The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-08-09
IT WOULD CORRUPT A SAINT.
Vici0usly Immoral Books in the
Library.
A Crime Against the Youth of Los
Angeles.
A sample ef Certain Glass of Literature
That Can Be Secured by Young
schoolgirls at the
Library.

The bonehcent uses of public libra
~ as an educator and instructor of tho
yeung are manifold. Its power to do
good or harm to the mind of the youth
OF the land is an incalculabls problem
in social economy or moral philosophy.
1t requires no stereotyped axioms,
however, to alarm the apprehensions OF
parents as to the preservation OF their
children from the faint OF moral and
physical corruption. 1t needs no alarm
ist cries to excite the keen attention of
mother to protect the virtue OF her
daughter; yet none the lsas is it true that
the young girls who enter the public
library and draw literature frem its
shelves Unfortunately are in danger
of csming in contact with the vilsst in
spirstions, the most lscherous and de-
bauched outgivings, in comparison with
which the foul and obsoene argot OF the
debased inmates OF the lowest hell-holes
ON Alameda street would seem like the
invoeations of purs.souled and epotless
saints. To the long and half-told train
OF evils in connection with the
public library of the city OF Los
Angeles must also be added that of
circulating literature, so-called, of such
a pernicious character that even the
bawdy, wind, that kisses all 1t meets,
would stop the nose at. Passing by for
the present number of works in the
English language which clergymsn and
physicians would properly condemn by
<~f hat has fell inf on 10
minds of boys and girls who have free
and indiscriminate access 20 the public
library, the HERALD begs to call atten-
ton, as a starter, to one of the books in
the section of French literature. Let it
be understood that these books are open
to the innocent minds o. school chill
dren, and let it be further borne in mind
that President G. A. Dobinson of the
board of directors OF the public library
10 fluent French scholar.
The literary catalogue in class four
contains a novel by Jean Riohepin en-
titled LIE Cadet, published by Charpen-
tier OF Paris. The young son
or daughter of any taxpayer
of Los Angeles who holds q
library card, and whose innocence and
purity have been the pride of their
parents, can write ON q slip of paper the
Arabic symbols 4 1851 and receive the
volume, the contents of which would
bring blush to the panied cheek of a
modern Messalina.
The story is one Of modern France in
which figures an elder brother, Desire,
his wife, Anais, young and voluptuous.
and q juvenile brother of the husband,
Amabls, who, despite his youthfulness,
is an accomplished rake, graduated from
Partisan brothels.
1t is essential to hold certain estates
that the elder brother ehould have an
heir, and to this end the younger
brother debauches the wife, and the
story of this contamination Is told in
fervid sentences in which the develop.
ment OF all the physical and mental pro-
cess of wildly sensuous passion are
told without the stinting of words or the
picking of phrases. This picture OF the
fsenzies and vices Of erotic love is
further bestisizsd by the in
PRODUCTION OF peasant woman,
who in the rugged, didactic argot of the
soil adds to the gross coarseness and
brutality of the lssoivious brochure.
Perhaps the most terrifying feature OF
the book is the description OF the cpl
sodes between the younger brother ana
mer's day in the warmth OF harvest
time. with the heat of burning sun
bubbling in their veins. No young girl
could read this passage with all it's de-
tailed minutia without being morally
debauched and ruined. In fact, this
rancid book Is filled with these minute
descriptions in which the frsnetic pas
sions OF the most sensuous type are given
with the fullest freedom of cold type.
Fancy any young girl in the public
cheols, who 10 studying the French lam
guage, being exposed in her ignorance of
such nastiness to such pollution as il ex-
emplitied in this and other books. The
text of LIE Cadet is too vile for
quotation in the columns of q
newspaper. 1t is matchlsss in its
luminous righteousness and will take
rank with the vilest illusions of any
epoch, not barring the classic touch of
the ancient profane writers, but match
ing them in cold blooded, plain spoken
immortality in which spade is denomi-
mated O spade, etc.
That auch literature is easily accessi-
BILE to the boys and girls OF Los Angeles
10 q matter that calls for the instant at.
tention of the council and all fathers
and mothers in this city. 1t is time the
veil were torn aside from the yelled
prophet yclept the Public Library and
that the wickedness which lies esconced
on its shelves given to the flames. Let
all God fearing people examine the Ii
brsrv catalogue and reflect on the future
OF their children exposed to such in
EQUITY. LIE Cadet would destroy even the
steadfastness of st. Anthony.
The following communication refer
ring to the article in Yesterdays HERALD
was received last evening frem an anony-
nous source and 1t is given for what ii
is worth:
Mr.. Editor: ''You have only half in
formation about the library job.
''If you would make the assistants tell