The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-16
POLICE URGED TO
PROTECT GIRLS
FROM EVIL HAND
posed to be decent and self-respect'
ing"
Objectionable Fiction.

ing"
Objectionable Fiction.
For every novel OF sound moral
character, eaid the preacher. one hun
dred are read dealing with the shady
side of life and tending to corrupt
morals. The danger Of Objectionable
fiction, he thought, was the second of
the great national diseases.
To-day there are comparatively few
school girls" said Mr.. Wells. who
would not smile at the thought OF ex-
ception being taken to some Of the
vile stuff they are reading.
Il have take: the trodole 10 invrsti-
gate eighty-seven novels that have
been published within the last five
years and have had a considerable
vogue. and have been at one time or
another 6btainable at cir--i..ing libra
ries. Seventeen adopt the attitude Of
sneering at matrlmony as q thing
played OUT eleven raise upon a PIN
nacle the correspondents in divorce
cases; twenty-five practically advo-
cate that men are to be excused for
not being true 10 their wives: seven
mold up to ridicule women who are
faithful to their husbands, and twenty
three deal with subjects It would not
be proper to mention from this pulpit
The Immoral stage.
The ministers third Indictment was
directed against the prevailing I'M
morality vf the stage. He said:
FROM time to time play has to be
Withdrawn because 1t passes the limits
OF oecency. The very fact that some
have to DE suppressed. and the police
have to keep an eye on all. shows that
the men VINO are in the amusement
business are putting plays on the
stage that are damaging to pubic
morals. only a sU-calied broader view
of life. which is only another name
for the shamelessness of the age-for
the whetted appetite OF the vulgar.
allows such dangerous Things TO east
A remedy Tor these and allied evils,
said the minister. lies In the renew
ing of the spirit of the mind and in
a spiritual awakening of the American
people TO the grossness OK their lie
and surroundings.
The Remedy.
Let public sentiment be aroused to
demand that vices now ciassed as mis-
demeanors be raised to felouies.' i'm
plored the preacher. 1T may be
urged that such penalty Is too severe
On the contrary, we ask. can any
risht-thinking person, who has at
heart the welfare and uplift OF man
KIND, make bold to say that any
penalty. short OF the death penalty.
would be unjustiaed in restraining,
correcting and punishing practices.
which, without doubt. .nundate and
poision the very structural dbre OF
DIR government and our homes?
The speaker maGo a strong plea Tor
Improvement In tenement conditions
among the working classes. the ell
mina,ion of crowded s,ums and the
careful regulation OF public parks.
dance halls anL places OF amusement.
The raising Of the age of consent he
thought, was an immediate necessity.
Touching this point, he SAID:
The law of Virginia has established
an arbitrary age limit beyond winch
a girl is suppo ed 10 know enough TO
nro,ect herself. But, as matter OF
fact many are left without instruc-
lion. either because Of the ignorance
or indifference OF parents. and the
children are allowed to gain tne'r
knowledSe of nature from the street.
Many a young girl has gone through
tn. wine room and its conpanionship
70 a life OF shameful vice. who would
hav. never gone from hsr home had
she received guidance and been MADE
To look through the coming years aao
70 see the wretched and heart broken
ou.casr that she would at last be-
come"