Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-07-31
Expression or Suppression

While ION the road" | have
frequently had to stay over" a,
country towns. And | CONFESS
| know nothing more dreary and
lonesome than poorly lighted
rural village in the evening with
its stores closed, its streets de.
serted, and not a place of recre-
alton in the town.
As l write l am thinking OF
one in particular 1t was Sun.
day. l went to church. l heard
a sermon on the Straight and
Narrow Path" The exhorta-
ton was to "Forsake all and
follow me-" The minister scored
the young people Of our age as
play mad" and amusement
crazy. He condemned the spirit
of the times as self indulgent,
etc. His whole idea was sup
preston rather than expression
of life. The church was less
than half full, mostly women,
one solitary young man was
noted outside OF myself, and |
was not surprised.
After listening to the minister
for half an hour, / went into the
woods to listen to God for a
change. The day was clear and
beautiful. The whole land
seape was softened with green
and lit with flowers like lamps
with many colored fires. Among
the trees birds were fitting and
squirrels were frolickin9 about
in glee. Here dog tooth violet
shooting its stars and there was
a trillium blazing like a burning
bush" made purple with sacri-
fetal blood.
Here indeed was a religious
atmosphere. But the whole
panorama was preaching the
gospel Of expression. Every.
thing was seeking self express
ion. Here for instance was a
wild rose bud leaning away from
the shrubbery and unfolding its
rudy lips to be kissed by the
sun. Expression everywhere
Suppression nowhere. So fan
as l could discern God had nc
place for suppression in His di-
vine plan. No asperity of the
hyper enthusiastic religio II $
was here. But for my soul S
health no hnman discourse could
equal this sermon of the woods
No man built editice could du
plicata this sabbathical hush
No mortal choir could voice
paeans as sublimely beautiful as
these organs of the winds and
praise-hyms of the birds,
Next morning l arose FROM 9
dingy hotel and spent day in
conversations with the business
men, editor, principal of schools
and village trustees. Most OF
these men congratulated them.
selves in that they had just been
successful in voting their dance
hall closed. They had closed
the billiard room some time age
and had just saddled licence
fee upon the man restricting
his hours to a degree equivalent
to prohibition. One city reform
er related with triumph how he
had tied a can to bunch OF
them merry go-round fellers that
wanted to drive their stakes in
side our village" He rekoned
now that the young people would
stay at home and save their
money. But, alas, poor deluded
old pharisee, the play distinct is
nat so easily suppressed. In
stead Of staying at home and
saving their money, most of the
| young men were boarding the
interurban for the lager city
where they spent more money
in a more questionable manner in
addition to their carfares. 9th
ers were leaving the village con
stantly and permanently for the
city as their permanent home.
What else could any sane man
expect To be sure, places of
| public amusement of every kind
need censorship and sane regu-
la:ion. And shame on the city
or village government that
doesn't do this wisely and with
out fanaticism or Juror. But
space compells me to defer this
| discussion for my next letter
two weeks later.