The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-05
PURITY Tn LITERATURE
W. c. 7. .. Convention Discusses
This and Other Topics
Concentration of the Efforts of the
Secular Press to Eliminate ObJec-
tionabIe News-Criticism Of the
DFnmH-Use of Alcoholic Medi-
cines by Physicians Deprecated.

The third days sessions of The Conyen-
ton of the w c. T. T.. was held in the
Lafayette Opera House. with as large an
business of the morning session was de-
voted TO the consideration of superlRtend
ents' reports, left over from yesterdays
business, and the conduct of School of
Methods, consisting Of the questioning and
replies of superintendent. The session was
opened at $3.50 o'clock, Mrs. Stevens, Ma
tionaI President, in the chair, with the
customary devotional exercises.
Mrs Emily D. Martin, Superintendent
G. the Department CT Purity in Litera-
iure and Art. read the report. Mrs.
Martin reviewed the work of her divi-
sion, and its methods and aims. The
higher plane TO which the literature of
the daily press was rising was noted,
and the report acknowledged the fact
that the press had responded to the need
OF purity in literature and art in the
character of news printed in its columns
The drama and fiction, the report stated
have become the ne,.ie:n for spreading
the social evil, a gratifying improve
ment in the character of general adver-
tisements. bill-boaTds. and posters was
noted 1.-The drama, as interpreted to-
day, said Miss Martin, does not meet
with the appreciation of the general pub
lie, leading dramatic critics, and many
of the profession" The resentment Of
the W. c. T. L. 10 the productions of
Sappho,' the Degenerates, and "a
"a" was commented upon The RESPONSE
biiity for the Impure and indecent novel
was placed upon the reading public
Microscopes and pictures come in for a
full measure of criticism.
The report Of the Superintendent of the
Division on Non-Alcoholic Medication,
Mrs. Martha NJ Allen followed. Mrs. AL
len discussed the views of prominent ply
sicians in opposition to the use OF alcO-
holic medicines in the sick room Such
objection to alcohol as a stimulant was
based, Mr.. Allen claimed upon scien-
tifc Investigation The report stated that
the ". C T &. proposed TO make 4 spe-
cial effort this winter to dIminisiI the use
of alcohol a medicine.
The National President. Mrs Stevens.
siSniAed her i,t5e3tion OF leaving the con
vention for a brief interval In order 10
permit Of hsr attendance at the Capitol.
where legisla ton OF ilterest to the ". c.
T. L. was to be pre- ented.
Mrs. Hannah J. Bailey. Chairman OF a
peTintendeRts OF the various departments
would, under this head, be introduced and
respond TO enquiries that might be made
IN regard TO their branch of the work
The time was equally divided among the
superintendents. who were accorded the
platform IN succession
During the time devoted 10 the discus
sion OF Health and Heredity," OF which
Dr. Louise c. Purington, of Massachu
sets. IS the superintendent, the Pure
Food bill. now pending in Congress. re
celved the endorsement OF the EonYen-
tion By a rising vote.
Miss s. = OberhSItzeF. oF ~PenHsylra-
MA, Superintendent OF the, Department of
school Savings BANKS, noted the fact hat
SS50. Geo had been accumulated by the
children of the United States through
the school saviags bank. The last bank
organized she stated had been IN the
GTeenleaf School. of this city The sys-
tenn had been found to be popular by the
school authorities and banks had shown
a desire to secure the chiidren's small
amounts.
The use of fermented wine al SaCra-
ment in the German Lutheran Church
Mrs. Hammond considered a very serious
problem She did not consider the use OF
unfermented grape juice at the commu-
Mon table as too suggestive Tor re-
formed drinker-
Mrs Thatcher. superintendent OF the
Work Among Soldiers and Sailors. in re-
ply 10 a question. stated that the canteen
could be abolished Just as soon as Con
gress said so Three unions had been es-
tablished among the soldiers homes Of
the United States-at Marion, Ind; Hamp
ton. Va. and Dayton. Ohio. At Marion,
Ind. no canteen existed, and Mrs. Thatch-
er considered that the conditions there
were Incompatible
before noon new feature was intro
duced The superintendent repeated the
verses of Scripture which form the texts
of the departments. Miss Greenwood, who
presided during the hour, in introducing
this innovation. Indicated her desire to
show the spiritual principle underlying
the entire work of the W. c. T. L.