush. So flagrant and daring are some of their advertisements, that even the wayfaring man cannot misunderstand their real import.<br />
The <i>British Medical Journal </i>has recently been calling the attention of its readers to the real, as apart from professed, objects of these establishments, and has printed the following, directly bearing on the subject:-<br />
<br />
"MASSAGE A LA MODE"<br />
<br />
"The subject of illegitimate massage which falsely pretends to be a sort of pseudo-medical treatment, is once again attracted a good deal of attention, and there is a general consensus of opinion that before long some decisive action will have to be taken to limit the operations of the so-called massage establishments, which infest the vicinity of St. James's Street, the Haymarket and Piccadilly Circus. The columns of advertisements which appear in certain financial and society papers are of so glaring a character, that it is impossible for the most casual reader to mistake their purport. A daily contemporary quotes the freely expressed opinion of many that the massage house is too often simply another name for a lupanar or a bagnio, and that the 'sisters' and 'nurses' who carry on their ministrations under the guise of medical treatment, are capable of giving lessons to the heroine of Lesbos. Discipline treatment is now 'run' as a speciality and there is no doubt that it is too often simply another name for flagellation. The much advertising nursing nymphs, who, clad in the flimsiest of costumes, minister to the desires of elderly gentlemen, are alleged to be recruited from the nursing staff of one of the principal London hospitals, but it is difficult to credit this statement. One thing is perfectly clear, that those who are invited to patronise such places should be subject to no kind of delusion as to their true nature, and above all that the profession of medicine should be relieved from the stigma of even the faintest connection with the disgusting practices which are at the root of the whole matter."<br />
<br />
No stronger indictment could be formulated. To some of our readers it may seem incredible that these things can possibly be. From our own personal experience, however, we can vouch for the accuracy of every statement made in the foregoing paragraph.<br />
Our contemporary is naturally anxious that the "profession of medicine should be relieved from the stigma of even the faintest connection with the disgusting practices which are at the root of the whole matter."<br />
Knowing that these things are carried on under the guide of medical science, why do not the members of the medical profession protect against massage being made the opportunity for these "disgusting practices" and ask Parliament to licence and inspect such places in the interests of the public needing to resort, under medical advice, to massage.<br />
The whole question can be easily settled by the medical profession. Why not insist upon the necessity of those who desire to practice massage as a profession, undergoing certain examinations, and, on proof of efficiency, let them become possessors of a duly qualified certificate from the College of Physicians? Having aroused sufficient interest in the medical profession, it would be a simple matter to ask Parliament to pass a short Bill making it illegal for any but those duly qualified to practice massage. No one could complain, for the value of the treatment depends upon the technical knowledge of the maseur; without which, those who practice it are frauds, and, in taking their fees, are obtaining money under false pretences.<br />
Since writing the above, three very strong articles have appeared in the London <i>Figaro, </i>by one of the staff who has been personally investigating the character of several massage establishments.<br />
The statements there made, prove conclusively that something should be done to put a stop to these place. In our opinion, the only course to adopt would be to bring pressure to bear on the College of Physicians in the direction indicated above. Although some of the practices brought to lights are unquestionably criminal, yet owing to the methods adopted by the proprietors, the legal proof required to establish a case in court is next to impossible to obtain.<br />
Nevertheless the best thanks to all true citizens are due to the manly and outspoken way in which the <i>Figaro </i>has called attention to the infamous doings of the owners of these dens of iniquity. One thing is certain, after such an exposure those who visit them will know exactly the kind of "treatment" they are likely to receive.<br />
We heartily congratulate the <i>Figaro </i>on the fearless and thorough way in which it has attacked this growing evil.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Vigilance Record, </i>May 1897 p.6<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
MASSAGE SCANDAL</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
OUR REVELATIONS CONFIRMED</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
THE BLONDE AND THE BLACK</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
A VILLAIN SENTENCED</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
A sensational prosecution was before Mr. Curtis Bennett at
Marylebone Police Court yesterday when the provision of the new Act for the
suppression of the practice of men living on the immoral earnings of women were
put into force and a conviction record.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The person in the dock was a well-dressed man of colour, giving the name of James Davis, aged 32, describing himself as a bath attendant, residing at 120, Marylebone-road. He was at first charged on a warrant with having unlawfully assaulted and beaten Sophia Ella Cheshire, and at a subsequent period he was further charged under the first section of the new Act for "knowingly or in part living on the earnings of prostitution."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Palmer, who prosecuted, said that at the above address the prisoner kept what was known as a massage establishment which was described as a "Balneopathic Institution for the treatment of rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and neuralgia, by day hot-air baths, massage, and discipline, &c.' The Prosecutrix would tell the court that the women who attended the institution as nurses had, most of them, been servants in the prisoner's employ, whom he afterwards took advantage of, and then turned them into nurses, they being provided with the usual uniform of persons following that calling. The fees charged for massage ranged from 10s 6d., but the witness would tell the court that stockbrokers and rich gentlemen often came, who paid as much as £3 or £4. This money, of course, went to the prisoner. It was not difficult to imagine what these large sums were for. He had never earned a shilling except in this wretched way, while the prosecutrix had provided funds by millinery work. The lease of the premises in question was in the name of the prisoner, but the furniture belonged to the prosecutrix. On the arrest of the prisoner, amongst the numerous letters found was one which ran as follows:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Dear Mr. Davies, - I cannot come to-day as I have an engagement. I was sorry I was out when you called. I should like to see you, so will you pop down at 4.30 and bring the birch with you?