The Limit of Decency.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVI, Issue 8, 22 February 1911, Page 9

The Limit of Decency.

AHerman Becker ie t« New York what Australians now term a “Wowser.’’ He would allow within the eity boundaries no fowTs other than Brahmapootras, who, as everybody knows, have their legs completely hidden by feathers. Aiderman Becker has been agitating of late for a stage eensor, and Miss Kate Carew, of the New York “American,” has just interviewed him, and incidentally pulled has leg—assuming that such a thing can be mentioned in such a connection —to the limit of elasticity. The following is an extract from the published interviews— “ There’s the question of eostume,” I went on. “That might give rise to infinite variety of opinion.”

“Do you mean the display of—or— limbs!” inquired Aiderman Becker. “Limbs! But you don't object to arms, do you?” “No, no,” stammered Alderman Becker. “When I say limbs I mum-mean lullul legs.” And he looked as if he had said something really quite—well, you know. “Are you one of those,” I inquired with sudden interest, “who perceive something inherently indelicate in legs?” “How do you mean!” inquired Aiderman Becker. “Do you think that the possession of them by women —and even ladies—is a dubious and regrettable fact which should be prudently covered up and ignored?” “Not at afil** exclaimed AMerman Becker warmly. “I’m a broad-minded man. I have not the slightest objection

to limbs—l beg your pardon, legs—and never had.” "I understood,” I said, “that you were somewhat worried about the display of them in musical pieces.” “That’s all a misunderstanding,” said Aiderman Becker; “although I’m told that there were some pretty raw costumes.” “Your board of twenty-five censors might find it difficult to come to an agreement on that delicate question,” I suggested. “In what way?” asked Aiderman Becker“Well, the length of a skirt, for instance. Some of the ladies might think that all musical eomedy skirts should reach the ankle; the younger gentlemen censors might wish to raise the limit to the knee, while the elderly gentlemen censors ”

“I never thought of that,” said Aiderman Beeker, scratching his head. “I’ve got a splendid idea—it’s so simple,” I purred. “Here’s a piece of paper. A few strokes of the pencil, and—there! You’d never suspect it, but that’s supposed to be a human form. See—those are the knees—those are the ankles—that lump on the top is the head. Now, we can use dotted lines to indicate the different levels of decency for different occasions.” “How for different occasions?” “Well, decency isn’t a fixed principle, you know,” I chattered on. “It varies with time and place. A bathing suit is decent on the beach but not on Broadway; a ball gown is decent at a ball, but not on Fifth-avenne of a summer morning; and so on. Now, the stage is supposed to represent life—every phase of it. Let's decide how much or how little clothes ought to be worn on the stage.” Above is shown the diagram which Miss Carew submitted- Whether Aiderman Becker adopted it is not chronicled.