The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-09-03
ANOTHER PROTEST,
Certain Features of the Recent Enter
tainment at BurweIl Hall Criticised.

We are 10th to believe that the moral
tone OF our community is depreciating.
Yet repetition OF some scenes enacted
in our midst would indicate a falling off
that would be alarming. If we should
hold our peace the very stones would
cry out. AS little as we might be dis
posed to amt it whatever is aUored by u
community is tos,ered by that communi-
ty. So in lesser things and SO in greater
Many of US submit without protest to
existing evils and seek to stifle conscience
with the reflection 81 do not participate
in it actively and it is none of my
affair."
| The special breach to which | shall re-
! fer at present is the ballet performance
at the Opera House in the recent enter
tainment given by the ladies OF the Ii
brary Association and Others.
Your correspondent, as well as many
Others were caught unawares, not know
ing that this feature would be intro
duced; being entirely in apropos to the
hallowed associations of Dixie" in
| whose memory We were to spend "an
evening"" and he regrets that he had any
| active participation in the exercises,
| BILE part in chorus, which he was asked
| now feels that he must speak out with
no uncertain sound.
There are many who say: ooh it was
all right, as they were only children. y
"Only children!" Pray where shall we
start to inculcate morality and where
| shall we place our advance guards-our
picket lines? Since we cannot now start :,
as one said two generations back, to
| train up our Children, let us make use of
the golden present. "Only children!'
| Who is not familiar with the utterances
OF certain prelate Of the Roman Cath
| Ole church, "Give me control of the first
five years OF child's life and you may
take him for the balance" And we
know how successful they are in instilling
their doctrines and tenets into the minds
OF the young entrusted TO them. Shall
we not be wise in our generation and
| guard our children against immoral
practices Or from anything that will
brush away the bloom of modesty, the
very charm of the gentler sex? Shall we
place our girls in the situation to elicit
the ribald Jest, the vulgar comment OF
men whose tastes are depraved by i'm
moral practices and unhallOwed assO.
| Citations.
"Only childen'' Aye, who is to draw
| the line and say now we go no farther
in this thing?" And how can we expec t
at the proper time there will be a revul
sion of feelings and these things nc
longer please when We have fostered and
encouraged them and laughed at and
appIauded them? One ofold said ''train
up child in the way he should go anC
when he is old he will not depart from
it." Are we not promulgating another
doctrine and enunciating this proverb-
"train up child and away he goes?"
In the name of innocent childhood; il
the name of humanity; in the name o
morality; in the name of common de
cency let there be no more exhibition 0
this kind but let us provide amusement
and recreatiOns that are without Ques
ton and such opportunities for intellect
ual and moral culture as our community
can afford-if you please such as a goot
library would offer-and our citizens viii
surely rally to their support. Thes
things your correspondent stand
pledged to foster and encourage to tn
extent of his ability and he is inclined t.
give due need OF praise to all who ar
more actively endeavoring to provid
increased facilities for the benefit of Ou
community.
We have no opposition to offer to al
entertainments of all proper characte
for oil secular ends that are right an
commendable, but only bespeak on be
half of the rising generation that we Sc
before them better models in our lives
our practices and our associations.
| T. g HARRIS