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The Magistrate would recollect the description given of this establishment and the form of "discipline". In the letter the term used was the "birch".<br /> Sophie Ella Cheshire said she had known the prisoner for three years and had lived with him as his wife. She had earned her living by book-keeping and as a milliner and had spent her money on the prisoner. She left him last Christmas because he was living with a servant as his wife in the same house. He induced her to return to him again last Easter, she paying the rent and taking her furniture back to the house. There were prostitutes living in the house who had been servants and whom he had been intimate with and then turned into nurses. The ordinary fee charged to patients was half a guinea, but she had known the women to come downstairs with £2 or £3 which they had handed to the prisoner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Palmer: Were the women allowed anything out of that? - Yes. A commission or percentage.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Were those women prostitutes? - Yes, they were.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
By the Magistrate: The massage took place in a bedroom where none but the nurse and the gentleman were present.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Prosecutrix continuing, said the prisoner brought home another woman last Monday. She remonstrated with him for so doing when he assaulted her, gave her a black eye, and knocked three of her teeth out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Palmer: Has he ever earned any money? - No, not 1d.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Has he lived on what you have given him and what he has received from these women? - He has.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Cross-examined: When she first knew the prisoner she kept the Richmond Hotel, Gray's-inn-road. Afterwards she become bookkeeper and milliner at a firm in Hanover-square. It was not true that she drank and fell about. He had assaulted her every day. She claimed to be a highly respectable woman.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Police-constable Butler, 170D, spoke to the arrest of the prisoner on a warrant at the house in Marylebone-road. He denied the charge of assault. This was the outcome, he continued, of jealousy through her seeing women at the house who came to him professionally. At the police station were found upon him a large number of letters, all from women.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
For the defence, Mr. Hill called Maud Edwards, a stylishly-dressed blonde, who said she was a married women, and lived at 3, Northumberland-mansions. She did not see the prosecutrix on the night in question, but had known her twelve months. She (prosecutrix) had had an illegitimate child. Nine out of every ten days she was drunk.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Cross-examined: She did not live at Marylebone-road, but visited there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Are you one of the nurses? - No. What did you go for then? - When they are short of nurses.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
When they are short of a lady, I suppose? - Yes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
You go there to meet gentlemen? - Yes, if a patient comes for a hot-air bath. You meet gentlemen there for the purpose of immorality? - No.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
What do you know about massage? - Nothing. What is the discipline you give? - Well, it is a treatment. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Yes, but what is it? Is it the birch? - Yes, it is flagellation, of course. (Sensation)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Curtis-Bennett: Ah, you need not go any further. It is quite clear what this place is. He asked if the police intended to prosecute and Inspector Wale replied that the house had been under observation.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
By direction of the Magistrate the prisoner was further charged under the new Act. This having been done, the witness, Mrs. Edwards, was recalled and further examined. She said she had never had more than one guinea given her. She was often alone in a room with gentlemen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Inspector Wale said he had often seen the women Edwards dressed as a nurse in a showy white and pink dress covered with lace and frills at the first floor front window, evidently with the object of attracting gentlemen. Complaints had been made to the Vestry and the police that the house was a brothel, and he believed it was one.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Mr. Curtis-Bennett remarked that this was an exceedingly bad case. The prisoner had led the prosecutrix a life of misery. It was perfectly clear that this house, which was advertised in certain papers as a massage establishment, was in reality a brothel. Some of the letters found on the prisoner and in his own handwriting show that he had enticed young girls to London, he promising to pay their fares and make them happy. A more horrible state of things one could not imagine. The priosoner had behaved the part of a scoundrel. Fortunately an Act had two days ago come into force which enabled him to deal with the prisoner as a rogue and a vagabond which he was. It was curious that the first prosecution under the Act should be at Marylebone, when a shocking state of things existed in an adjoining district. Fortunately for justice the prisoner had stayed here while others like him had, he understood, fled the country. He sentenced him to six months' hard labour for the assault and three months on the second charge, nine months in all. (Applause in court).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i>Reynolds's Newspaper,</i> 16 October 1898</div>
</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-14024390451479686012016-02-04T10:52:00.002-08:002016-02-04T10:52:18.969-08:00Early music hall in LiverpoolTHE CASINOS AND CONCERT SALOONS
OF LIVERPOOL.<br />
(From the Annual Report of the Rev.. Francis Bishop, the Minister to the Poor of the Liverpool Domestic Mission Society)<br />
<br />
The youth mentioned in my last report as having ap plied to me when he left our borough prison, with a request that I would save him from a wicked home by
helping him to obtain work, is, I rejoice to say, going on satisfactorily in America. And in this connexion I
gladly avail myself of the opportunity of recording my
deep obligations to the Rev. Dr. Bigelow, one of Dr.
