Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-11
MORALITY Is IMPROVING.

John Il. Still, who edits the Edi-
torial magazine. is n man whose abil
ity and good Judgment we have al
ways been inclined to admire; but
as an evidence that even the bright
est minds may be dimmed by uncon-
scious prejudice SO as to see evil
where there is none, or to mistake
good for evil, we quote the following
from recent issue of his pubica-
ton Newspapers that are preach
ing morality with commendable fer
vor can easily make their pleas more
effective by excluding from their coll
umns lot Of nude fcminsm that is.
to say the least. decidedly sug-
gestive." Just at glance the aver
age reader would without question
say amen, but that is because the
most of us are ruled more by con
vention and habit of thought than
we are by desire to submit every
question to an analysis and get at
the primary reason of things 1t is
not that we desire to challenge the
justice OF Mr.. Stolls criticism per Sc,
for II is undcniablc that much of the
laNity he complains of has no justifi-
cation for existence, but his indct-
mont Is altogether too sweeping to
be just. In fact. many things which
rest under the ban of such a pro-
nounCcmcnt are the very things upon
which depend our brightest hopes
for the greater purity and chastity
of the public mind.
Philosophically, we take it for
granted that no one can contradict
the assertion that the sensibilities
which are least virtuous are the most
likely TO find impure suggestions. and
conversely that the purcr minds find
"A great deal that is beautiful and en-
nobling in the things that the impure
reject as suggestive. 1t does not fol-
low, OF course, that such n reasoning
gives license to recklessly cater to
the enjoyment of the nobler mind at
the risk OF offending "a class whose
conceptions are cast on a lower
plane. 1t is however, a hopeful sign
OF n growing purity of thought that
those things which stand as the ex-
ponents OF what is artistic and beau
tiful, the emblems OF innocence and
the complications of righteousness,
are now submitted to the verdict OF
n critical public without incurring
the immediate condemnation of the
evil minded; for be II remembered
that prudery is itself the worst enemy
OF purity and n prudish inclination
the plainest evidence of impurity In
thought II not In deed. Purity is a
very desirable thing and should be
cherished by every means. but Il, as
used to be imagined by many sin
cere persons, purity can only be con-
served by covering up and Disgusting
all that is beautiful and pleasant. we
had better 60 back to the oriental
idea OF keeping every pretty face
covered In public. But in fact chas-
tity does not depend on the amount
Of clothes worn, nor does suggestive
ness depend on Disgusting the truth. |
The evil Is In the heart and is lust |
the same no matter what the fash |
ions or the pictures may be.
The most complete answer to Mr..
stolls criticism is found IN the same |
number Of his publication under the
head Of Random Thoughts" This
writer says: whether q thing is
right or wrong depends almost en-
tirely upon the viewpoint OF the in
dividual. Much Of the belief as to
good and evil 10 purely conventional.
That is. We accept q thing as being
right or wrong simply because some
one else has said II was 90, or be.