Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1912-08-15
The Home Circle
Thoughts from the Editorial PEN

All success is a series of efforts,
in which. when closely viewed, are
seen more or less failures. The
mountain is apt to overthrow the hill,
but a hill is a reality nevertheless.
If you fail now and then don't be dis
eouraged. Bear in mind it is only
the part and experience of every sue
cessful man, and the most successful
men often have the most failures.
Is it right for us to complain so
much of our hardships and our dis
appointments? Can we expect to
hear We'll done, thou good and
faithful servant" when we are doing
so little with the talents given us?
Is it reasonable we should expect to
be given world tnat is full of beau
ty and of richness, if we spend our
time here in lamenting the crosses of
life? Must a fairer home than this
be given us if we close our eyes
to all the pictures which Nature has
drawn to please them, turn a deaf ear
to the strains of music that are vi
brating the air about us, and mur-
mur of hunger when rare fruits but
need the gathering? Can't we do our
part little better? Can't we help
others about us to raise the thin cur
tain of ignorance, doubt or despend-
ency which is shutting out the light
of joy which shines for all? Thou
has been faithful over one city,
will make thee ruler over many
1t is not likely that you and | were
made to rule cities, but we have been
given our work to do. Will we be
faithful to the trust?
To Think About.
One of the greatest forces for good
or evil today is the moving picture
show. Almost every hamlet, town
and city in this great land have from
one to several hundred of these
shows. They are open to the public
practically every evening, and in
many places they are also allowed to
do business on Sunday evenings.
Now, it is not our purpose to con-
denim moving picture shows in gen
eral. We realize that proper moving
pictures may have very consider
able educational value. But it is
our intention to sound warning
note in regard to these moving pic
lures. for we do believe that films
are often sent out which ought not
to be exhibited where children are
allowed to be present
The power of suggestion is tre-
mendous. Psychologists are realiZ-
ing this fact more and more almost
every day. And at no age is this
power greater than in childhood,
when the mind is plastic and easily
influenced. Pictures which represent
hold-ups, bu"glaries, and trickery of
any kind, are responsible for many
commitments to the reform school,
for they leave suggestions in the
minds of the young which sooner or
later tend to work themselves out
in such crimes 1t is a well-known
truth that a child will unconsciously
initiate that which it admires. If,
then, the hero in a moving picture is
represented as committing some act
of trickery without being caught,
how very natural that the child
should try to do likewise. Since then
We have this force with us, would it
not be well for us to keep a vigilant
eye on our children lest they see pic
lures which are full of evil sugges-
tions?
The fact is much to be deplored
that with most girls the boy who
spends the greatest amount of money
on them, in furnishing them enter
tainmeht, is the boy most admired
and cajoled. But, oh, what becomes
of him when his money plays out?
He plays out too. Consequently, to
keep his footing, he STILES his con-
science and robs his employer, COM
mits some other theft or CANDLES, in
order to keep in the swim. This
same state of affairs is applicable to
men and women in society. Many
dark deeds are committed through
a desire to supply the. demands of
! worldlyminded wives and daughters.
And again an honorable man, rather
than sell his principles of integrity
or meet the taunts and upbraidings
at home, when he fails to supply
their demands, prefers to send his
soul to eternal death and thereby rid
his physical self of life's burdens.
When young people, go into an en-
gagement for life as carelessly as
they go to a picnic, they must expect
to pay for their folly with their bit
ter experience. With thousands,
marriage engagement is matter of
boyish or girlish caprice. If wise
marriages are made in heaven"
then the hasty, loose, selfish sort are
the handwork of the devil.
People who don't mind their own
business bring more misery into fam
lilies, societies and churches than
everything else. They turn the pleas
ant, peaceful stream of good will
into a loathsome pool; they intrude
on ground where angels would even
fear to tread. Now, minding ones
own business is the very best remedy
for the itching ears that are never
satisfied with hearing and the busy
tongue that hurries to speak cruel
words. Winding your own business
will turn your attention to self, and
1 you will forget to watch so closely
the shortcomings of others it will
make peaceful homes, happy neigh
bors, and quiet consciences and you
will be able to realize and more fully
comprehend the truth spoken in holy
writ, Blessed are the peacemakers."
| DAYTON After HOnorS