The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-10
FOR FEMININE READERS
CHANGE IN THE STYLE OF POPULAR
LITERATURE NOT WHOLESOME.
BARRIERS Encountered by the Girl
VINO Would work-The Burden of
sIuch sewing-One Girls Room.

A popular book lying open on the sofa of
country home was taken up by young
married woman, not very well up IL the last
literary fads. says a writer in the New
YORK Post. While waiting for her hostess
she read a few pages, and on her entrance
said. with pretty blush: did you know
what very bad book this is? / thought
you would rather not have it lying about
the parlor." 1t was in its twentieth edition,
and has since been the talk of many d town
on the stage. The hostess laughed heartily
over her unsophisticated young friends hor-
ror. but 1t set her thinking of the changes
which generation had brought about. Her
own boys and girls were eagerly reading
the book and chatting over it's sad details
az they might over tennis match. Sober
thought told her that her young friends
comment was not prejudieed. nor overfastid-
iousl not the measure Of a constrained Pur-
itanism; the story was the story Of moral
deprayity. of morbid opinion, and of unclean
thought.
There is a very unsafe phrase which we
have adopted; this calling a spade a
spade" may sound like the clarion note of
truth, and have the appearance of being
courageous, but it is the too great reaction,
the too wide swing of the pendulum. Folly
went far enough among gentlewomen of the
early days of 1900. when they were con-
strained to talk of limbs in general and
feared to particularize their legs and arms;
and intrigues and RIGHTEOUSNESS were ram
pant enough among those who did not like
TO have 1t known they had any opinion of
their own. But making the discussion of
everything the fashion, and feeling that de-
based lives and evil thoughts and uncleap
deeds arc proper subjects for amusement
NJ III for
ing, does not elevate or improve the situa-
ton Of affairs. That the master minds of
She literature and drama of the three great
reading nations have given their best efforts
to make crime interesting and unfaithful-
ness to every moral obligation fascinating,
does not mend matters, nor foretell better
manhood and womanhood in the near flu
1ure.
AS to q remedy? All! who shall find it?
both the heads OF the house-have some
power over the result If they can in no way
influence the literature on which their more
mature children feed their minds. The de-
ternined refusal TO permit the discussion In
their young circle of what tends to increase
to everyday humanity, thank God, untrue
books must have its effect ultimately. Not
to be carried away themselves by splendid
diction and dramatic situations, so that
they forget that the tender hurnanness of
wicked woman does not exonerate her, nor
the wild courage Of a cultivated villain
make him a hero. And especially there
seems to be one brake possible to make use
OF when the debasing story becomes a de-
basing play; il is easy enough TO refuse that
at least ones daughters shall see it, and
think that its pictures truly depict either
modern life or normal human society.
The trend of cur age, the usage of the
world we live in, will ever be stronger than
individual contention, and doubtless. in all
these marked and radical changes of opin-
ION and habit there is a root of something
good for the worlds progress, but what
in us lies should surely be used, so that we
and our children do not drift with current
without needing where II carries us, nor
without an effort to save the young lives
from the dangers in its course.