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Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1921, Page 8

A warning against the evils of the “shimmy,” “toddle,” “camel’s walk” and other new dances was given in an official ban placed on them by Archbishop Henry Moeller of the Ohio diocese of the Catholic Church recently in a letter addressed to pastors (says the New York Times). Bare female shoulders at social functions were also condemned, in the communication, which has been expected, since the dances have been banned by other prelates of the Catholic Church. Reiterating a decree made in 1916 regarding dances ,in connection with Catholic charity affairs or educational events as still in force, Archbishop Moeller asserts “it cannot be denied that dancing, at best, as a social diversion, is fraught with danger to the soul,” and “frequently is detrimental to the health of the body.” “No parents who wish to guard the becoming modesty of their children will allow them to take part in promiscuous masquerades or so-called domino dances,” said the letter. “While we cannot allow dancing for charitable and religious purposes, we feel justified in tolerating them when given by Catholic societies or organisations for social or financial ends, such as raising funds for their own benefit.”

The tremendous depreciation in the value of American securities and the heavy drain of war taxes on large fortunes was disclosed recently by the publication of figures showing that the public bequests of the late Clay Frick, the steel magnate and art collector, had shrunk in value from £23,500,000 to £5,000.000 in a little over a year. The bequest to Princeton University, originally estimated at 000, is now reduced to £1.500,000. The entire Frick estate was valued at his death at £'115,000,000, and although such possessions as landed property ami art treasures have retained their early values, that part of the estate which was .invested in securities is believed to have shrunk about 60 per cent. Mr. Frick directed that his residuary estate be. divided into a hundred shares, .portions of which were- left to eighteen institutions, including hospitals, charitable homes and universities.