The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-03-15
DIR. w1NrERs PROTESTS
TO the Editor of the Eagle.

| To the Editor Of the Eagle.
We wish to assure you that when you
wrote your article entitled, AFTER the
EAGLE you were laboring under great
mistake. The action of The ladies who ap-
| peared In tho council chamber last Mon-
day evening, where they received such
| polite and cordial welcome, was iu no
way inspired or brought about by anything
exhibited in the Office or published in tha
columns of the EAGLE. The lady who WAS
the sole instigator of this movement
against the posting OF demoralizing
pictures and nand- bills in our streets
| never heard of any person be
ing shocked BY the display of
any picture in the business Office
the COMMITTEES of ladies who demanded the
removal of q picture from the window of
an art store in the city till she read your
editorial this morning. And. for myself.
must say that I have supported your
laudable endeavor to bring within the
reach OF every reader OF the EAGLE. st a
mere nominal cost. the different series of
engravings which you have offered for sale.
by purchasing copies OF every one Of them
myself. The only object Of the ladies
who appeared in the council chamber
and of a vast multitude OF their fellow
towuswoneu who could not be there, is to
secure the passage of city ordinance
which can BE- made effective in preventing
the generalization of our boys aud our
girls by the exhibition OF such horrid pic
lures as from time to time we see on
fences and other places in our city. No
one thinks OF trying to make ANY one
moral or religious by legislation but some
of US intend to do our best to secure such
legislation as will save young persons
from being demoralized.
While the writer has long had clearly
defined views OF his own on the subject
under discussion. he will substitute for
them quotation from the writings of
one OF the most distinguished men of our
time, man who has done more than any
other one man of the age to promote pop
ular education In its higher branches.
Alas for the girls and for the boys, be-
cause OF the street school The pictures
that are placed in the show windows of
book shops and art rooms, that hang at
news stands and on walls and other adver-
using spaces produce impressions that are
as lessons impaired and received. They
are mute indeed. No voice is heard while
they teach. But they speak as no tones
or artIculations of the human voice can
speak. They hold close attention. They
rlVet the eyes and thought They out
teach the best professional teachers. They
msy undo In i've minutes some other
teachers work of ian hour or day. They
hold their pupils still-so still. The Jolly.
skipping girl has been arrested by them
Watch her beautiful eyes, and
that fixed gael Wonderful girl.
What possibilities are in thee What
power abides in the picture that can cap
ture thus, this bit OF iHcarnate loveliness.
Sue leaves their presence, perhaps reluct-
antly. bu6 carries away with her. lines,
colors, shadings. attitudes: and these
again awaken in her mind older and indis
tiuct impressions, give meaning to some
hints she never before fully understood;
move upon her feelings, aud start ideas
and impulses which most effectually sweep
away all the best words of the mornings
lesson in school. Happy for her, if the
kiss of welcome on her return at noon
goodbye at the gate three honrs before.
by the public street exhibition Of pic
lures, low standards of character are pre-
sented to children already dragged far
enough down by the ordinary home and
play ground life. They are drawn to the
picture. They look and think. They
look again and go away to remem-
lures which present the church or
religion in some unfair or ridiculous
light. They commend To favor senseless
hilarity, profanity, vulgarity. or disrespect
for parents. Tney repr esent nude or semi
nude women, the ia avorites of the theater
or the marvels OF the c.rcus-standing on
running horses. leaping into the air from
bar to bar-narieninge every girl who looks
with interest on them. and often kindlnx
in boys the beginnings of passion, which
ends in foul thoughts and often in deeds
of secret and of deadly sin."
Our present city council has passed no
more important ordinance than the one
prepared by the city attorney and adyoca-
ted by the ladies last Monday night. It's
merits ought Eot be prejuaiced by the alb
surd allegation that it wages war against
''unorthodox" religious beliefs. THE or
dinance. boiled down." resolves itself in
to "A question Of good morals. Noihing
more. DAVID WINTERS.