The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-23
DwESYROTERS OF Youth.
The Rev. Claude Raboteau De-
nounees the Pictures
Distributed With
Cigarettes.

Cigarette Pictures was the theme of
the Rev. Claude Raboteau's prelude at
the Parmly Memorial Church last even
ING His remarks cast a new light upon
one Juvenile fad for collecting cigarette
pictures, and 1t is safe to say that any
boy whose mother heard Mr.. Raboteau's
remarks will have to give up his priced
collection of the little cards.
On a purely commercial basis" began
Mr., Raboteau, Il would advise against
the purchase Of cigarettes that contain
pictures to induce their sale. Common
sense tells US that If a package of these
little ~solacers cost five and ten cents,
with a picture thrown in, there must be
an evening up somewhere, and that In
the quantity or quality of the tobacco
suffers. On general principles l would
cry to my friends who use the article,
BUY your cigarettes without the pict-
ures.'
The cigarette photograph looks as
much like art as a pig sty looks like a
castle. And then the subjects of the en-
PERTAINING pictures. OF all the conglome-
ration of ~disreputable worthless ever gath
cred together, the tcollection of these Gig
arctic celebrities takes the palm. Prize
lighters, ~sluggers. soubrettes, serpentine
dancers, music hall artists and other re-
fined personages display their forms and
features On these little strips of card
board. Their pose is often ewd and indie
cent, their attire scant and their whole
appearance unfit for a pure-minded per-
son to gaze upon.
The nude in art may be tolerated be-
cause 1t is art; but there is no art here
only a Haunting indelicacy of a ribald
sname: The only redeeming thing about
them Is that they are such wretched at
smothered under the sorry work in print
ing the picture But as destroyers of the
innocence and purity of the young they
seen young lads thai boosted of a large
collection IF these pictures and had them
scattered about their room or crammed
cency.
There are enough pitfalls in our city,
God knows, to %ensnare the feet Of oul
ing dens, the lewd resorts; and to have
their innocence stolen away by these vi
cious plunderers of society is a crime
that merits the condemnation of church
and State. One of the saddest things in
this world Is the young mar who has lost
his innocence. whose cheek no longer
suffuses the blush of shame at the I'M
proper story or the sight of a shameful
picture .e55are
test and demand that the law suppress
the sale of these cigarette photographs
as corruptors Of our youth. In some sec
tons public sentiment has been aroused
at the enormity of the evil. ard it would
be a good principle for Jersey City to fol-
low. We demand for our boys protection
against the obscene periodicals that cor,
rupt their minds and debauch their NOR
shameful pictures which are sold under
the protection CT the law. If cigarette
makers want to give pictures away, lie,
them give decent ones. | would suggest
photographs eff eminent men, and women
or historical figures who have shone in
the galaxy of fame. But the moral God
fearing of our city demand a cessation
of these. cigarette photographs upon
which is depicted all the slop and riff
raft of the American stage"