Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-04-05

have work m oDcc they did, and they are
not educated for refined amusement They
create demand for sensational literature
AMI dr1ipaa They enjoy no other. -F. ~.
Crundcn, Librarian. o. LOuis
hayc continually 10 exercise "a great
ccnsorsLip over the books my children read.
Vicious books are always creeping into
their hhlidE from sources least expected.
The l;rcat dangorin IN this class Of books and
drninn. too for that matter IL that they
come to be discussed by young men and
women In o manner that would have been
taboocd "A few years ago.
Tho remedy must begin in tho home.
If every one sweeps In front Of his own
door, the city will be clean. But I would
suggest that our society lacics can do
much. Let dozen Of tho leaders, the best
and most fashionable women I'm the city,
get together when some questionable play
II coming and ray they will not go because
II IL questionable. Make it unfasbonable
To go and 10 will have great cficct.-
Graham Frost, Lawyer.
Educate the youth up 10 standard 80
high that when thcCe mediocre prOduc.
tions, either Cf the pen Or tho player, are
sccn they viii bc devoid OK interest. Let n
young man who is educated 90 read only
the masterpieces Of literature pick up some
Ill written novel that has nothing 10 com.
mend 1t except that 1t Is immoral, and ne
Will not become interested In 1t. Teach
the youth 10 see and enjoy only legitimate
drama, and plays which have nothing to
recommend them, except that they suggest
situations the most shocking TO sensitive
and refined persons, will only disgust, not
entertain him.-Profcssor q. W. Krall,
Washington University.
IT Is largely the fault OF the public that
the present condition OF affairs exists, and
the public has 1t in It's own hands TO RENE
dy that condition. II there were not n
dcin-ad by the public for this vicious lit
erature and suggestive dramas, they would
not be offered. Publishers put out boots
that sell. The manager puts on plays that
will fill his house and swell his receipts.
II tho public would not buy the books nor
patronize these suggestive dramas, they
would soon be retired. 0f course the more
Of IL q certain class scc3 and reads the
more it wants, and in that the publisher
and theatrical manager are ct fault Tho
only way to suppress 1t is to educate tho
public to higher standard.-E. w. Pat
terson, Lawyer
1t has been clearly demonstrated to me
time and time again that good, wholesome
plays fill the thcatcrs just AS much as dc
the vicious ones, and good, wholesome
books with literary merit have just as
large sale as do the books which at least
suggest IL not portray immortality. Den
Thompson's "Old Homestead" will draw
just as big houses as "The Clemenceau
Case" Why, then, should the suggestive
plays be placed on the boards at all? Let
the publisher and the playwriter furnish
good, wholesome things, and there will be
no demand for this other class.-Judge j.
K. McKejghan.
1t is the individual who must be educat-
ed SO that the vicious book and the sug-
gestive drama will be obnoxious. A cen
sorship should in some manner be created
for regulating this evil Public sentiment
Is the best censor in this case, and each in
dividual must be brought up to the stand
ard. AS Pope Plus TX once said when
some sweeping reform movement was sug.
gcstcd to him, "Let each man reform him
self, and the reformation will then be com
plete. &C. B. Pallen, Secretary Catholic
Publishing Company.
Girls of this day are made familiar with
conditions that in my day were undreamed
of. The average modern book and play
familiarize you with things that in real
life would be most shocking and indecent.
In such a presentation on the stage as
Lady Windermeres FAM or "The
Manxman" there is SO much glitter that
one does not fully take in the reprehensi-
bility of the thing. Such plays rob the
young of the one great beauty of youth
innocence.
think, in art, that the nude is perfectly
proper. The few living pictures 1 have
seen were anything but Objectionable. ]
think it is usually the mind of the behold.
er that makes anything of this kind seem
When read the review Of "The Woman
Who Did," resolved that should wait
until had exhausted all other means OF
entertainment before looking at the book.
could see no reason for its being. Iwould
not put such books in the hands of those
whose tastes are not formed and judgment
matured.
I believe that our social and domestic
customs are built upon the experiences
Of the past, and embody, in the main, the
best plan for the good of the greatest num-
Der. 1t Is not all as we would have 1t, but
all reforms that are permanent seem to
have been brought about gradually by a
healthier public sentiment.-Mrs. M. w.
Brewer, st. Louis.