"A SINK OF INIQUITY."

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2102, 13 March 1920, Page 4

"A SINK OF INIQUITY."

LONDON WEST END CLUB

ALLEGATIONS BY POLICE

Astounding allegations, reminis-

cent of West End life before mid in the early days of the war. were foreshadowed in the opening of. a summons at Bow Street, London, against Harry Dalton and Kate Evelyn Mcyriek, manager and secretary respectively, of Dalton's Club,

Ltd., Leicester Square, They were charged with permitting the premises to ho used as an habitual resort of women of ill-repute. A second summons against Dalton’s dub, Ltd., and Mrs Meyrick, called upon them to show cause why the club should not he struck off the register on the grounds that it was not conducted in good faith, that it was used for unlawful purposes, and as a resort of women of had character. Mr 11. Muskett, prosecuting for ihe police, explained that (he premises were situate entirely underground in Leicester Square, next door hut one to the Alhambra. It comprised a restaurant in which light meals were served, a cloakroom, some domestic offices, and a. ballroom. The proprietors of the club were Dalton, Mrs Hooker, Mrs Meyrick, and the latter’s daughter, n girl of tender years, whose association with such an establishment was to he regretted. The promoters, besides the persons already mentioned, included two Indies whose names would not’ he involved in this investigation. Mrs Meyrick drew £lO per week salary as secretary, and the not profits were divided monthly between her and the three other persons lie had named.' The club had an excellent set of rules, but as they were not observed they were not worth the paper they were • printed ou. It called itself a dancing club, proceeded Mr Muskett, hut it would he no exaggeration at all to call it a dancing hell —an absolute sink of iniquity. It was a noxious, fungus growth upon our social life, one of many which had sprung up during Ihe Avar..

Police evidence would he adduced to show that in the ballroom open and unabashed indecency and impropriety were the order # ot the evening. Finally, on November 22nd, Inspector Collins qiaid a second visit. He found the underground dancing-room croAvded and insufferably hot, there being no ventilation. Of-92 people present, several of Avhom Avero convicted unfortunates, 52 declared that they were members, hut the names of only 31 appeared in the members’ hook, and of the remaining 10, who described themselves as visitors, only 10 appeared in the visitors’ hook. One man was incapably drunk, and, after being ejected, was taken into custody. If one half of the facts alleged by the police Avere proA’ed, there could be no doubt that the sooner the club ceased to exist and was struck off the register, the better it would lie for the interests of public decency and morality. The hearing was adjourned.

The sun could easily contain Avi thin its boundaries the entire earth and moon ami the distance between them. In fact, three systems like that consisting of earth and moon could he strung out, in a vow through the centre of the sun, without coming Avitlim 50,001) miles of its surface on either side!

The herring and maekorcl-ahvays sAvim from left to right. In a tank Avhere mackerel are confined it has been found necessary to construct an island in the middle of the tank, othei-wise the fish swim straight for ihe glass and injure themselves; hut, give them an island to swim round, and they SAvim on from left to right contentedly. •