CHAPTER III
places which cater to vice

Places which cater to vice are divided into two groups.
The first group, catering directly to vice, includes saloons
and their accessories, such as concert halls and cabaret
shows; the second group, operating indirectly, comprises
public dance halls, burlesque theaters, amusement parks,
and boat excursions. The proprietors of these places usu¬
ally have full knowledge of the demoralizing influence of
their establishments, and deliberately encourage such con¬
ditions for the purpose of increasing their profits. " The
saloons which cater to women," writes Professor Rausch-
enbusch, " the dance halls that encourage indecent dances
and supply long intermissions for the consumption of
liquor; pleasure resorts and excursion steamers, theaters,
music halls, and moving picture shows that use the ever
ready attractiveness of sex interests — are all smoothing
the downward road—and they know it." '

Nevertheless, it would be unjust to condemn indis¬
criminately all persons connected with the places which
indirectly promote vice. An exception should be made
of certain proprietors of dance halls and amusement
parks, the commissioners of public parks, and some ex¬
cursion boat owners.
1" Christianizing the Social Order," p. 278.
52