Red Liqhts completely ignores the seamier aspects of early twentieth century prostitution. Even more indicative of Mr. Gray's 'good old days' approach to his subject is his utter disregard of the twin scourges of syphilis and gonorrhoea, and their attendant social complications. Surely two hundred pages on pre-penicillin prostitution in which the words 'venereal disease' appear only once can hardly pretend to be credible social history. Author's bias distorts his interpretation Mr. Gray's most serious difficulty arises when he is confronted with the problem of social and moral reform. Once prostitution and the liquor traffic became harmless diversions, reformers cease to be responsible citizens, responding to the complex urban problems of town which become cities overnight.
Protestant ministers are a special target.
Dr. F.B. DuVal of Winnipeg, one of the West's most distinguished Presbyterians, is described as 'a pint-sized zealot with a hard glinting eye'. Mr. Gray also notes with glee that 'there were whore houses in Regina before there was a single church,' and suggests on several occasions that prostitution may have played a more important role in the lives of our grandfathers than religion. One wishes Mr. Gray could restrain his desire to engage in selective snickering long enough to examine seriously the deeply held convictions of the Western reform movement. The author's deficiencies as social historian in no way diminish the general appeal of this book. Red Lights on the Prairies is very much like Mr. Gray's earlier books - witty, anecdotal, and superficial.