Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1913-12-30
The Source of the Inspiration

Rochester Union and Advertiser:
On the front page Of one of the sup
plements Of the New York Sun of
Sunday last was cartoon that should
be spread broadcast throughout the
land. 1t represented the devil play
ing some machine resembling the
typewriter, the keys of which were
writers of various kinds, dramatists
novelists, composers of songs, etc. Out
of a spout at the side of the machine
flowed a stream of filth. Upon it
floated various articles labeled, "Sala-
cious play" "Sex novel;" "White slave
drama" and the like. In or near the
stream were men and women, boys
and girls, eagerly reading the salvage
that they had plucked from the cur
rent, salvage that reeked with filth
which stained their hands and clothing
The cartoon was powerful protest
against the freedom with which nasty
subjects are given publicity in these
our days. And it's printing was one
of the signs that decent people are
beginning to rouse themselves to the
danger that lies in the open presenta
ton of filth.
Those of us who believe in the devil
will readily agree with the maker of
the cartoon that he is the source of
most of the discussion of sex and mat
ters connected with it that is now SO
widespread. Those who don't believe
in the devil can at least agree that
whatever takes his place in a universe
without Satan is responsible for the
evil. Evil it is to discuss matters of
sex before those of immature age
whose years have not taught them the
gravity with which such subjects must
be discussed. The experience o. the
ages teaches us this if we will but
listen to it's teachings. Sober minded
people will refuse to believe that one
tenth of the readers of the salacious
novel, the problem novel, the romance
of the bawdy house, or the play of
the brothel read the one or view the
other with intent to be warned of evil
in order to avoid it. Most of us do
not come into contact with these
evils. We do not have to avoid them
We do not care to be informed of the
details of their existence, for we have
no interest in the details. The So
cial evil is not so widespread nor is
it such a menace as the so-called re-
formers who are showing the repul-
sive thing beneath our offended nos
trils would have us believe. The daily
life of thousands in Rochester and of
other thousands in other cities proves
that these alarmists are off the track
Whatever excuse there may be fol-
the dirty novel, the nasty play or the
discussion of kindred subjects, there
is none that warrants che presentation
of these themes to the general pubic
young and old, without let or hin
drance. Pruriency alone is the motive
for the writing of most of these books
and plays and for the discussion OF
these subjects. Where pruriency is
not the moving power, the desire OF
gain takes it's place. To say that the
young man or young woman should
have access to these books, the play
houses where these plays are given, il
order that they may know life as it is
and be warned of it's evils is to fly il
the face of human nature. They will
learn what evil life is, and the dan
ger that they will embrace it is all too
present for safety's sake. 1t is time
that we regained our sense and rele
gated these things to the sewer where
they belong and whence they were
drawn for our disedification.