New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-01
MRS. GRANN|S WANTS
MAGAZINES TO Be GOOD
She Writes to the Postmaster
General About Tiger" and
Other Sex Stories.
GOOD SELLERS" BUT-OH!
However, Head of Purity
League approves of the Slit
Skirt and Modern Won
ems Dress in General.

Mrs Elizabeth Bartlett Grannis, presl-
dent OF the National Christian League
FOR the Promotion Of Pur ~. Yesterday
made public a letter she wrote to Post
master General Burleson asking him to
stop the distribution through the mails
OF magazines and other periodicals CON
tanning fiction end other articles that
deal too frankly with problems Of sex
and the white slave" traffic
7 her letter Mrs. Granns said that
something should be done to prevent the
publication Of such stories as Tiger"
in THE Forum" OF MAY; In the House
Of Living Death" I'm Golfers" OF
June S. and The Story of a Woman VINO
Tried To BE Good" in The Saturday
Evening Post" OF June (. Mrs. Grannis
directed the Postmaster Generals par
ticular attention to the dialogue OF
Tiger" the action OF which took the
form OF play and dealt with the mis-
adventures OF girl. The House Of
a Living Death" and The Woman Who
Tried To Be Good" were equally frank.
she said in dealing with phases Of mod
ern life which have no place In maya
zines intended for circulation in the
home.
Mrs. Grannis. at the headquarters OF
the league. No. West 18th street, yes
terday disavowed any desire to handle
modern immortality with gloves or to keep
e.. fUEt ~
conditions
Il do not believe" she said. that the
writers Of such stories and articles. how
ever honest their intention Of letting In
the light on present conditions. and even
though these may be written from actual
observation and perhaps experience, al
together forget the impelling motive of
the money reward for cleyerly selecting a
subject so much discussed that II becomes
d certain good seller.
Il am the foe OF prudery and false mod
esty But there are certain kinds OF pub
locations well equipped 10 handle these
modern themes, without appealing 10 the
curious modern mind by situations and
dialogue that makes light OF everything
innocent and pure. especially when read
by lnquisitive. unthlnking young girls and
bows
The poor factory girl, with painted eye
brows and enamelled cheeks. is but
sorry imitation OF the higher-ups. No one
knows that better than myself-to whom
mothers bring their wayward and mislef
daughters and TO whom come the very
women themselves. win their accounts OF
their lives No one knows better than j
that knowledge Is woman's greatest asset
in these days.
why. when ] attended Lake Erie Col
lere in my girlhood such studies as
hygiene ard physiology were among the
dread mysteries that could not be
breathed TO an innocent girl Now. az that
ver,. college. all these things are taught
The minimum wage as an underlying
cause Of immortality Was ridicuied By MIS-.
Grannis.
"If II were adopted thousands OF girls
would 10 on the streets where there are
now only hundreds by comparison. she
said "Oh. no II chastity can be pur-
chased only through wedlock chastity Is
worth nothing 10 husband and wife or the
young girl
still. with all the evil flashed on
stage. on the posters and written IN AL
tractiye style IN magazines women are
NOT retrograding They are improving 10
every way since knowledge and freedom
have come to them. They are not I'M
modest in eschewing wigs, stufting ana
Yards Of dress trains that wipe up the
street
Il approve Of the odern mode OF dress
because II is comfortable. ii Is only the
extremes Of the narrow bottom. slit skirt
that are immodest The slit skirt women
have worn for long time. 1t is only
ridiculous when belted tightly around the
hips. Tourist trousers form even a more
sensible dress and will come in time.
you men make the fashions end We
have to thank you for this emancipation
even though II be unconscious. But. for
the discussion Of evils, let that be worked
out through legislation"