Chariton men led astray by dancing girls in tights

Rade Harden's Music Comedy Company was booked for a three-day run at the Mallory Opera Hall in Chariton (above) during late October, 1874, and initially --- for a modest fee --- Chariton Leader editor Dan Baker was happy to endorse the upcoming entertainment. Here's his promotional piece from The Leader of Oct. 16:

"We yesterday received a call from Mr. Rade Harden, the manager of the Music Comedy Company, who --- from having been an old resident --- is well and favorably known to nearly all our citizens. We cheerfully endorse his statement that he has a large and magnificent company. The entertainment will be of the most novel character, everything that will amuse being the order of the programme, singing, dancing, mirth, provoking farces, &c., rendered by artists selected with great care by Mr. Harden as especially adapted to the character of entertainment he desires to produce. Thursday, Oct. 21st, is set to be the opening night and we would advise all who desire a good seat to secure it in advance. On Saturday afternoon, a matinee will be given to enable ladies to take little folks to a rich treat of laughter. We wish Mr. Harden every success in his enterprise, and are confident that our citizens will tender him something more substantial than wishes next Thursday night."

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A week later, in The Leader of Oct. 23, editor Baker expressed his satisfaction with the troupe's initial performance, as follows:

"The Harden Comedy Troupe played in Mallory's Hall on Thursday night to a very fair audience and gave the utmost satisfaction. Mr. McNany fully maintained his position as a champion dancer, while the young ladies delighted the audience with some of the most artistic dancing ever witnessed upon a Chariton stage. The rich burlesques and practical hits made by the company, in their respective pieces, were heartily relished by all present. The song of the 'Days of '49' was capitally executed, and to our notion was worth the admission fee itself. The company will stay one more night, and all those wishing a hearty laugh will make a good investment by going out."

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The situation got slightly out of hand, however, on Saturday evening --- following the troupe's final performance, resulting in the following mixed review from editor Baker, published on Oct. 30:

"Rade Harden's Comedy Troupe exhibited in this city three nights last week and aside from the fact that it gave some really good performances, in the way of dancing in tights by the female performers, it proved a decidedly advantageous exhibition for the city.

"After the usual entertainment on Saturday night, a grand rush was made for the young ladies of the establishment by the young men of the city, who had more money than brains, and a grand melee ensued as to who should escort the fair and lovely damsels home. The successful youths who won the coveted honor carried their prizes to the Clinton House, escorted by a large and disgusted set of disappointed admirers, who were in turn followed by the marshall and the sheriff.

"The girls having been safely deposited at the hotel and their crowd of enthusiastic admirers having become more boisterous, the work of putting them in jail began, and soon the jail was filled with the boys, who finally settled their share of the sport by liberal donations to the city for sidewalk purposes.

"None of the fair young damsels were arrested, though from all accounts they made more money out of the city than anyone else.

"One of them remarked that she never saw such men in her life, while the marshall promptly responded that he never saw such women, and strange to say both told the truth. It is possible that Rade Harden made no money out of this exhibition here, but it is settled, beyond a doubt, that some of his pretty dancers did. Rade's troupe takes with the boys."