The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-10-19

literature on the great free libraries of
your country. | belonged to that au-
dlence myself in England in my youth
and early manhood, and hence it would
be lasting grief to me to feel that
In the Judgment of even few librarians
had written book which was not
fit for such readers as l was 40 years
ago.
In the great world of books the free
libraries occupy the place of custodians
>of the public conscience When they
come across a book of doubtful char
acter it is right and proper that they
should examine into it and find whether
1t is fit for public circulation, but in
order to see how difficult and danger
Gus the task of the librarians as CEN
sors of morals is they have only To
which We're excluded by their predeces-
sors and are now lent without restric-
ton by the libraries every day. / mem
ton i'll that connection a few book s
that are now considered to be among
the noblest in all literature, such as
Adam Bede-' Jane Eyre Anna Kar-
emma Resurrection Tess Jude and
others that have all been subjects to
the librarians ban.
The truth is that morality Is developing
and that not the process of time, merely
or the triumph of literary art by the
broadening sense of moral responsibility
is operating to reverse verdicts which
were pronounced against some of the
books of the past. Hence /, say that in
the exercise of the censorship the IL
brarians are running the risk OF grievous
error and of impeding the progress OF
the public morality which 1t is their duty
to promote. l only ask that in judging
book let the basis of consideration be
the aim of the author. 1 claim that any
book calculated to have a pure influence
with well considered motive for good is
suitable for general circulation and
ask that the aim of my book and not par
ticular scenes despite their, moral force
be, the basis for Judgment
One of the grievous errors of many peo-
pie is to assume that IL a book contains
scenes of immortality it is an immoral
book That is by no means So 1t is
wrong to conclude that because You see in
a book bad people or wicked scenes tnat
the book itself is necessarily bad and
wicked Unhappily there are many bad
people and wicked scenes in life. and to
write them in the right way may be the
most moral thing an author can do
Behind any book is the man who wrote
1t, and If he is man of pure aims and
at the same time true artist he can
teach a powerful lesson by a.. NITRATE
study of any side of life no matter how
disgusting and ,revolting it may seem.
Therefore. when.a novel, written out OF
clean heart, attempts to deal with some
of the vital moral problems which affect
the lives of the young and old of both
sexes (however outspoken it may be with
in the limits Of decency is it not very
grave responsibility which the librarians
of your public Libraries undertake when
they exclude 1t from your libraries?H
In view of this tremendous discussion
concerning the book it will no doubt inter-
est many readers to perilse a Review
written by one of the most able, SCHOLARLY.
and learned men in this city.-a man whose
opinion regarding books is held In great t.
respect, and whose broad education and
talent amply fit him to render an opinion
that is well worth reading. The "Review
follows.
The Woman Thou carest Me-" tv
Hall Caine-the latest work fir m his
pen, by the wav7-may be character led.
as very DANGEROUS book. 1t is a serf-
Gus Plea for the enactment Of laws bv
church and 4tate which would make
possible an easier dissolution Of the mar