Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-05-14


to any thoughtful reader that they live
together, and that he acts as he chooses
with her in this hypnotic state, and the
book concludes with nothing can SEQ
In any character to help or elevate, but
teaches that which Is vicious and In
fidelic and not fit to be read.
"The Manxman," q book OF some
what better morals, takes rs its leading
character the daughter Of shos,man
who is easily seducad, and the wild fires
of love and adultery burn all through
the story. Thus might take up other
books Of popular ruin, and most Of those
that have taken the care to examine
arc full of the fires of passion and the
poison of infldelity. Glance over the
novels that are sold upon the news
stands, examine the class Of rubbish on
the news stands on the street corners,
and you will find a horrible combina-
ton, hotchpotch of passion, bloodshed,
robbery and intrigue enough to kindle
the fires of damnation in the heart Of
every young man and young woman In
this country. Bad books burn out the
heart like whisky burns up the blood.
There seems to be morbid appetite
throughout all society for the vulgar.
Every novel must have somewhere a
scene of seduction and adultery to
make it go. Every stage performances
must have in some scene at least .
prominent insinuation of ruined virtue.
Gambling and prostitution are becom-
ing the cardinal sins Of America, and /
/ - L. nA 1uv 70
streams which seem to be broadening
and deepening and gathering In their
awful course the young men and young
ladies, the young husbands and tho
young wives, and even the old gray
haired colonel and major, have their
origin In what the world calls ''high
society"
The parlor evening dress is the legiti-
mate mother of stage tights. The card
table among the women and the horse
racing and stock speculatings among
the men are the legitimate parents
of gambling, and the most debauched
characters we have to-day are coming
from the homes of the rich. That a
millionaire should make a secret fnan-
cial settlement with his wife and run
| of with pretty stage prostitute,
furnishes readable newspaper article
| and topic of conversation for society.
A few good women made kick on
poor old debauchcd Breckenridge, who
like many of the other dirty dogs in
| politics ought to be consigned to the
shades of private lie, yet this kick
| loses its force when they will 60 and
sit before tho footlights of what they
call stage star, whom they know to
| be ten times as vile as poor old Breck.
| l rarely get on train that do not sec
some young lady with her head lean
ing on the soft cushion of a Pullman
seat reading o modern novel, or some
young man with his patent leather
shoes resting on the seat in front OF
him in the smoker and q cigarette In
his mouth psrusing the same delightful
and corrupting task.
Last year little boy stole out from
a delightful Chicago home. He was an
only child and was the joy and pet Of
the household. He was lost for three
months, every conceivable method oi
search failed to find him. A policeman
in the city Of Chattanooga discovered
the lad on a sunny March morning ly-
ing on board on sandpile with hot
| fever. He was carried to the work.
house, his father telegraphed for and
the fragile little fellow, burning with
fever brought on by his exposure. was
carried to q hotel in Chattanooga
where George Stuart visited him and
baptized him and received him into the
church, the sick boy with bis par.
ents weeping by his side. The father
said to Brother Stuart that on search
| ing his room he found in his closet q
| pile Of dime novels which, If stacked In
one pile, would have reached the cell.
ing Of his room. If the fathers and
mothers of this country want to trace
the downfall of their children let them
hunt for the books they read, the per
formances they witness and the COM
pany they keep. SAM r. JONES.