The San Francisco call., 1899-04-01
THE CORRUPTION OF YOUTH.

nth the invention which has made possible
w the "mutoscope' the 'artescope" and all the
other forms of exhibition in which pho
Biography is given sembance OF the movements OF
life. new instrument has been placed in the hands
of the vicious for the corruption OF youth, They
have been prompt to take advantage OF it'r They
have copied pictures in which nude art has been car
red to the extreme of indecency, they have induced
vile women to pose in hall nudity and OF these they
have made scenes to tempt the depraylty OF manhood
and the curiosity OF youth
These vicious exhibitions are displayed IN Dan
Francisco with cffrontery that is as audacious as
is shameless. In investigation OF the extent to
which the evil is carried on along principal
streets The Call yesterday exposed the fact that
considerable number OF the patrons OF such places
are schoolboys some OF them small they haye to
be lifted in the arms OF their larger companions to
bring their eyes on level with the aperture in the
machine through which the pictures are seen.
Beneath the depth OF this open depravity there is,
moreover, lower depth which the propretors OF the
places disclose to those who known to them. For
the qualification OF such patrons the slightest
pretenses OF decency thrown aside and degra-
daton as low as that OF the slums OF Chinatown is
presented in fou pictures displayed i'll the vitascope
and ribald songs clinked out from the phonograph.
These vicious exhibitions are the more dangerous
to society because they given under the guise OF
scientific novelties OF invention and achieve
ments in mechanical and electrical art In that form
they attract large numbers OF persons who not
depraved and have desire for the indecent. By
the patronage of such visitors air OF respectabity
given to the places of exhibition and parents have
no objection to make when their children go there
to spend their nickels.
For time the proprietors Of the exhibitions con-
oIoo Il, el,r do
cency. but now they have become bold. The ma
chimes in which the pictures placed plainly
marked with signs intimating the depravty of the
scenes Within and these occupy prominent positions
il their showrooms. 1t is therefore longer pos
sble for the public to overlook the aront given
its morals and its laws 1t is difficult indeed, to
derstand how even the police can have been blind to
it for so long time.
1t is not pleasant subject to deal with and The
Call would have gladly turned aside from it had it
been aware OF any way to suppress the evil other
than by exposing it 1t directs to all of these
so-called photograph and mutoscope parors the at
tention of the police the Society for the Prevention
OF Vice and the public generally A good step was
taken for reform and the welfare of society when
the notorious gamblers OF Inglesde were compelled
to give up the nefarious trade which tempting
large numbers OF people to evil courses leading to
dshonor and suicide, and another step in the
same direction be taken by the suppression of the
indecent pictures and songs that are corrupng the
youth of the city
1t is not necessary to enact new ordinance to
the subject The present law suffices. All that
is needed is an aroused public sentiment and ener-
getic action the part of the police The exposure
made by The Call has been sufficient to show the
nature OF the oense and point out some of the
conspicuous places where it is carried on. 1t is now
the turn of the police to act