The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-10-21
Short Skirts Versus Indecent Pic.
tureS

ohOrt SkiftS versus Indecent Pic.
lures.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-I do not
covet the reputation of carrying a free
lance, thirsting, as it were, for the
blood of my fellowmen. On the other
hand don't mean to shirk anything
that may come upon my heart and con-
science to say, though it may be at the
expense of quasi popularity for which
some sacrifice their independence and
go through life not daring, scarcely, to
call their souls their own.
Some mouths ago the w. G. T. L.
took some action in one of their meet
ings condemnatory of indecent pictures
conspicuously placed upon the bill
boards Of our town, tempting the vulgar
gaze and obtruding upon the sight of
all who passed along the streets Such
posting was clearly an infraction of our
ordinances and the warning conveyed
in the resolutions of the W. {. T. L.
had salutary effect and our bill post
ers have been very careful and the eye
of decency has been no more offended
until the recent circus posting. But
round and how much more serious the
situation. How much sorer the need
for woman to rise to the reclamation
Of the morals and manners of her own
sex!
Shall we condemn the senseless lith-
ograph on the bill boards representing
the character Of entertainment pro-
posed to be given by those who pander
thus to the vulgar taste as a matter of
business and the making of a living
and pass by complacently and without
word Of protest the living, animated
pictures that pass in panorama before
US every day and these by no means
dlssolving views but flesh and blood
entities-the more the pity and the
more the blame? What are we coming
TO? IT'S not the riding of wheel
we would condemn in woman. but
the manner and the costume. We
believe cycling has been god-send to
some women, giving something to in
terest them out of doors and setting
the blood bounding in their veins,
bringing with it new health and new
yigor; yet, as in all exhilarating sports
and pastimes, the excess must be
guarded against. We do protest, how
ever, against the ultra fashion of short
skirt, it being anything else but con-
duclve to refinement of morals and
manners. Skirts so conspicucusly short
are being worn by some Of our women
as to be the frequent subject of re-
mark among men as the wearers sail
by exposing themselves to the vulgar
gaze, when the comments sometimes
INDUCED would make the ears Jingle
could the subjects thereof hear them.
Now l protest that there is not suffi-
cient excuse for the scantiness of at
tire in the additional freedom of body
made at the sacrifice Of mOdesty-
for we have among our women some
very graceful riders who do not by
manner or dress sacrifice one iota of
modesty or decency, and we call to
mind several who ride most gracefully
with skirt of the usual walking length
and make, indeed such a skirt as they
might be seen in with complacency
anywhere and in any company.
If fashion would so dictate woman
has just that determination and adapt
iveness that she could manage a wheel
with yard of train to her dress. We
do not ask that; we just ask that she
adopt decent length of skirt with the
requirement Of graceful, modest, de-
corous manner of riding, together with
the avoidance of all excess and the re-
frainment from long, lonelyo improp-
erly attended rides, or participation in
the race course.
appeal to our women to lay this
matter on their hearts and consciences
and by precept and example bring
about and foster better order of
things.
Let the daughters of our land stand
for purity of heart, purity of thought
and purity of life: then the sona, the
boys, the young men would be COM
PEELED to that respect and honor due
her whom he was fitted by nature to
cherish and protect.
Truly Yours,
F. S. HARRIS.
You can get the Southern Farmer one
year free by buying one % cent bottle of
Cole mans Tobacco Oil Liniment. Ask
! Every person using it talks about it so
| much that others want it also.
oct.
You can have your grods delivered to
| your house anywhere in town in any
quantity free of cost by
ii. THOMSON.
SOMETIMES we are promised bread
and are given stone. Is not this the
case with the people of this State? Re-
forms were promised, were they no,9
Have you gotten them? If you have,
what are -Warrentcn Gazette.
Some of those who have Clamored
the loudest for reform have got what
they wanted-office. But the masses
of the people are precisely where they
were before they helped these selfish
demagogues to the RECOMMENDATION
derson GOLD LEAF
You are wrong, brother. The
masses of the people are in worse con-
dition. The local and State govern
ments are badly mismanaged. Gre alter
burdens have been heaped upon the
masses as result Of Rep Pop. rule.
-kinston Free Press.
HONESTY WILL TELL IN THE
ROUNDUP.
Ia business, in politics and in all
things it is best to be square, honest,