The Washington times., 1910-10-11


there should be no official or legal
machinery But there should be q
strong moral influence exerted through
the scent theater, as well as all the
other social recreative agencies Of city
ne The use Of anyone's leisure time
Is very largely the determining factor in
the formation OF character
The moving picture shows are only a
part Of the vast and complex social ma
chinery Of the modern city which must
De animated by a great moral and re-
NslouS purpose IL civilization Is 10
progress The stage, Fairgrounds, dane
ing, and all the recTeative life Of a city
should be considered carefully. and be
wisely directed by some body OF citizens,
but through the power Of moral infu-
ence sne with an intelligent conDre-
hension Of the larger life.
Confidence In Law.
Personally I fear = too great trust in
law or legal restraints, and also fear
any attempted organization 10 deal
alone with any one feature. such as the
51cent theateT. The danger is in con-
structing too large 4 mill for the
, amount OF grist; OF getting our problems
tangled IN a multitude OF organizations
We have in one Of the finest pas
sages Of the Bible this whole prOblera
OF today in allegOTy. The destruction
Of two great cities is imminent
Abraham asks the Lord II there be
fifty righteous men within the city
will He then not spare TT and the
Lord said, IF I find fifty righteous
men within the city then will spare
all the place for their sakes"
Then Abraham answers. peradven-
ture there be forty. and the Lord said
1 will spa-e Il for forty's sake. Then
Abraham pleads for thirty and twenty
and at last for ten. and the Lord said,
will spare it for tens sake.
Must Work Together.
a few righteous men will save any
city. but they must cooperate. The
forces OF light must be united. The
city problem IS today the worlds
great probleu. Let there be some or
ganization OF the righteous men and
women. Those who measure up TO
: Jesus ideas Of goOd people as given in
I the Beatitudes. and let the moving
I picture shows be one Of the many
1 problems they consider. They win
/ hnd amazing Willingness 10 follow
/ good advice and cooperate IN max
/ ing Washington a truly great city.
The Times que stion holds the suz-
/ Eestion. but. let them ask not only OF
the moving picture shows but OF all
/ the soci11 life OF the city:
Are these hurtful TO the morals OF
! our people2" and then How can we
| help make them helpful TO our city's
morals?"
=
wonderful wealth, not measured in
dollars and cents or buildings. The
greater thing these exist only 70
serve-that IS, human wealth One Of
the great poets has given Us the idea
I in these words.
( The place where a great city stands Is
not the place OF stretched wharves.
docks, manufactures, deposits OF
produce merely
/ Nor the place o. the talIcst and cos
( Nor the place OF the best libraries. nor
the place where money is pIentiest.
but
| Where thrift Is in its place and pru-
| depce fl its place.
I Where the slave ceases, and the master
| Of slaves ceases.
1 " NV NaAN F0kA4N1NE lASNC al once
against the audacity OF elected
| persons
Where children are taught TO be laws
TO themselves and depend on them
| selves.
Where the city OF the faithfuHest friend,
stands.
Where the city Of the cleanliness Of the
sexes stands
Where the city OF the healthiest fathers
stands.
Where the city Of the best mothers
stands.
There TIE great city stands.
A great city is that which has the great
est men and women
/ II II be few ragged huts IL is still the
greatest city in the whole world
The moral forces Of Washington must
/ find some way OF organizing and CO.
operating to make Washington not onIv
the City Beautiful, as il is now so far =.
| streets. parks, and buildings go. but ir
the sense OF the poet, also the creates,
| City.
Bat let this organization not onIv in
fuence the moving pictures, let II IN
huence all social life and give # All
\ the objective Of sanity and health.
I