The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-18
REV. D. W. FISHER.

MADISON, IND, Jan. 10, 1879.

/ AANA ANNHNAN 1tAGAV1otCN - AANMNAANA ~ ~
CoFrupting Literature Found In d
Hands ofSehooI children.
MADISON, IND; Jan. 10, 1879.
EdItOn Intelligencer.
Some time ago-no matter how long
Mr.. Comstock, SO well known in come
ton with his warfare on the literature {
the day, was in neighboring city, on h
mission. He went to the house Of one
the most estilnable Christian women {
the place, and amazed her by intormin
her that he had come to procure IN ind,
cent book, which was in the possession {
her daughter. He was told that he mui
be mistaken, but he persisted until tn
girls trunk was opened and the evil vo
ume, to the horror Of her mother, wa
broughtto light. That may have been
somewhat extraordinary case. Thes
publications may be presumed to circulat
more largely among boys and men tina
among girls. But l cite the case becaus
II shows that the evil is one which cor
Germs even the most respectable people L
their own homes.
GRADES or BAD LITRRATuRE-TItE WORST.
There may be said to be three kinds q
derraved literature now widely circulate,
in this country. It may be graded
respectively, bad, trorse and IrorSt. Tha
kind after which Mr.. Comstock looks /
the ,pOra. Cart loads OF 1t, under the ex
isting laws, have been seized and destroy
ed. Still itsurvivcs, and It must find man,
purchasersandbe pecuniarily POTABLE, els,
men would cease to publish 1t. It Il
claimed that among the pupils OF the
public schools in some regions 1t is quite
current. Teachers would do well 10 hayi
an eye on 1t. There are Academies ant
Female Seminaries, which issue no cata
logues, partly because they do not think 1
safe to furnish the names OF the scholar
10 the wretches who circulate this deadfu
stuff. OF course, 1t finds many readers
among the more degraded part OF the
population.
TUE woRsE-soNE ILLUSTRATED wEHKLIRs
The second grade is so managed a,
Just to escape the hand OF the laws which
have been enacted for the purpose OF SUP
pressing indecent publications. Oneof IL
tavorite forms Is the illustrated newspa-
per, which In It's cuts goes to the very Dor
der Of the line which, Il crossed, would
subject thepublishers to arrest. And here
! want to express my surprise ct portion
Of the newsdeaIers OF the land. There are
some who are engaged in this business
who keep their counters and shelves cleaI
from the defilement OF such publications
But there are others, who for the sake OF a
few cents, are dealing out stuff which can
crafty none but most depraved appetite,
Among these are men, who in every other
particular, are moral In their general con.
duct. Now and then you will find one
who Is member OF some church. How
they justify themselves to their own con.
sciences in the sale Of such literature is TO
Inc incomprensible.
THE BADJUvESTLE LITERATURE,
The remaining grade consists OF certain
books, periodicals and newspapers. In
them crime is the staple article. Its re.
ords are published as news. II is related
in narratives. 1t is woven into sensation.
be presented 4 Il 90 dona 20 70 bIrnt IL =
sensibilities 10 The evil NJ snc,, or;'oaS s nj
indirectly 10 nrensre The w"v co.. ,aa;.
commission. I'm his grade I nm d;.noSod
10 give the first place fo much ~ tbe ;r,.
emile literature Of the times and esneCisIIv
10 some of Tho hovs ard g;rIs weoLi;aS
Their contents arc Sensational in tha h;sb'
eat degree Vlre under The hin d;snn;ae ~
adventure, constitutes their stScE IN
trade. It is difficult to see how bovs and
girls who are broupht I'm m Smcb ;non,oI
food can escape min XII sorts ~ wran"
doing sDrinp from snch n I;,orotrrn ~
naturaliy as h,n0i from JooovIro n'ottor &C
r.,,on,,,,,,,,,.' ""''''
REIMBURSEMENT OF LAWS
may DO pardooned for adding scmC
SuSses'lol's Us 70 WHAT ought 20 De done IN
Tions Grades nm % not ann v ioInrI, H.. 20 I'm, VI
lar with existing legislation ~ enobIa M,
IN sov whether 9nv Snor" IL raodoJ Tn NV
snme. however that Il 10 with tb;s Ior v
mncb as il ia with Tho I,ws wL;"h az a.,
made in tho interest n manw otber nho %s
Of social morality, The fIrsi ereSt 5""s ss.
ity il to enforce the laws wSio5 " nrc al
ready in existence Init, this IL - Jo ~
there is vcrv little usc IN sJI;no o,LorS '
The other DIV in C;nc;nnot; a ,men o stonJ
on one of the PRINCIPAL STRAITS and 1'J AZ
posed Of tho yilest literature HnnJraJ,
saw him. noliremen ware uo0r a. Saed
and vet he wHs n" more ,no,aS,ad tIon n II H.
Ind been distribntino tr"ctS ~ sHG RIbIa. W.
The first thing which Is headed Ns in t t IL