Tuckerman's successors in the ministry at large, in Boston, for the assistance he afforded me in this case. To
his kindness is it owing, that, when every channel seemed
closed against the penitent youth in this country, a way
has been opened to him in America, enabling him to
return to virtue and happiness. During the last year,
also, I have availed myself of the same valuable co-operation, and in the case of a pupil teacher, who had been
imprisoned for robbing the school in which he was employed, I have again found Dr. Bigelow ready to give
judicious and effectual help to save the boy from the ruin
that awaited him had he remained here, and afford him
an opportunity of regaining a position of usefulness and
respectability.<br />
It is remarkable that both the above youths were in
the habit or attending the casinos and concert saloons
that abound in Liverpool ; and since their arrival in America, though they have not the slightest knowledge of each
other, and are living far apart, I have had letters from
both, in which they rejoice that there are no such snares
to entrap and corrupt the young in the towns where they
are now living. Is it not wrong that such places should
be permitted, and have the sanction of legal license? If
it be not the duty of a government to make a people virtuous, it is surely its duty not to afford facilities for inducements to vice. That the dancing and singing rooms connected with spirit and beer shops are of this character,
I cannot doubt. There is often, perhaps, much value
talk and apprehension about popular amusement, originating in fear and suspicion, and not found on knowledge. From a sense of duty, I have been anxious to
avoid this error, and, disagreeable as the task has been
I have felt myself bound to ascertain, by personal and repeated observation, the character of the above places
of popular resort. I have visited, from time to time,
nearly the whole of them, and to some of them I have
gone more than once. I sincerely wish I could give a
favourable report of any of the number; but I cannot.
With no desire to restrict popular amusements within
austere or rigid limits, and no expectation that the rude
and uneducated will show precisely the same taste in
their choice of recreations as the refined and cultivated, I
am compelled to regard the concert saloons as amongst
the most powerful of the demoralising agencies at work
in our town. They are not all equally bad. The largest
are the least exceptionable. In them are sometimes to be seen and heard representations and music to which,
in themselves, no objection can be made. But such performances are interspersed with others of a different character, in which, though there be no positive obscenity,
only a flimsy veil is thrown over sensuality and vice to
conceal their grossness; and the whole of these establishments may with truth be said to be schools of evil, sinking still lower the low tastes, and stimulating to greater
activity and more decided supremacy the bad passions, of
those who frequent them. They are not the resort of
drunkards (to such persons the simple attraction of the
drink is enough, and they will go where they can got the
most for their money); but they are schools of intemperance, in which the young are unconsciously led on to the
formation of the degrading habit. In their first visits to
these places, ginger beer is a frequent drink of the juvenile portion of the audience; but they are soon induced to take what they consider the more wanly draught of porter
or ale. Girls, too, who would not enter an ordinary
public-house to drink, will go to the concert-room to hear
the music; and to many of them the crossing of that
threshold is the first step to disgrace and ruin. Whenever I ascertain that any of the scholars of our evening
or Sunday schools frequent these rooms, I feel, from past
experience, that all our efforts to do them good will be
unavailing, if they are not speedily induced to withdraw
themselves front such debasing scenes.<br />
Numerous expedients are resorted to by the proprietors
of these establishments to overcome the objection of the
scrupulous; and one of them impudently announced, a
short time ago, that he had set apart an evening for the
benefit of the Southern and Toxteth Hospital, on which
occasion he promised his friends "a sterling (sic) and
intellectual treat." I need not say that there was no
truth in the announcement as far as the hospital was
concerned and that it was evidently intended as a decoy.
When visiting, on an evening in Christmas week, some
of these resorts, I saw about two thousand people gathered together in one of them. Whilst I remained I observed
a man so intoxicated that, in attempting to walk to a
counter in the upper class refreshment-room attached to
the place, he fell helplessly to the ground. Two little
children—the eldest not more than five years old—were in the front seat of the gallery, looking down on the reeking and crowded scene beneath, with no one taking care
of them but this drunken man, who, I was told, was their
father. Many other persons were intoxicated; and one
young man, near where I stood, to whose clouded vision
there appeared to be two persons singing on the stage
when there was only one, quarrelled with a man sitting
next to him for attempting to set him right on the subject. A farcical dialogue was partly sung and partly recited before I left the place, full of <i>double intendre</i>, the
impure meaning being significantly suggested by tone,
gesture, or grimace. This is, I believe the least ill-conducted of all these places of entertainment in the town: the drunkenness I have mentioned is not usually
observable there, and was probably owing on this occasion to its having been Christmas week.
<br />
On another occasion I visited a much smaller place
than the above, situated in the same neighbourhood.
About one hundred and fifty persons were present, and
amongst the numbers many prostitutes. A little girl was
dancing, and at the close of the performance coppers
were thrown on the stage by the admiring audience.
"Fire away, boys!" cried one of the people belonging to
the room and a shower of halfpence was the response.
