The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-08-23
is THE WORLD GROWING WORSE

us THE WORLD GROWING WoRsE7
This question is being frequently
asked" says the Midland Methodist,
and that paper quotes as follows from
an exchange:
The Independent had an editorial re
Gently which made us feel rather blue.
1t affirmed that the chief danger now
threatening American civilization is a
general deterioration of morals" 1t
is evidenced in the growth OF beer
drinking, the conversion of the New
England Sabbath into the Continental
Sunday" the transformation of once
honorable, patriotic citizens into a
nation of 'grafters,' the "hysterical
emotionalism that manifests itself in
race and class hatred, mob action, and
lynchings." But underlying all of
these manifestations is the intelec-
tual impoverishment of the nation
where there is SO small percentage
of readers of serious books. Standard
books-books of scholarly grade in
philosophy and science-have pain
fully limited sale, and are bought by
only a minority of public Libraries.
The reading of one-half of the Amer
lean population consists of epheme-
raj novels and newspapers; the read
ing of the other half consists of the
nickel magazines and 'scare-heads.'
Commenting on the above, the Mid
land Methodist admits there are two
Sides to the question, but inclines to
the optimistic view. 1t deplores the
widespread Sabbath dissertation,
but counters by saying that our fathers
might have been as bad if they had
had the chance. "Of course there are
more crimes than ever before. because
there are more people than ever be-
FORE" says our esteemed contempt
rary According to that then, the
only way for the world tc grow better
and get good, is to stop multiplying
and increasing the earth; the ipse
dixit of the Great Jehovah to the con
trary notwithstanding.
bad as the world is now, where
in our civilization do we hear OF
mothers eating their own Children
Nowhere. But We do hear of them |
selling their girls to licentious living; |
and is that not as bad or worse, than
throwing them into the gauges?
"Whiskey drinking is on the de-
crease That is true; but morphine
eating is even more rapidly on the
increase. "Polygamy has received Its
deathblow in our own land" Yes, and
divorce courts have multiplied, and
is too common to talk about;
and not only so, but Society women
as well as men-look upon the d.
vorcee and the adulterer with a tolera-
ton never before known since pagan
days, and we do not know but polyga-
my is the lesser of the evils, since 1t
does not curse the child with the stain
Of illegitimacy.
Gambling is being run to cover
everywhere" Not everywhere; not In
Wall street. IF there are more
trashy periodicals, yellow journals and
sensational novels than ever before
it is a comforting fact that more
Bibles are being printed and disposed
II than ever before" But the trashy
periodicals, yellow journals and SEN
sational novels are read, while the
Bibles are merely printed and dis
POSED Of.
Railroad companies are enforcing
heir rules against drinking, cigarette
Imoking and the like" And they are
the very fountain head Of
government by electing their venal [
servants to office, by bribing legisla-
ures, corrupting judges and robbing {
he general public.
People of wealth are turning their |
money into benevolent channels more {
han ever before" Robin Hood had I
he same virtue. Thieves are lib c
raj class. Come easy, go easy. IN
But the sorest spot the Midland '
fethodist does not touch upon; that I