Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-07
Damaged Goods

Great changes are making in the world
today changes wrought by science, by
discovery, but most momentous of all by
a rapidly awakening sense of civic re-
sponsbility The care of the weaker
members of society has become now a
recognized duty of the stronger. Laws
are being written and-what is more inn
portant-are being enforced to compel a
higher standard of sanitation for the
poor, not merely that the poor may live
healthful lives. but that disease may
not attack the community. Great care
is given to the prompt detection ana
isolation of certain contagious diseas es,
such smallpox and leprosy, and much
thought is now given to tuberculosis. to
the end of stamping it out by concerted
action.
But with all this care for the checking
OF some of the virulent Affections of the
flesh all this wide discussion of epi-
denies, guarantees against cholera. dis
covery of the hosts of malaria and yell
low fever until very recently practically
no attention has been paid to a certain
class of diseases which are nevertheless
most appallingly destructive and most
treacherously infectious. This is be-
cause these diSeaSes-they are virtually
all one III nature-are communicable in a
manner that makes them difficult of
discussion. They are known as venereal
Diseases and result from promiscuous
sexual relations. They are one conse-
quence of what has come to be known as
the necessary evil of society. And be-
cause of their source and the circum-
stances of their communication they are
I'M in he nrvacV N nhVSi-
clans consultation rooms, or in the
course of guarded testimony in court or
in the ribald conversations of the bar
room and the brothel.
Yesterday one of the most momentous
changes of these eventful. progressive
days occurred in Washington. In a the
alter gathered great audience of
thoughtful men and women. representa-
tive of all walks of life, earnest in a new
endeavor to promote the welfare of hui
mainly. Though it was Sunday. they had
assembled to witness play" a drama
written for the specific purpose of arous-
ing public conscience on the tremendous
question of sex hygiene. And the occa-
sion was rendered even more significant
by the presence and indeed the partici-
patton of ministers of the gospel. 1t was
we'll that the performance was prefaced
by prayer. for surely there is no great
er or holer work than that for the physi-
cal and moral purity of mankind. The
very spectacle of this audience of many
hundreds listening TO the mordant words
of warning uttered by the we'll chosen in
terpreters of this drama was token that
the conspiracy of silence that has con-
demned countless thousands to disease
and disgrace. Disagreement and death
has at last. in this community at least
been defeated.
Probably few of those who saw Dam
aged Goods yesterday were newly in
formed in any material respect regarding
the nature of sexual disease. But it may
lie doubted if there were any who were
not profoundly shocked by the plays
demonstrate of the penalty the world
Is paying for its silence regarding this
one of the ills of the human body
More prevalent than any other. il is
more terrible in its results Yet no child
Is ever told of it by parents-save in
few places where the silence has been
wisely broken. Youth is permitted to de-
velop in ignorance of the possibilities
and perils of immortality Safeguarded at
We" Vtii'i po4Hl the 10Y anu the girl
are left exposed at this one. and this
through mistaken sense of "delicacy"
or an actually wicked because cowardly
avoidance of a disa greea bic or difficult
topic
silence can be maintained On this sub
jeci no longer without hypocrisy Socie-
ties are organizing for the express pur-
pose of breaking it. and forcing the aues-
ton before parents and teachers Pres
entity. perhaps quickly through such inn
pulses as that given by yesterdays pro-
foundly impressive performance. will
come some systematic mode of training
children in the thought OF self-respect and
self-protection. The allurements of vice
will be shown in their hideous truth. and
humanity will ultimately be healthier
happier and certainly more honest for
this instruction
All Washington owes to the Society
for Social Hygiene profound thanks for
its public-spirited. courageous enterprise
in the interest of the physical and moral
welfare of this city