Afterwards there came a musical dialogue; the characters
being a silly drunken deformed countryman, and a pert shrewish young woman, to whom he made proposals of
marriage. The figure and appearance of the former, in his attempts at drollery, were painfully disgusting. An intelligent working man, who was with me, viewed the
exhibition with feelings of loathing, and yet it seemed to
be enjoyed by most of the audience. After this dialogue there came a song and recitative, purporting to be from a discharged prisoner recently returned from Kirkdale. He
mimicked the motion of stepping on the treadmill with great gusto, and carried on imaginary dialogues with the
other prisoners supposed to be on the wheel with him in
which their various offences were described in a burlesque manner, and the admonitions of the judge, and the sermons of the chaplain, made the subject of low buffoonery and coarse jokes. In connexion with the part referring to the chaplain, witticisms were attempted on events in the history of Moses, Elijah and Jonah, and the whole affair excited great mirth and applause amongst the listeners. between these performances there was waltzing in a cleared space at the top of the room, several girls who apparently belonged to the establishment, taking part in it.<br />
In another of these rooms, which I visited between eleven and twelve o'clock at night, there were assembled about two hundred and fifty or three hundred persons. Many of the women present were wretched street wanderers, and a large proportion of the men bore unmistakeable marks, in their bloated and sinister faces, of having sunk to a low stale of dissipation. A number of sailors and some apprentice lads were also there, together with a few respectable-looking mechanics and their wives. On the walls down the whole length of each side of the room were painted large portraits of well-known prize-fighters. The amusement going on was a stupid and nonsensical performance of dogs and monkeys', followed by what was called a pantomime, without grace, ingenuity or wit; but all these qualities were more that compensated for in the estimation of the audience by a large supply of grossness. Several poor little boys, from ten to twelve or thirteen years of age, want and sin imprinted on
their young faces, were on the top of the stairs at the
door of the room, selling canes. As I went out one of
those boys was on the stairs, stamping with pain and crying bitterly, some one having given him a severe blow in the eye. It was a boisterous night, and the rain was falling in torrents, and, in leaving the place, just upon the
midnight hour well protected with overcoat and umbrella, I could not refrain from asking myself—Who and what are
the parents of these shoeless and miserable children, and
what kind of a home have they to go to on this wet and
wintry night? Alas! what must their future be?
<br />
In the early part of the winter placards were posted on
the walls, by the keeper of a concert saloon (now happily closed) situated near the mission-house, slating that
they wanted fifty children. This announcement crested
quite an excitement amongst the little ones in the neighbourhood; and much was the competition for the privilege
of being engaged that at the hour named for applications,
I saw children of almost all ages and both sexes flocking
to the place. A few weeks of afterwards it was announced
that the "Liverpool Children" were to appear. I looked
in towards the close of the evening announced. The
audience consisted of about seven hundred persons.
Whilst waiting for what was kept till the last, as the great
attraction of the night, I had to endure an absurd pantomimic representation, in which robbery, and an attempt at abduction, were prevented by the sudden appearance of a brave sailor - the performance being plentifully interspersed with firing of pistols, and fighting with swords,
with daring fights, and sudden seizures, and miraculous escapes —a large dog taking a leading part in the performance as the deliverer of his master. A song followed, of
a very low character, descriptive of matrimonial quarrel: and then a parody on "Happy Land " in which prisons
and workhouses, the oppressions of the rich and the miseries of the poor. were the salient points. When the
grand scene of the evening came on, I was relieved to see
that, instead of fifty children, there were only nine, all
girls, varying from about ten to fourteen years of age.
They were dressed in operatic style, and had been trained
to sing and dance, and form what were intended to be pleasing and picturesque groupings. The large number had no doubt been named in the advertisement for the double purpose of exciting interest, and giving a wider scope for the selection of the best looking children. It was, however, a sufficiently melancholy sight to see those
nine poor children dancing and singing on such an occasion, in an atmosphere of tobacco smoke and amid fumes
of beer. One could almost see the seeds of evil falling
visibly on their guileless hearts :-<br />
<br />
"O Irreverent world,
<br />
ls't not enough that ye profane all else,<br />
But must you steal the little ones also,<br />
From the good Shepherd those whom He has blessed,
<br />
And warned you. it were better, in the sea <br />
With millstones round your necks, you made your beds,
<br />
Than to offend these chosen ones of His!"<br />
<br />
It was impossible to forget the almost certain destiny of
these little children thus ensnared. I felt that they were doomed, that they were being hurried along on the corrupting stream to the cataract's edge, and the fatal gulf
beneath.<br />
What do we oppose to these polluting streams? Education would do much; but something more direct is required. To preach down all amusements is vain. The
poor will have them as well as the rich; and if recreations pure and good are not within their reach, they will crowd to the debasing and the evil. Does not the action of religious men bound itself within too narrow a range?
Would not a wise and far-seeing regard for the spiritual
interests of society lead to the provision of amusements enlivening and cheerful, but free from the taint of corruption? It would be a delightful and blessed effort and,
as it appears to me, a fitting outflow of the spirit of pure
religion, if all denominations of Christians in the town
were to form an alliance to supply this want, and so put
down the agencies of evil, and prepare a highway through
our moral deserts for the progress and triumph of Christian
reformation. The promoters of the Saturday evening
concerts are doing a good, I had almost said a holy, work.
