The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-30
Vice Pictures Harmful
B e. O. c.

(By E. o. CO.
SALEM, Jan. 29.-When we go to
the moving picture shows and sec
films depicting vice, crime and lust,
with this preface, Passed by the
National Board Of C%ensors." We won
der does such a board exist for trade
purposes only, or II they ever sec t1e
play they are presumed to censor. II
SO, what kinds Of people compose 1t?
Surely, no woman is on IL.
The spectators of the movies are
composed mainly of young people OF
school age. While some get only the
moral of the play, others get some
thing entirely different. that will aug-
gest ways and means, of doing evil
that otherwise would not enter their
minds.
1t is not unusual to read of some
delinquent who gives the movies as
the cause Of their downfall. A'good
article on this subject was published
in the Literary Digest of October ID,
1916. How the movies made a
thief" This child thought he could
improve on the methods of the thief
shown and not get caught. We do
not realize the harm that is being
done. Our boys and girls are see
ing scenes Of which we blush to
speak. Too many Of the films shown
are catering to the most depraved
element in humanity.
We should know what kind OF
plays are being produced and see that
the, management OF these places OF
amusement give plays of good charac-
ter. BY silence often, we seem to
condone a public evil that might be.
abated by yoicing a protest. There
are so many humorous and lnstruc-
tive plays that there is no good ex-
cuse for presenting bad plays.
We are not helped by being MADE
familiar with the vampire Woman"
her life and haunts, nor the Gay
White Way
There may be mothers SO ignorant
that to see such plays would open
their eyes" But, they should not be
given to "a mixed audience. AS 70
teaching our boys and girls, the great
truths Of life. using the name Of God,
Christianity and the ministry in con-
junction with gambling rooms and
houses Of prostitution isp saeriligious
and misleading. aa4g 4
AS we'll try to teach Temperance BY
making them drunk as to presume TO
teach virtue by making them tamil
lar with vice. One would be as ss'e
a process as the other.
The mind grows by what 1t feeds
unon and character is unconsciously
formed by what is seen and heard.
onr minister's would not dare to
paint word pictures 81 whatis depict.
ed by the films. They preach silent
lessons six days out Of theyweek-
onr ministers n or two. Shown by
nicture. 1t is more vivid tandzthe' I'M
pression more lasting than by WORD.
Many Of the scenes shown in these
niovs are. beautiful; and taken alone
would appear like beautiful inno-
cence; but ii iutox-position with the
other scenes, and the swift change
of Aims, the suggestion is quite dit-
VI ' IN r "
ferent. - r,,re
What a hoe ss on aa M'l late at
life 70 say WIZ $50 hoy' "Pemem-
night for the errins pI ~. avn life
bering occurrence Sn ~ n,s and nut
- had the drunken boy; who In the
~ rlier scenes is shown with boys and
es.is ~ the underworld. Afterward
the minister g ga cw gl, nmr ~ daughter.
Some plays are mofe IN .he . , onlv
Of vice man yist9 ono, f2u nas s out
to look into .ne la sSas ~ d,psnst- The
to prove sow snoM tiI hecanse or
poison is no Tess paten ~, oh;,d,sain.
insidlous. You ins ,a so nrra minded
telligencen you .nlnk p pnd oomnre
girl or boy does noe SEE anu anu, scspea
bend the slg9incance - ntns ths;r
Is there H,,t ho1 a a,ntii they e5 fafH to see tic