The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-27

wheIm the youth of the United States,
has been to very large degree checked
and driven to the noisome sewers from
which it came by the ComstOck society.
At the time this incorporated body,
which is a creature of statute and en-
bowed with far-reaching privileges and
powers by the law that created it, took
its origin, the United States mails were
used for the dissemination of obscene
literature to an extent to which
few people were aware, and
with an IMMUNITY calculated
to make parents and guardi-
ans shudder even now. To
less extent all over the country, but to
a shocking degree in the city of New
York and it's suburbs, school children
OF both sexes had thrust upon their at
tention cards, pictures and printed mat
ter whose vileness was simply hides
cribable. This often continued for
weeks before teachers or parents were
aware of it; the harm SO done could
never be repaired. However great every
free mans adherence must be of in
quisitorial powers vested by law In in
dividuals, the end attained by the ere
alton and maintenance of the Comstock
society has been SO beneficial that we
can well afford to forgive much to both
man and methods. The transmission
of indecent mail is now attended with
so much risk that few people try it.
The possession of even debasing pub
locations or objects is SO dangerous
was shown a week or two since in a
whose desk was broken open by Com
stock with a warrant in broad daylight
THAT its very existence Is now largely
matter of hypothesis. The public in
dignation which evinced itself in some
quarters at the arbitrary breaking open
of this mans private desk by Anthony
Comstock, and the seizure therein OF
illicit articles, ought in reasonable
mind to subside on reflection.
The Cigar merchant pleaded guilty
in open court to the charge
which Mr. Comstock made against
him, and was fined therefor. Had
there been single flaw in the
legal methods which Mr.. Comstock
adopted in this case, heavy suits for
damages would, undoubtedly, have fol-
lowed at once. The colored cartoon in
Truth, by the way, which excited the
virtuous Indignation of the Union News
Company, was harmless, reproducing
on small scale the time honored pic
ture of satyr watching naked nymphs
bathing, and as companion to it ko-
dak fiend taking views of female love
illness at the seaside. The comparison
of the kodak fiend to the satyr was an
excellent one.
There was nothing indecent in either
view of the subject, bits of carelessly
splashed red paint adding to the con-
tour of the nymphs, however, what in
an evil mind might have been sug-
gestion of evil. In spite of the Union
News Companys protest, Truth, how
ever. was distributed as usual that
week.
GEORGE GOULD A MANAGER.
It is announced that Mr.. George
Gould has received as birthday present
from his father the Grand opera house,
over on the corner of Twenty-third
street and Eighth avenue. This is one
of the most commodious and elegant
theater buildings in the city of New
York Although built twenty-five
years ago, it has not been outstripped in
its appointments and general scope by
any of the modern amusement struc-
lures. Samuel n. Pike, the great
whisky prince of Cincinnati, built
the Grand opera house as a
sort of monument to himself. He made
his fortune out of whisky during the
war and the period when the heavy
government tax was laid upon it. His
first venture in the way of providing the
country with amusementS was the
building of Pixies opera house in Gin
cinnati. This was destroyed by fire IL
1866. While standing on balcony OF
the Burnet house contemplating the
destruction of his magnificent building
Mr.. Pike was despoiled of his gold watch
by a pickpocket. He made him
self somewhat conspicuous wher
he discovered his loss by re
marking that this seemed *
be adding insult to genuine injury. Mr.
Pike was anxious to exploit himself II
| New York city, and so from this ambi
ton grew the magnificent Grand opera
t house. He was soon compelled to par
with it, and the building then passee
! into the hands of Mr.. Gould and tht
Erie railway people. 1t was made IA
nous by Jim Fisk, who swelled there
in Oriental luxury and sunk :
very considerable sum of th'
Erie railways earnings trying
to create a popular demand TO
! French opera bouffe. 1t was il
this building that all the schemint
and conniving which enabled Fisk an(
Gould to practically appropriate TIL
Erie railroad took place. For this rea
son it is somewhat historical. Of lat
years the theater part of the brildins
has been leased to Mr.. T. Henry French
at an annual rental of $40 900, and ever
at that figure Mr.. French manage
to make money. The house has beer
| for some years the favorlte resor
of all that great population on tn
west side of the city. and the enormou
seating capacity has enabled the Jesse
to pile up very handsome profit ever
| at low rates of admission. Mr.. Frencl
has now embarked in an enterprise o
his own on the west side. and will be
come an active competitor of the Gram
| opera house. 1t is announced tina
| Young George Gould will TAX