The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-08-28
Who IsResnonslhlo2

Is parent responsible for the training
OF his child2 Is an intelligent citizen in
any degree responsible for the training OF
the children of neighbors whose poverty
or ignorance deprives their offspring of
opportunities equal to those of more
fortunately conditioned families? Is a
state responsible for refusing equal oppor-
tunity OF education TO all its children. rich
and poor alike? If these questions be
answered affirmatively, and they must be
so answered by all rational men, there is
frightful responsibility accruing to the
people OF Indiana, who stand idly by and
see the children ofthisstate sleeping their
brains in flashy, sensational literature and
make no movement TO restrain or correct
the evil. 1t is, perhaps, hardly possible
to stop the publication and sale of this
trash. 1t is possible to give the children
of Indiana access to better reading matter
free of cost, and to turn their minds to
more wholesome channels.
The current number OF the Library
Journal contains an article on this sub
ject that ought to ring like an alarm-beH
wealth. The writer. GEORGE f. HARDY,
is an experienced teacher, and mis- paper,
which was originally read before the New
York state teachers association, was re-
ceived with warm approval by the most
eminent educators OF the Empire state.
His description of the dime and half-dime
libraries and weekly story papers is ac-
curate and startling:
Grossly improbable and sensational incidents
are described in vulgar English, plentifully be-
sprinkled with coarse and slangy expressions
Not infrequently scenes and places that are the
resorts OF the vicious ana abandoned of both
sexes are specOusly portrayed in a manner in
tended purpOsely to make them attractive TO
the young. Bombastic or maudlin virtue,
hysterical sentimeutalty, impossible Shrewd-
ness. and even impudent immortality are
the trademarks OF their character. Through
the medium OF their pages-mOre especially
now. when alleged detective stories are in
vOcue-tender children are introduced to scenes
and their innocent minds debauched by in
cidents that would hiring bushes to the cheeks
Of their elders. The jais, the slums, the sewers,
in short every purleu of crime is ransacked by
the gifted authors of these studies in their
search for new sensations. and agony is
literally piled on agony 10 tickle the already
iaded palates of their child readers
SuOChlLg as lillS plCluIeb, IL - llltIdllN
true, as anyone may see who will take
the trouble to examine this literature,
samples of which NAV be found at almost
any newsstand. To adults it may not be
fatally injurious. The effect on the youth
full mind that has its growth through these
Shiny marshes is truthfully portrayed by
Mr.. HARDY as follows:
Like dram-drinking, it has become a dissipa-
ton, and before long 1t will become a neces-
sity He lives. or rather dreams, poor child, in
a world OF unrealities peoDled only by the
mOnstrOus and ridiculous creations of his
penny-dreadiuls. lie has been robbed of his
Intellectual vigor; his passions have been
stimulated, aud his will power weakened. He
is rapidly ungergoing dangerous transforma-
ton and the pity of il is that all too frequently
his natural protectors, be they parents or
teachers. stand idly by as he drifts along seeing
no harm, stretching forth no helping hand. Ii
parents could only see and understand the
mass Of vicious books and papers that
is TO be found in the hands of their chill
dren, then perhaps they might realize that
there are grayer contagious than those
communicated by bacteria and microbes
And be it remembered that reference is
not made here to obscene literature, which,
thanks 10 the many energetic societies of noble
men and women, has well-nigh disappeared
from circulation among the young, but 10 the
vast and villainous aggregation OF the so-caled
on almost every news stand in the city. These
are the agencies which, in the words Of TENNY-
SOS-