Out of Our Past: Women’s Christian Temperance Union objected to racy can-can

Nov. 8 in history:

• In 1901, riots took place in the streets of Athens as a protest against the translation of the Gospel of St. Matthew into Modern Greek. Eight demonstrators were killed.

• In 1933, during the Great Depression, in his New Deal, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt unveiled the Civil Works Administration, an organization designed to create jobs for the more than four million unemployed.

• In 1950, in the Korean War, United States Air Force Lt. Russell J. Brown, while piloting an F-80 Shooting Star, shot down two North Korean MiG-15s in the first jet aircraft-to-jet aircraft dogfight in history.

• In 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected as the 35th President of the United States, defeating incumbent Vice President Richard Nixon, who would later be elected president in 1968 and 1972. Both men visited Richmond: Nixon on May 14, 1949, and Kennedy on April 29, 1960.

• In 1972, the American pay television network Home Box Office (HBO) launched.

• In 1973, the right ear of John Paul Getty III was delivered to a newspaper outlet along with a ransom note, convincing his father to pay $2.9 million in ransom.

• In 1988, U.S. Vice President George H. W. Bush was elected 41st president.

The world-altering Richmond news the first week of November 1899:

• Friends of Garrett Johnson placed a pair of young possums in his bed. When Garrett later hopped into it, the possums in their efforts to escape furrowed their tails about his legs and dug their claws into his body. With a yelp Garrett leapt out from the sheets, sky-bound, nearly bumping his head on the ceiling. Upon returning to earth he ran out blindly, plunging headlong down the stairs and in consequence got considerably bunged. He currently spasms at sudden loud noises and goes into a trance; his nervous disposition is untenable at best and grievous at worst and threatens serious emotional instability if he does not snap out of it. Let this be a warning to pranksters.

• The Francis E. Willard W.C.T.U. (Women’s Christian Temperance Union), at their meeting here yesterday, adopted the following: We herein desire to make it known that we do protest against shows of the character of the one given at the Phillips Opera House last Saturday evening in which the can-can, or the display of the female limb, being amply flaunted in exhibition — was paraded in that obvious immoral dance. As this leads to the corruption of youth, and goes very much toward the destruction of certain particular males blasting their lives away with carnality urges and thoughts of sex-sin, we believe it to be the Christian duty of the ministry, the educators of the city, the professors of the Earlham school, and all those who desire to keep flawless purity in their homes and maintain unalloyed stainlessness and protection for their children and youth, to make their voices heard in opposition and condemnation against aforesaid vices and to keep bare-fleshed female accoutrements from being given display in fair Richmond. Bare ankles are not to be showcased! ANYWHERE! — Very sincerely, Women’s Christian Temperance Union.

(Note: The hoochie-coochie, a sexually provocative sort of belly-dance, replaced the can-can by the turn of the century. No information on how the hoochie-coochie went over locally.)

• From Mrs. Vaughn to Mrs. Pinkham – Dear Friend: Two years ago I had child-bed fever and womb trouble in its worst form. For eight months after the birth of my baby, I was not able to sit up. Doctors treated me, but it was no help. I had bearing-down pains, burning in the stomach, kidney and bladder trouble, and my back was so stiff and sore, the right ovary very badly affected, and everything I ate distressed me, and there was a bad discharge that stunk. I was confined to my bed when I wrote to you for advice and followed your directions faithfully, taking Lydia E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound Liver Pills, and using the Wash. After doing this, I am now able to do the most of the housework. I am again a strong, useful woman and I believe I should have died if it had not been for this Compound. I hope my testimonial letter may have the result of benefiting other suffering women who desire to re-enter her rightful sphere, in performing household duties, and being of use. I recommend the Compound to everyone. – Mrs. Mary Vaughn, Richmond, Indiana.

• Webster – Several from this place attended a pie supper at Webster, Friday evening. They report a fine time and a large crowd, save for Miss Larsh who, upon eating something tainted, went home sick. The rhubarb is supposed.

• Boston – Bert Packer came near having a runaway horse-team last week, but no damage was done, as he reigned in tight and prayed hard.

• Germantown — The Germantown boys in the 33rd regiment were under fire, for the first time last Sunday, at the battle of San Jacinto. Their landing from the transport Sheridan was also thrilling. They were taken off in lighters and had to wade some distance through several feet of water. All this time the Filipinos were raining Mauser bullets at the Wayne County boys, but were eventually driven off by shells from the gunboats. (Note: The Battle of San Jacinto was fought during the Philippine-American War on Nov. 11, 1899 between Filipinos and the United States. Some East Germantown men evidently took part.)

• Dublin — Corn will, with little exception, be in the crib this week, if good weather continues. All here are excited and rejoicing!

• Dalton — Mrs. Hannah Parker had a narrow escape from being run over by the railway cars at Losantville, Thursday. She lay prostrated for sometime by the shock from the mishap, and is yet jittery.

Contact columnist Steve Martin at stephenmonroemartin@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Out of Our Past: Women’s group objected to racy can-can