The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1905-03-16
A Broad Minded Editor.


The Sterling News Record man
gives expression to his feelings on
an important local question III
the following way:
This town is without proper
hall or other suitable place in
which the young people Of this.
community can hold their enter
tainmpnts The churches have
closed their doors against them,
the school house is no longer ten
able, and now it is asserted there
is sentiment in favor Of shutting
them out Of the court house.
While we are not in favor "t
turning any OF these places named
into a dance hall, or other thing
that is militant to church rules,
yet in our humble opinion if our
BOYS and girls want to have u
concert, or other entertainment
that 10 Of moral and elevatlng
nature, we say that your church,
your school house or court house
is none to good for them to use
for the purpose.
If you oppose us in this view of
the situation from a standpoint
Of religion, we want TO say that
your opposition along this line
does more to build up the dance,
the card table and other things
that might lead to evil, than all
the concerts in christendom
Your opposition in this begets a
contempt for a religion that shuts
ont the innocent pleasures of life,
We hold that God Almighty
never intended that girls and boys
should not have their fun and III.
nocent amusemants, and he who
seeks to deny them this boon IS II
stumbling block TO progress and
humanity. Then it is up to the
parents to direct the amusements
of their girls and boys into such
channels that will elevate them,
both mentally and morally, and
thereby occupy the time that
would otherwise be spent in ac-
quiring vicious habits and morbid
tastes.
You cut boy away from the
society Of his fellows, and by
brutal force compel him to re-
main in home that is devoid of
the means of his amusement
never let him go anywhere except
to your church and Sunday school
never let him hear any music but
that of the churchDor and the
cracked voice of some old billy
goat that thinks he can sing;
never let him hear the soul STIR
ring strains of band or an or
chestra or be thrilled and exalt-
ed by the sounds of eloquence,
and he will become man who is
soured against all his fellowmen
and will go through the world u
miserable green horn who has
missed the sunshine of life.
If you oppose the commendable
wishes of these boys and girls
through motives Of economy, we
beg to inform you that the advo-
Gates of their cause have dug deep
into their pockets to help build
these houses, and it is nothing
short of shameful meanness in
in you to usurp the fruits of our
hard-earned money and shut ua
out from the enjoyment of that
for which we have dearly paid.
If your house is damaged, they
will pay the full measure, besides
there will be plenty of houses
when you are dead and in a place
where money don't make the
mare go" and Ice water is an
unknown quantity.
We say throw the doors open tc
the girls and boy, and go in with
them yourself, and help develop
the minds and mold the sentl'
ment that will make the worlc
, brighter and better. Lay dowl
your prejudice, and take up the
liberal views of common sense
: and progress or the walls of these
buildings will stand as so many
> whitened monuments of YOU
r meanre's and superstition.