Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-11
THAT JEAN vALJEAN FELLOW
The Story of Story That SCOT Across."-The
Influence of tho Movies

The Story of Story That SCOT Across."-The
Influence of tho Movies
TN THE course of his article in Harper's
i Weekly on 1.-The Miracle Of the Movies"
w. p Lawson quotes a member of the Ma
tional Board of Censorship as follows
I'll tell you an incident that came under
my notice not long ago, because 1t seems to
me typical of a certain kind of constructive
spiritual influence of the film whose impor-
tance we are just beginning to appreciate.
was sitting in a motion picture theatre in
Toledo, o., waiting for the first reel of Les
Miserables' to begin. 1 noticed two couples
directly in front of me, one a middle aged
man and his wife talking about their neigh
bors the other boy and girl talking about
themselves They would have been flirting,
suppose except that the ring on the girls
third finger which both examined now and
again with much interest showed that their
emotions had been standardized, so to speak.
So did not frown dlsapproval as I might
have otherwise.
"'Who is this Jean valjeanT said the man
after pause.
"T don't know John, said his wife, but
Sarah told me 1t was swell release
what the younger couple said need not be
repeated. Suddenly the play began. The
great dream of Victor Hugo lived again be-
fore their eyes They were caught up in the
sweeping movement OF the story and carried
along like leaves on the wind by the emo
tions the living shadows before them 30
vivldly delineated.
"The old bishop forgave the felon and let
him keep the stolen silver. The eyes of the
four in front OF me were wet. They entered
the death chamber OF Fantine with Father
Madaline. They watch poor Cosette strug-
Cling with her load OF water They helped
Father Madallne carry the little drudge from
the home of the Thenadiers Their hearts
were wrung with pity as the pathos Of Jean
Valjean's life grew Yet as the last reel
ended the vision OF jeans real development,
the ultimate glory of his life, shone from
their faces and mirrored it's own high colors
in their eyes. The story got across.
"I gotta do more reading" mumbled John
as he groped for his hat. I wouldn't have
missed this-not for a coupla bucksV
'The younger couple said nothing as they
left. The girl hid her sober, tear-streaked
face in her mum And on the boys face, as
he walked out with head erect was an ex-
preston OF faint awe, while his chin had a
resolute tilt that spoke well for the fitness of
his spirit at that moment
NOW there Is nothing here tangible, moth
ing that you can measure and weigh any
more than you can measure emotion or weigh
the breath OF life. But II we could follow the
thought planted IN the minds OF the four that
night during its termination ana develop
ment we might discover that its eventual re-
suits would prove extremely tangible. That
Is the sort Of influence we know as yet very
little about. but which believe IN time we
win understand and direct for ethical ends
we can deal now in practice with only the
more obvious effects OF the motion picture
IN the held Of morality. but our standards
are dynamlo ana We are trying al the tune
to learn more and N more