The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-23
EVIL PRINTS AND PAPERS.

| A growing evil, and one that sometime
must be checked by statute if public con-
domination be not enough, is that of posting
loud if not absolutely vulgar pictures of ac-
tresses along the public streets. Some of
them are positively indicate, and very
strong sentiment has been aroused against
| them on the part of citizens who have long
endured the evil in silence. This condemna-
| ton does not come from spirit of prudish-
ness, but from wholesome fear of the evil
| effects that seem inevitable. The worst
| specimens of these illuminated bills are
| generally to be found stuck up
in saloon windows, the more respectable
tradesmen very properly declining to allow
them space. The evil is not confined to va
riety shows, to actresses who have little
character to suffer but is now INDUCED in
by ''artistes" of all grades, with very few
honorable exceptions The object of these
| fashy prints is to catch a certain kind of
patronage the character of which is obvious.
But to do this the entire public is insulted.
1t matters not what ones views and
tastes in this direction may be,
he cannot escape the impudent
presence of realistic portraits of half-nude
actresses, whose success depends more upon
physical than mental excellence. When in
vitations of questionable decency are extend
ed to certain classes of society, they should
be conveyed privately, and without broadly
insulting others, whose patronage Is likewise,
in most cases, desired. Aside from the adult
| patrons of theaters and shows of every de-
gree of decency and indecency, there is a
large population of youth whose morals
are a matter of vital interest to So
| ciety. The government that allows its
youth to be corrupted without attempting
to shield them can only expect trouble in
restraining them when they grow older. En-
| couraged by the public display of vicious
pictures, the tendency to licentiousness is
the most natural thing in the world. The
improperly of allowing public display to
pictures that would be cloud" even in a
bar-room ought to be apparent to all. 1t is
l
the advertisement of houses OF ill-repute
than of theaters.
But this evil has another feature but
little less Objectionable. In return for
the privilege of putting these pictures in
| show windows, it is generally the custom
to give the store-keeper Or saloon keeper,
complimentary ticket. When not
used by the proprietor or by the bar-keeper.
it goes to some regular patron, and in either
event very undesirable person is frequently
given seat in the best portion of the house,
much to the disgust Of more respectable
patrons. In some instances a comparatively
respectful entertainment is advertised in an
outre manner in order to attract a class7of
people that is easily pleased, the only require
ment being that it shall border narrowly on
| indecency.
Another evil, twin of the above, is that
of barber-shops providing loud illustrated
papers for the entertainment OF their patrons.
This is an unqualified Insult to every man
who takes no pleasure in reading such
abominable trash or even in looking over the
atrocious illustrations, which, in nearly
every instance, are libels on the subjects
] they pretend to represent. A man goes to q
barber-shop presumably to be shaved, not to
read or look over ten-cent picture gallery.
| 1t is to be greatly deplored that
such publications are allowed to circulate at
all, to say nothing of having them thrust
into your hands by obsequious brush boysa as
soon as you take a chair to wait your turn.
Let it be denominated what it will, there is
a large per cent. of those who are shaved by
BARRIERS who feel outraged whenever one of
these scandalous sheets meets their eyes.
Their feelings are entitled to some respect.
| There is no excuse for the proprietor of any
kind of shop to thus gratuitously offer
standing insult to large portion OF his best
patrons. Almost as well might butcher or a
| baker keep these papers on their counters 1t
is time the better elements of society pro-
nounced condemnation of this custom. In
some States laws have been enacted prohibit
| ing the sale and circulation of all such papers
OF evident immoral tendencies Georgia has
taken the right stand on this question, and
the city of Atlanta has section in one of
its ordinances prohibiting the distribution
for any consideration of obscene or immoral
literature. Under its provisions a travelling
agent of one of these notorious papers is now
under arrest for having distributed gratis
copies OF his papers there. The same measures
should obtain elsewhere and be enforced
with such fidelity that the publication of
that class of papers would be stopped. The