The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-05-24
Guard the Young.

eenters of vice. have any idea Il
the efforts put forth to rnin I'll,
young of both sexes by the circu
lation of corrupt literature. W.
have read tho Third Anaral Re
port Of the New York Society fol
the Suppression of Vice, which
presents un array of facts that AT
truly appalling in their character
Mr.. Anthony Comstock, the score.
tary of this society, deserves the
thanks Of the entire population ol
this country for the zeal he bas
shown in breaking up many of the
hideons dens from which obscene
literature is sent forth in poisonous
streams over the whole land. We
may form an idea of the extent TO
which this vile business is carried,
and how we'll it pays those who
are engaged in it, when it is stated
in the report that the society has
destroyed eight tons of vile books,
and more thnn seven tons of Ste
reotype plates from which they
We're printed, and that two hun
dred and forty-seven persons have
been arrested for nctive participa-
ton in this vile traffic. The par
ties engaged in this horrible bust
ness do their work in the mos
concealed places, and practice
every known trick to evade the
officers Of the law. And the worst
feature of their trade is that they
work upon the minds of the young,
aud thus corrupt society at Its
fountain-head. Those of mature
age are comparatively safe FROM
these vampires, but the young are
their special victims, and we may
well ask What shall be the So
ciety OF twenty years hence if the
boys and girls of to-day are smit- 4
ten with this leprosy? 1t becomes
the solemn duty of parents to
guard their homes from the APP
preach Of tLis dread enemy. Ther,
is DO household that is absolute,
safe without the almost vigilance 4
In the report before us it is stated
that "the committee had saddesi
evidence that yonng men and
inaidens, in the putest aud HOLES
homes OF our cities. and IN thu
most moral communities In the
country, are by hundreds led to
fnin hy this insidious foe" Their
are revelations in this report from
the agents of the society Of til.
most startling nature. One q.
them said -" / found il the houses
of the wealthiest and best families
in the hands of sous and dnugh.
tiers alike, the vilest books, pic
lures aud articles in some case.
the son or daughter had been co,
rupted while III our best schools
seminaries and colleges. In Que
.of the pnbiic schools in Brooklyl
he found one of the worst books
ever published being circulated
among the boys, and traced it toll
one Of the best families in the city.
MoIe horrible still, it was found |
that q human fend in the shape
ct a firencLman, who had tnughi
his native language IN seven lead
ing schools in New York tor thir-
teen years, had during all that
time been corrnptingh his pupils 10y
means Of the vilest books aud pic-
lures ever made. Nearly eve,y
day since the arrest of this wretch
letters have reached tue office of
the society, bringing the sad news
ct q beloved child corrupted b,
him.
These reports refer to societ,
north O. MS but we are exposed toS
the inroads of this foul literature,
for those who ply the trade Know
we'll how to use tile mails. Can
We too sedulously guard our chill
drer against snch tide Of ,evil?1