The Detroit times., 1916-01-18
immortality in Movie Camps
BY DR.. FRANK CRANE
Copyright. 1915. b. Frank Crane)

things up a bit by attacking what he
calls the immoral conditions of the
movie camps.
All around the metropolis Of southern
California are studios where cinemato-
graph films are made. To these estab-
lishments flock naturally hundreds Of
young people of both sexes. The same
lure draws them that attracts crowds
OF applicants to the theaters.
The attraction is partly economic, the
need OF making a living, and partly ro-
mantle, for the actors life has always
had certain glamor.
The parsons charges have doubtless
some foundation in fact. There never
was time or place where a lot of adoles-
cents We're commingled without human
nature asserting itself; and it is human
nature to make love. which. as per al
ways. some do honestly, and others dis
honestly.
But moving picture factory is per
Sc no more immoral than any other kind
of camp where boys and girls asso-
ciate. Sunday school picnics. camp
meetings, Chautauquas. any sort Of fest
where people let go and play, are dam
Rerous.
Moonlight nights on a transatlantic
liner are dangerous l myself have
seen surreptitious hand holdings, al
though | fall back upon my constitu-
tional privilege and refuse 10 give evil
dence that might incriminate myself.
Warm summer evenings are danger
GUS and fower-scented atmospheres and
eafy paths and shady hooks According
to my recollection it used to be we'll
nigh impossible to walk with healthy,
lively, beautiful girl amid such terrible
surroundings and not tell her that she is
the only one, etc. and that it seems like
we'd always known each other, etc, etc,
and isn't it funny how some people are
just natural affinites? etc, etc. etc.
At least it used to be that way a thou
sand or so years ago when / was boy,
and that / ever escaped, and that the
girls escaped and that / didn't Nor
monically marry a dozen of EN-, is due
only to the special Intervention of Provi-
dcnce, and to one certain woman that
captured me early and has had her
eagle eye on me ever since.
Seriously, here's the error in all ac-
cusations Of immoral conditions brought
against any institution or class. 1t is
that virtue can be maintained by rules,
circumstances, chaperons and restric-
tions.
It is an old delusion The Turks carry
it to its logical conclusion and keep their
women under lock and key.
But we believe that American girls,
going about in freedom, are much more
wholesome and pure-minded than girls
that are shut up in harems
My personal conviction is that coed
ucation is much better for producing
right character than are those institu
tions where young ladies are confined
together and no man except the Janitor
allowed on the premises.
And my observation is that actresses,
circus women, and the like average up
about as well as the inmates Of Miss
Prune's select boarding school for fin
ishing young ladies'
A great outcry is made from time to
time about the perils that lurk for fem
mine stenographers, shop girls, and
.other working women. But they are
probably a little higher in general self
respect and can take care Of themselves
better than "young ladies at home" at
least they don't loaf all day and dance
III night, and sit around country clubs
and drink cocktails.
The fact is that women are incurably
good. And the more we trust them and
believe in them the better they are.
SMILES THAT WILL COME OFF
When ne Is courtlng her nc always greets her
with n Smile on his lips But after he gets her