They have been successful public benefactors, and are
entitled to the gratitude of the town. Many a congregation of devout worshippers has, I doubt not, been augmented on the Sunday morning by the healthful recreations thus afforded to the people on the Saturday evening.
But more of such places and opportunities are needed.
And, in the absence of such an effort as I have indicated
would it not be a wise and appropriate expenditure of
public money, if the town council were to build a hall at
the north end of the town, and one at the south, where,
under proper regulations, cheap concerts, and other innocent amusements, might be brought within the reach of
the working population! (St. George's-hall and its magnificent organ will, it is to be hoped, be made promotive of the enjoyment and moral welfare of the people in this
way.) Sure I am that the provision of such or similar recreations is a very essential work, in connexion with the
moral elevation of the dense masses of people in the
crowded towns and districts of our country.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>Liverpool Mercury </i>16 March 1852</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-11217878779561410902016-02-04T08:33:00.001-08:002016-02-04T08:33:06.114-08:00Manchester's early music hallSir, a few days ago, having been most earnestly requested by a foreign friend of mine, I accompanied him on a visit to one or two of the singing rooms or music saloons in Manchester, for the purpose of learning the real nature of the entertainments, and whence their popularity amongst the working classes. Having selected a Saturday evening as the most favourable—I may also say the most fashionable—one we sallied from home about seven O'clock; add paying our 3d
each, as the price of admission, we found ourselves seated in the ———— saloon. When we first took our seats, there would probably be Some 40 persons only in the room, and it was evident we were early comers; but in a short time afterwards, the number had swelled to somewhere about 300 of both sexes. sitting in a position where I had
a full view of the door, I took particular notice of the company an they entered, and to my surprise, I found that by far the great majority were young boys and girls, considerably under 20 years of age. with one or two exceptions, you might at once see they were parties who had been working hard all the week, and had smartened-up for their Saturday evening relaxation and enjoyment, and in what that enjoyment consisted I wilt endeavour to show In most cases the females came sidling into the room as if conscious of some impropriety; but once seated, their male friends took prompt means to remove their bashfulness. The waiter was called for - a glass of smoking hot spirits ordered "for this ere girl," and a "segar (or 'bacco' and pipes) and a glass of ale for me" - and then the happy couple sat down to enjoy themselves, and to be comfortable for the evening. During all this time (I mean the preliminary of charging the glasses of the customers) a talented artiste (?) executed all manner of ad libitum airs on the pianoforte, until the tinkling of a bell announced that a song was about to be given. Up to this moment, the leading female vocalists (three or four in number) had been seated at a table near the stage, but in the body of the room surrounded by an admiring group of young men, whom I suppose I must rank as the aristocracy of the room (as they were not mechanics, but shopmen), and who were paying their court to the ladies most devotedly. The bell I have mentioned was a signal for one of these females to throw off a large shawl, in which she had sat enveloped, and she stepped on to the stage In full dress, or rather undress, to favour the company with a song. Habited In a stylish-coloured dress, with a low-body—and it was <i>low indeed</i> (exhibiting nearly all the bust), she commenced to sing what I suppose I must call a love song, being a description of the multitude of beaux
she had had, and how she had <i>served them out!</i> It is needless, perhaps,
to say that all the young girls in the room sipped their hot punch and
looked at their swains as much as to say "that's the way I'll serve you,"
and the singer was rewarded with thunders of applause. Some playing on the pianoforte ensued, followed by an interval in which more punch, ale, and pipes, were ordered and supplied, and then another lady made her appearance on the stage. Like the preceding one she wore a dress with a low body, but in her case the indelicacy of such a costume was more glaring. When I state that she attempts such songs as "All's Well," the " Standard Bearer,"—in fact sings none but songs written for a male voice—the exhibition she made will be readily imagined. In another house we visited, the same scenes were enacted over again. Young couples were drinking freely and listening to songs, if not positively indelicate, of the most lascivious and immoral tendency, some of them given by females dressed in Bloomer costume, others enunciated by Nigger melodists, but all opposed to
good morals, and pernicious in the extreme. I will not, however, be
guilty of offending public decency by attempting too close a description
of all I heard and witnessed, but will ask what must be the impression
produced on the minds of those young persons who nightly visit these
temples ? The best answer I have as yet met with to such a question,
has, I think, been furnished by the Chaplain of the Preston Gaol, the
Rev. Mr. Clay, who says-<br />
"From all I have seen of the criminality of young persons, I have
reason to believe that the singing rooms and concert rooms, in which
the sale of liquors is the chief source of profit, furnish the first
temptations and stimulants to their criminality."<br />
That this conclusion is a correct one, I fully believe, from an experience, the result of my own personal inquiries. A taste for the amusements provided being once acquired, must be gratified — by youths, at the sacrifice of their weekly earnings, how treat themselves and their sweethearts—and by the latter, at the expense of their virtue. How the evil is to be fairly coped with—whether by the efforts of the "Society for the Regulation of Public-houses," &c., or by
legislative enactment. I know not, but it strikes me that our own
local authorities might do something in the matter, If they would only
bestir themselves. I see by our local police act, 7 and 8 Vic, C. 40, sec.
