Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-07-29
THE PRIVACY OF FAMILY LIFE

CoNlulust diubnH uli'A Hlt''''''''N ''f
cles, a signed editorial by President
Joseph f. Smith, which is SO timely
pertinent and instructive that we copy
It verbatim. 1t is intended for the
Latter-day Saints. They should read
and profit by It. But others may ma
in 1t suggestions Of value, for the pres
ervation OF home sanctity is Of general
concern, as the home Is the foundation
Of the state, and society can never
reach the standard that Is desired
while its basis is honeycombed with
foibles, vanities and vices that render
It frivolous and weak.
In these times Of newspaper public
ity it is difficult to preserve that pri-
vacy in home affairs which common de-
cency, to say nothing Of good taste and
personal rights demand. The ubiquitous
reporter intrudes into every place
where news of any kind Is likely to
be obtained, and the thirst for notonety
which is assuaged only by the parad-
ing of names and affairs in public
print, Keeps up the custom that Is so
properly deprecated in the article which
we reproduce.
1t is not at all infrequent for $50
ciety' folks 10 furnish for publication
the very PARTICULARS that the parties
mentioned pretend to be yexed about
The vanity that prompts women to give
their portraits for printing in loud
medical and surgical advertisements,
accompanied by details concern
ing the ailments from which
they have been relieved, often
Of nature to be kept from
public notice, Is really amazing
and some times disgusting, To see
their names in the papers, appears to
be the very hight Of some peoples am
billion and enjoyment.
Exclusiyeness may be carried TO too
great an extreme, but the old English
adage, Every mans house Is his cas-
tie" conveys proper sentiment
both Of self-respect and the respect
with which the home should be regard
ed by ones fellows, Private affairs
should, as rule, be kept private. Fam
lily difficulties. II they arise should be
settled and kept within the home cir
Gle. And the Paul pry spirit which
prompts impairment curiosity ought
not to be encouraged by any one who
claims to be respectable. We hope the
readers of the Deseret News win give
due heed 10 the article which we here
produce In full upon this timely topic
"The liberty with which the modern
press deals with the privacy OF the
home and the affairs Of family life Is
certainly a great departure from the
time honored custom Of preserving that
which ought TO be kept sacred within
the confines OF home life. The society
notes of the modern newspaper reveal
such startling publicity 70 that which
in its character has for centuries been
treated as strictly within the domain OF
home life, that one is often astonIshed.
The newspaper Is not alone responsible
for this questionable departure from
becoming privacy to notorious public-
~. There seems TO be an Itching de-
sire on the part of many to make pub
lic their home life or 10 advertise the
home as il II were a matter OF public
concern. How, so and SOS daughter
was gowned, and how her mother APP
pcared at a social function have no
other real purpose than to cultivate So
cial and public gossip In communities
where certain families take delight in
Advertising home life and private 50.
clal pastimes.
There has grown up a practice among
certain class Of people Of advertising
their daughters as freely as the thea
tiers advertise the girls who play the
leading roles in an opera, The actress
enters the stage with the fullest expec-
tauon that her makeup, her demaan-
or etc, viii all be freely discussed By
those who have paid their money 70
witness the play, But 1t is very
questionable propriety when a fun dis
cussion Of our daughters their dress
and appearance are given In public
print. Newspapers DO not even hest
tate to discuss love AFFAIRS In society
notes with degree Of familiarity that
would have seemed brazen only a few
years ago. There was O time when it
was not even allowed 10 discuss the
qualities Of women. not even TO praise
them: and in European countries to-
day it II not In the highest taste TO
make women the subject OF mems re-
marks or comments, even in an appar-
emily innocent manner Under some
circumstances public characters either
men on women, in whom there is gen
Ual interest, are very naturally dis.
cussed; but the more women long for
the publicity Of the press and aim TO
make themselves conspicuous In pub
lie way the more irksome the real du-
ties Of home life are likely to become
to them The home, with an the duties
81 mother and wife which belong 10
H. can never be promoted by encourag-
ing its publicity in public prints; and
the wisdom Of parents is 20 be very
greatly questioned. when card parties
and family gatherings are encouraged
for the purpose Of advertising. The
tendency 10 this publicity Is 10 expose
before the community every phase Of