Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-04-25
Of vULGAR|TY
ON THE SOCIAL EVIL

Probably never before In the his
tory OF the world has great nation
been 80 thoroughly aroused over the
necessity OF checking and curbing the
social evil as is the United states to-
day.
The press is full OF articles. sto-
ries. editorials. conceived theories as
to its cause and proposed remedies
Tor its ultimate extinction. The pull
pit is pouring forth thunderous de-
nunciations and eloquent appeals.
The congress OF the nation was
Obliged to forego for space the
pleasant pastice of debating the tar
III aud make an exhaustive investiga-
ton OF this vice from every angle
which could possibly hold out hope
for relief from the Federal govern
ment. State legislatures have been
compelled TO litter the statute books
with laws in response 10 the insistent
popular demand that somebody do
something
The cabaret is In imminent danger
OF passing into inglorious oblivion
before the universal shout that has
been raised against Il as a contribu-
tory cause of the rapid spread OF the
social evil. proprietors of great de-
partment stores will. In all human
probability. be- compelled In the near
! future To revise their payrolls up
ward, because popular opinion has
determined that the lower wages paid
salesladies Is another contrihutOry
cause Certain picture films. now
ready for the market, will have to be
laid aside or destroyed. because the
legislature Of sovereign state has
decided that the wind should only be
permitted to blow petticoats thus far
aud no farther"
II will be- readily seen, therefore,
that most of the articles. editorials
aud theorizing, has centered around
'contributory causes" and that, log
ically enough. legislation has been
aimed at the extingulshment OF CON
tributory causes While there may
be well grounded doubt as to the ef-
ficiency OF legislation in destroying
these factors thus characterized, and
while II is hard to see how personal
publication can be accomplished
through statutory channels, It might
be difficult to successfully deny that
all those acts, methods and perform
ances which have been legislateC
against as such are In reality either
directly or indirectly contributor,
causes to the spread of the social evil
II NAV be that the cabaret, low wages
TO shop girls. abbreviated skirts IN
moving pictures and many other ap
lparently remote elements have really
given II impetus and momentum
But there IL another contributing
cause. not mentioned very prominent
~ tpossibly because II admitted al
no grandstand remedy, which al
ways has been. is now. and perhap,
always will be, a potent factor. moi
only in its spread but in It's very
genesis This Is vulgarib obscen,
Expressions obscene conversation
aud what is forse than all else. tn,
ever present obscene story.
The Anglo-SaXon oath has giyeI
place to the obscene eXpletiye whici
fairly reeks with vicious suggestion
while ordinary conversation on thu
street corners. In smoking rooms, no
tel lobbies aud other places WHERE
men are wont to congregate Is patch
ed and impregnated with the mos
disgusting illusions. The obscen,
story has become almost an essentia
socisl amenity for a company OF mel
gathered together to while away
pleasant half hour,
Too many men whose business rep
utation IL beyond reproach. an,
whose decorum In their homes Is be
yond criticism. get down and walloy
together in this peculiar brand Of hi
larious filth apparently without IN
slightest conjunction. while admir-
ing youth hangs on every word wit
eager attention les, a morsel Shout,
he missed.
BY means of this diversion so com
mon that It's real character is lost 4
ears which have grown duh by reasol
Of long familiarity. the seeds o
thoughtless lust are sown IN earl
youth which soon ripen into bite
fruit and change what might other
wise have been a manly nature inn
a mere sponge for the absorption O
evil desires and still more evil habit.
Many hoy has received his frs
taste OF lust by the careless utteranc
OF man for whom he felt nothin
but admiration aud whom he haI
been taught 10 emulate -Housto
Chroniclc.