204, "That That every person licensed to deal in excisable liquors who shall
knowingly supply any sort of distilled exciseable liquor to any boy or
girl apparently under the age of 16 years to be drunk upon the premises shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding 2s." - with increased penalties for subsequent convictions. Armed with such power, then, why not send a policeman or two nightly to visit these pest-houses? Only let it be made public to these young people that they themselves were liable to be picked out by a policeman, and to be called upon to come into a public court as witnesses against the very landlords who harboured them, and I will engage many of them would never be seen in such houses again. Young servant girls, sent on errands, often contrive to spend half an hour in such places, unknown to their mistresses, as do other young people unknown to their parents; and once assured that a policeman had the power to make known their stolen visits they would be "far and few between" indeed. Apologising for the length I have trespassed on your space, I am, &c,<br />
A FATHER<br />
<br />
<div align="right">
<i>Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
29 November 1851
</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-2880077767241698622016-01-07T15:33:00.000-08:002016-01-07T15:34:50.119-08:00WaxWhile upon the subject of the amusements of the
people of Liverpool, I cannot omit a description of
a penny wax-work exhibition which I visited. The
middle and upper classes of London have their
shilling wax-work, where portraits of notorious
criminals and murderers form the great attraction to
the crowd of the well-dressed vulgar. The ill-dressed
vulgar have their penny exhibition of a similar
kind, and it is not at all surprising, considering the
example set them, that they should encourage
speculators of a still lower class than the renowned
entrepreneurs in London, in providing them with
waxen portraits of scoundrels and murderers. I
never visited the fashionable "Chamber of Horrors" in London, and consequently cannot compare
it with the penny wax-work of Liverpool, or state
which is the worse and more demoralizing of the
two; but as they appeal by similar agencies to the
same classes of minds, I should imagine that there
cannot be any very great difference in the results
produced. Over the door of a wretched-looking
house, in a dirty and narrow street leading from
Whitechapel, was exhibited, on the day of my visit,
a large and wretchedly executed painting of John
Gleeson Wilson, leaving the house of Captain Henrichson, in Liverpool, after murdering Mrs. Henrichson, her servant, and her two children. It was
set forth in a placard underneath, that the figure of
this murderer had been recently added to the others
in this "celebrated collection," and that the ad-
mission was only one penny. An Italian organ
boy, hired for the purpose, and sole musician at
this establishment, was stationed inside of the
doorway, and was turning the handle of his organ
very slowly, grinding most fitful music. I noticed
that he was asleep over his work. His hand moved
without being directed by his will. The money-taker,
seeing me smile, looked at the boy, and discovering
his condition, gave him a sudden and rather rough
shaking, and swore if he caught him in that state
again, "the idle, young wagaboue," he would "sarve
him out for it." I was ushered upstairs to a small
rooms by a man who acted as guide to the exhibition, and who gave the following account of the
various articles and portraits in the rooms which I
reproduce in his own words. There were about
twenty other visitors at the same time, including
some women of the labouring classes, and four boys,
or lads, of fifteen or sixteen years of age. The
remainder were mechanics, or labouring. people,
with the exception of one well dressed man, a
foreigner, and apparently either the captain: or the
mate of a ship. "These here chains," said the
guide, " as you see against the wall, are the hidentical chains worn by John Gleeson Wilson. who
committed the brutal and hawfal murder of Mrs. Henrichson, her servant, and her two hinnocent
children, and for which he was hung, as he properly
desarved to be, and sarved him right, as every
hindividual in this Christian country will acknowledge. This is the correct likeness of Mr. and Mrs.
Manning, who was hexecuted for the murder of Mr. Patrick O'Connor. You will please to take
notice of the beautiful long hair of Mrs. Manning, which everybody as knowed her did greatly admire.
This is the true likeness of Reid, the Mirfield murderer. Everybody as sees it confesses it to be a fust-
rate portrait. This," he said, pointing to the best
executed figure in the room, "is a unfortunate sailor
who went on shore front a ship in Greenland, and
was left behind by the captain. He was found
frozen to death nine years afterwards, sitting hex-actly in the hattitude as he now appears in, with
his back covered with snow, and his hands upon his.
knees, as if the hunfortunate hindividnal was
taking a nap. These two are the likenesses of
Bishop and Williams, the Burkers, whose hawful
and hodious performances are known to everybody
as reads the newspapers. This is Guy Faux, as attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament, and who was discovered in the coal cellar by the Dook of Wellington and other noblemen and gentlemen, and afterwards hanged at Newgate. This.
