The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-17
YOUTHFUL IMMORTALITY.

full immortality? The evil Is plain
the dangers manifold; the remedy
must be sought win courage and wis
dom There is no need for crusaae
of talk, or for sentimental hystefia
based on physiological and ps!choio-
xical falsehoods. The need is ios
clear thinking, deep feeling, PLAIN
Speaking and continuous. laoofious'
ruth seeking action. Temporary out
bursts of sensational indignation ac-
compush no reform. Part OF lhe
cause of this viciousness Is que u
fundamental failures on the part oil
the people to choos1 the right klho
OF public servants; part OF II lies In
a, unawakened social conscience; part
of II is ignorance and lack OF par
.n,al discipline. The chief remedies
ore education Of parents and children
and the provision for some form Oh
clean amusement As an outlet Tor tho
animal spirits Of youth.
1t is folly to call the working OF
the creative instincts abnormal. They
are the most normal. universal. essen
,ial and beautiful emotions Of human
life. The abnormality lies In the
breaking of social laws Instituted 10
protect the home, to prevent inc
spread Of disease. to teach self-contfol
and prevent the weakening of moral
fibre by impurity and promiscuity ana
to insure responsibility by the par
ent for the child. The social evil IS
so called because it involves trans
eression against the laws society has
made To guarantee racial health. The
problem, therefore. is not to pretend
that sex does not exist with Just as
potent call for youth as for maturity
bu, 70 face the facts and educate the
individual into healthful conformity to
the law.
The beginning. therefore. lies In
teaching the youth the beautiful facts
~ human reproduction. The schools
ard the church and every other agency
should instruct children upon the ma
,ure of their bodily functions. their
responsibility, the duties Of parent
hood and the dangers and evils of H.
centious acts No prudery or pretense
that children 90 not need such In
struction should blind teachers or
parents to this solemn duty. 1gnor-
ance is the cause of the major por-
ton Of such crimes as those that have
recently aroused Richmond. Given an
ignorant girl, with newly reused emo
lions. who is utterly unaware of their
true meaning, and let her be sub
iec,ed to temptation. and whose is the
sin if she falls?
Next. sound psychology proves that
10 prohibition that merely says thou
shalt not" is real deterrent unless
a healthy outlet is given for the ac-
Invites thus prevented from mani
festing. themselves. Young people
ranne, be told to sit idle. They must
do something. They are full of vital
energy They need amusement, re
creation and companionship. Then let
the heaIthful. innocent, safegua-ded
Amusement be provided. For months
The Tims-Dispatch has plead for play
grounds. swimming pools, school re-
creation: anything that would take
the children from the street, give
them tbs relief of bodily activity and
kCpplant evil desires by benefcen;
ones How many OF those who now
talk al random have supported this
movement? Yet IL was begun solely
TO supply the true and lasting rem
edy for conditions now so plainly dis
closed This city had better learn
now that unless It gives its youth
something GOOD 20 do they will find
something bad 20 do No statute can
kill instinct. TO punishment crush the
desire for action. Build a library thai
VIII make books accessible and keep
youth Of the streets: have more haaG
concerts IN lighted parks and less aU-
torobile-carcusinr in the dark
The Tines Dispatch agrees with the
PoIics BoaEG ana the ministers and
TIE women Of Eighmoud tina; the age
o. consent should p. -aiscd 60 cigh-
teen years II IS a crime that VIZ
g.n.a IS 80 Tar bind the rcSt % the
county IN TINS legislation Tro en-
tfcenea; % girls HHasr sGe shosla %,
made feiong and heavy PUNISH
men; sttscheE. But t1is s. only A
negative a.. 7arJfaI deterrent !,