The herald., 1894-08-13
Ministers United in Condemna-
ti0n Of LIE Cadet.
One Says the Library Needs Fumi-
cation and Distinction.
Bishop Montgomery, Rev. Campbell,
Rev. Knichten, Rev. John Gray
ana Others Talk Plainly on
tho Matter.

in the public schools, has excited pro-
fodnd anxiety and regret among all good
citizens who desire to have the children
protected from contact with vile books.
The first book in this ,category to
which the HERALD called public atten-
ton, Jean Richepin's LIE Cadet, is uni
versslly denounced by everyone who has
read it, and the fact that 1t took two
weeks OF daily application at the library
to secure the work indicates that it has
been in active circulation.
A translation OF soms of the sample
passages in this particular book has bean
made for the HERALD and it has been
submitted to quite number of promi-
nent citizens and they oil unite in de-
nouncing the presence OF such books in
the public library within reach OF school
children or, for the matter of that, read
ers of more advanced years. 1t is
also generally conceded that there
must be gross mlsmanagsment among
the library officials if they were
ignorant of it's contents, in allowing
| such books to go into circulation. All
| agree that a change should be made at
once, and an immediate examination
| made of the books of the library, with
| view to wedding out books unfit for
children to read, or else proper reatric-
| tons placed on the issuance OF books.
This may interfere somewhat with the
circulation" of the public library, but
| it would take great weight off the
minds OF many parents.
REV. JOHN aRAY's OPINION.
Among those to whom was submitted
the translations from lie Cadet was the
Rev. John Gray, rector of ST.. Pauls
Episcopal church, and after making an
examination that gentleman said: "This
| book and any others like it in the pub.
| lilo library should be taken out into the
street and publicly burned. During my
frequent visits to the library it has been
a matter of comment that | have seen
dozens of young girls. those from IA to
| 16 years OF age, and they seemed TO be
at perfect liberty to follow their own
instincts OF precocity in the selection of
books. There does not seem to be any
restriction on their choice of books. This
may be an indication OF the intellectual
cult of the city in enlsrging the circula-
ton Of the library, but the consequences
| should be viewed with alarm by every
parent. No father would consider it
prudent or beneficial to his child to give
him or her unrestricted freedom to read
the books in his own private home
library. Yet judge how these moral
4. dangers are multiplied when young girls
and boys are allowed to go into public
| library and withdraw books therefrom
| at their own election or choice BY the
simple fact of possessing library card.
| The gravity of giving child euch lib
| erty is intensified by the presence of
such vile unreadable book on the
library shelves. In other cities 1 have
been given to understand proper restric-
tions are placed on the issuance OF books
to boys and girls, and it is matter of
infinite and pressing importance that
the same safeguard should be provided
here in Los Angeles. Books of the
character of lie Cadet or in any man.
ner approaching it in vileness should be
taken from the library and publicly
burned"
FRENCH CONSUL LOEB ON THE BOOK.
NJ. Leon Loeb, the French vice-consul
in Los Angeles, in speaking of this
book, Le Cadet, by Richepin. said to q
HERALD reporter:
"This book is one OF the vilest in the
French language. 1t has no value
whatever from classic standpoint, and
i. should not be on the shelven of pub
lilo library, where it could be obtained
by any boy or girl studying the French
language. do not believe in the policy
of placing books on the shelves of q
public library without subjecting them
to careful censorship, especially when
large proportion OF the patrons are
young boys and girls"
BISHOP MoNTGoMERY's VIEWS.
Bishop Montgomery was seen ct the
episcopal residence laet evening, snd
upon being shown the rranslations from
Lo Cadet, eaid it was easy to see that il
was an obscene and filthy book, which
should not be read by adults, much less
by boys and girls. He did not desire to
express himself about individuals. hav-
ing been here too short time to be able
to know about them, but thought there
should be greater care exercised in the
claeH of literature which fell into the
hands of the young. He could not con.
ceive that public officials would know
ingly place such books as LIS Cadet on
the shelves OF public library; but if
they did they were unworthy of the
trust reposed in them.
81 do not believe" he said, shat the
public takes the interest In its library
that it should. 1t ia an easy matter
to weed out from the shelves what
should not he there, or around which
proper restrictions should be placed. A
dozen citizens could do it. I know in
San Francisco the management often
told me that if l would give them the
names OF books that they could DO &C.
cured, and have no doubt 1t is the same
here in Los Angeles. 1t is this public
who owns the library, not the officials.
They are custodians OF the property
more than any thing else, but become the
selecters of books because the public does
not do it. If there are other books
OF like character Of LIE Cadet, they
should be removed from the library.
The man who would say such books are
fit to be read lie too indecent to be citi-
zen. l have no hesitapcy at oil in speak
ing on general principles Of such liter
ature. | should like to see better class
of books upon the shelves of public
library. 1t is a most valuable and i'm
portant institution, and too much care
and intelligence cannot be exercised in
its management"
REV. CAMPBELL TALKS.
Rev. ]. W. Cam pbsll, D. d., pastor OF
the Fret Methodist Episcopal church,
spoke az follows:
HOur beautiful library ia under n