is the unfortunate Jane Shore, walking about the streets of London, with a white sheet, and a candle in her hand, because she was no better than she should be; and this is a unhappy baker, who was hanged and beheaded for giving her a halfpenny roll, when she was dying of hunger in a ditch in Cheapside. This is John Gleeson Wilson, the most celebrated and notorious murderer as ever lived, who murdered four hinnocent people in the town of. Liverpool, and was justly hung for the same. And this last is a correct portrait of John Gleeson Wilson's father." This last figure was in reality a full-length figure of Punch—the hook nose and then
hump on the back being very marked and distinct. It had probably done duty as a sign. for
a coffee-shop or eating-house. This concluded
the exhibition in the first room, and we
were then ushered into a second,, where the
only figures were two groups, wretchedly
executed in wax. The one represented a drunken
family, and the other a sober family. In the first
the husband was beating his wife about the head
with an empty bottle, the idea being taken. from
George Cruikshank's well-known design. In the
second, the husband with his wife and children
were represented in a comfortable room enjoying
their dinner. The faces of the children in both
groups were black. Underneath was written " Look upon this picture, and on that," "You
have now seen the whole of our hexhibition," said
our guide ; "but if any lady or gentleman wishes to see the Chamber of Horrors, which belongs to another proper-ietor, and not to the proper-ietor of these rooms, the charge is twopence hextra." I
expressed my willingness to pay the twopence, and
five or six more did the same. We stopped opposite a door where the words "Chamber of Horrors"
were painted, our guide assuring us that it was
altogether a distinct exhibition belonging to a different party, but which they had takers temporary
charge of in the unavoidable absence of the real
"proper-ietor." We were then ushered up another
flight of stairs into a small room, across which a
rope was drawn breast high, upon the outer side of
which we took our places. The inner part was covered with an old and dirty carpet. A pair of
moleskin trowsers hung against the wall, and a
child's cot, a small wooden horse, a fender, with
fire-irons, and a wash-hand stand and basin completed the list of articles in this room. "YOU will
please look at those trowsers on the wall," said the guide. "They are the hidentical trowsers that
John Gleesen Wilson had on when he murdered Mrs. Henrichson, her children and her servant.You may see the spots of blood
on them at this moment. They have the mark of
Mr. Dowling, the commissioner of police, upon
them, to prove that.they are the hidentical trowsers of the hassassin, as anybody that doubts my word
may find out to be correct by axin' of that gentleman. That fender is the werry fender which the unfortunate servant was cleaning, when John Gleeson Wilson came behind her and murdered her. You may also see the spots of blood upon it. That is the hidentical cot of one of the hinuocent little children, the werry cot it slept in before it was murdered. That ere horse is a toy as was bought for the other child by its unfortunate mother. You see the paper pinned on the carpet; pay particular attention to the blood all around it. On that werry spot Mrs. Henrichson was murdered by the bloody-minded villain; and at that werry wash hand-stand, which you see standing under the window, and in that werry basin he washed his hands after committing his four murders. All these harticles cost the proper-ietor a great deal of money, and they are here exhibited at a werry low charge, for which
hope every lady and gentleman is satisfied." Such, without exaggeration, was the wax-work exhibition provided for the people in Liverpool. The guide discovered me making, on the back of a letter, a memorandum of what, I saw, and exclaimed somewhat angrily, " What, you're a takin' on it down, are you? I s'pose you're a lobster or a informer; but this is a legal hexhibition, this is, and you can't stop it anyhow." I explained that I had nothing to do with the law or the police, and made my exit as expeditiously as I could, not without observing, however, that the organ boy was still in the doorway, grinding at his organ, and nodding over it in
his sleep.
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
[Henry Mayhew] 'Labour and the Poor', Morning Chronicle, 2 September 1850</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7458031571764013912.post-70537551094012696192015-12-17T10:20:00.001-08:002015-12-17T10:20:22.761-08:00The Archery Rooms<i>A garbled and verbose description of the 'Archery Rooms', which appears to be hosting a masquerade ball of a middling sort, patronised by shop-assistants and the like (and ladies of easy virtue). All I can find on the internet is that this venue was at 26 Bath Place, New Road, and also used for chartist lectures and meetings. If you know any more, please do let me know. </i><br />
<br />
There is a place of amusement <i>professedly </i>of this description, located in the New-road, not far from Tottenham-court-road. Those who wish to visit it cannot fail to identify it - being blessed with those very necessary articles vulgarly called eyes, but scientifically known by the name of organs of vision - by observing the exterior adorned in various places with bulls' eyes, with straw retinas.<br />
Now any one in his every-day senses would imagine that he might have his "dozen o'arrows" for his threepence, and shoot all <i>round </i>the target with perfect satisfaction to himself and to the proprietor; but he may be satisfied it is all moonshine. Not that there is not a deal of archery going on too, but the targets being animated, and fixed upon locomotive crutches, why they may naturally be allowed to put in a negative as to being shot at indiscriminately; and there can be little doubt that steel-pointed shafts would be not altogether so congenial as those of softer construction and tipped with gold.<br />
The visitor having discovered the whereabouts, walks up-stairs to door No.1, and after making the proprietor aware of his presence by ringing an alarm, he is ushered into the passage, and if he be fortunate enough to possess a ticket, he is suffered to progress on payment of a sixpence; but if he has no ticket, there are no hopes of his further advance unless he advance a shilling. He is then asked whether he will leave his hat, which, if he be green, he will do, and will retire with an exchange, of course, not for the better. He then walks to door No.2, which a little imp of vagabondism unlocks, and, immediately on his left, he finds himself at the approach of the "Archery Rooms;" he walks down three steps, and he is in the very vortex of ----- Instead of archery, what does he see? Servant girls, who serve more masters than one, dressed <i>a la Grecque</i>; French <i>girls</i>, rather furrowed by time, however, with short petticoats, barely reaching below the knee, and too much shrunk above to prevent the display of the bust; in fact, fig-leaves in a state of expansion - flesh-coloured stockings, and white Adelaides, unlaced at the top; married ladies, who occasionally make and keep appointments with unmarried gentlemen; and unmarried maidens who are perfectly indifferent to the ceremonies of the church, and who please according to the <i>favors </i>received; lawyers' clerks; linen-drapers' shopmen and handicraftsmen, transformed into poor imitations of something above their own comprehension, and that of every body else; automaton sailors, frightened at the popping of a soda-water bottle! fighting gladiators, who never touched anything more ponderous than a bodkin; Bedouin Arabs, stiffer than a stretched rope; opera-dancers, whose utmost art is to <i>double shuffle</i>; ostrich feathers in extreme lassitude; velvet bonnets; ravens' wings; dirty stockings; straw cigars! hot water and sugar, mystified with gin; strong smells; sweat and filth; - all these he will meet with at the Archery Rooms - <i>and more. </i><br />
The masquerade, it is said, would take it as a great boon if the proprietor would convert one of his <i>little dark rooms </i>into a dressing-room; for who, with common decency, which no doubt encumbers them, can like to disrobe in the aforesaid passage, through which only ingress and egress is maintained. This is strictly true, and many a ragged shirt has fluttered in the breeze of the two doors, to the admiration of the comers-in and goers-out. Very few persons like to make a public exhibition of dirty flesh and raggedness, and the proprietor knowing this, ought to have a little regard to the delicate and complicated nerves of his supporters. It is not pleasant to see a youth with begrimed legs walk into a pair of loosely-woven blue-striped stockings, and know that, by his exertion in the coming dance, the perspiration will ooze out, dirt and all, and be disseminated in a very attenuated, though palpable, form, into the olfactory nerve of the bystanders. Besides, those ladies who have had the pleasure of witnessing his little innocent preliminaries, will not allow the fact to remain with themselves, and the poor fellow, instead of sporting his <i>twelve inches of foot</i>, will have a chance after all his anxiety to sit alone ingloriously in his dirt, with his <i>yard of clay </i>before him.<br />
Every one is free to visit the Archery Rooms, in masquerade or not, as fancy or necessity may advise; and, doubtless, nudity might be accommodated if impudence would push him on, but things having been, in the long course of ages, tortured from their natural shapes, art steps into the place of native innocence and simplicity, and Monmouth-street finery covers the dirt of the back settlements.<br />
The well-dressed young gentlemen who may always be seen at the "Archery" are the young would-be Waterfords of the day, had they the means; and had they, no doubt they would be terrible fellows - terrible in the extreme - there would be no withstanding them; the days of the Mohawks would be revived; but, on second thoughts, it may be questionable whether dare-devilism would expend itself on any other than inanimate objects. Fortunately where the money of a marquis can screen him from the more severe penalties of the law, these droll young men about Town, not having that panacea, are subjected to its visits, to their great and excessive inconvenience. This, likely enough, accounts for their sprees taking place in the dead of the night, when they may prowl about in perfect safety from the police. Accident might, perhaps, lead a policeman from his usual watering-house and a short pipe, and he might catch one of these Waterfords with a knocker in his hand, or a drain-spout on his back, and a magistrate might fine him five pounds, in, in default &c.; but what a difficult job he would have to raise the cash. He would have to provide an intimate wit a pair of hob-nailed boots to run all over the town to collect the money from his friends, and he would inevitably lose his situation behind the counter.<br />
But to return to the Archery Rooms. About two o'clock in the morning, the announcement is made that "Coffee is ready." It is well that the proprietor has given it a name, as it would sorely puzzle any one to classify it, other than something wet and warm. Now coffee, or whatever else it may be, is not to be had for nothing, and money at the Archery Rooms is much more scarce than may be imagined; the inference, therefore, is, there are very few <i>gentlemen</i> who play the amiable by honouring that place of refreshment with their presence, or that of their fair partners. It is ludicrous to observe how many excuses they are compelled to adopt to prevent a shabby appearance with their partners; some collect in groups, and parade the room; others seem to discover that they have sticks, and look with great admiration and affection on them; many appear quite unconscious of any announcement having been made and anxiously enquire when the next set of <i>quod</i>-rilles (with particular emphasis on the first syllable) will be danced; and when the discordant strains issue from the elevated orchestra, and three or four half-starved cripples of musicians, styled by the proprietor, "Weippart's band increased," it is quite gratifying to see their faces lighted up with such sudden satisfaction. To it they go again in an uninterrupted whirl, till the tallow-dips sink into their sockets, their peculiar smell overpowering the odiferous exhalations already dripping down the walls, and the company adjourn to the coffee-room, where a "free and easy" at which a daughter who has been dancing and selling flowers all the evening, presides, terminates the amusements. Such is a sight and general sketch of the "Archery Rooms."<br />
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The Town, 8 July 1837</div>
Lee Jacksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09812128348822569086noreply@blogger.com8