The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-03-16
WITHIN THE ENEMY's RANKS.
(By s, M .Blanchard.)

N=N Wy ~ AVA sbifAAhNAk0Au.v A
There are many and beautiful ant
useful inventions, arts and science
which have been confscated and put
to ignoble uses in a measure, lowering
the standard Of morality, and prevent.
ing the Imagination. These should be
captured entire and put to a noble and
high use. as, the Creator intended,
when ne entrusted mankind, with the
wonderful secrets of nature. Thous-
ands Of men, women and children are
attracted nightly and daily to the
moving picture shows, and like moths
around a candle, many Of them have
their wings scorched 60 that they fail
afterwards to soar to heights sublime.
These startling real life-like produc-
tons represent for the most part,
crimes, r%obberies, murders, gambling
beer drinking, kidnapping, u~nfaithful
husbands and wives, young girls fall
ing into mems embrace, at the slight
est hint of love, and sometimes a bit
of interesting history appears, so that
they are not altogether to be con-
demned.
Three reels are generally shown in
rapid succession, unfinished, unsatis-
factory, leaving the mind confused
and often tainted. Little children
have been heard to sob and have all of
their innocent natures wrought up to
a pitch of fear and excitement that is
most injurious. "Oh! mama-what is
he going to do?" cries an agonizing
little one, when some rufian drops a
child by cruel force to q pit, and
thrusts her down into the darkness, or
a man chokes his wife to death, or a
stabs and Stays.
Rightly conducted, these shows
could become a source Of useful infor-
nation, as we'll as splendid training
for the morals, and manners. It is
that only certain reels are
sent out and must be accepted in the
order in which they are received by |
the local picture agent, regardless Of
what they represent. True, many are
marked "passed by the board of Cen
sorship," and yet many should not be
passed except passed by in disgust.
Even if grown people persist in "see-
ing sights" little children should not
be permitted to attend scenes Of full
grown life and crime. Is there not
some good angel in every town, who
could regulate these shows for their
that their little lives may be
free from the nightmares Of these dis
rooms, and their dreams IN
disturbed by the black-winged bats of
,~verwraught Imagination? There
be beautiful pictures from
airy lore, and. all kinds to give them
in God, humanity and them
selves. There should be a band of
Christian men, and women in each
community to pass judgment upon al
before it is aver put before the
You say this is impossible,
hen let the w. C. T. U. or the Y. M.
;. A. install a rival show, where his
DRY, science, beautiful pictures from
lome life and white life, r present.
d. These need not be sober or dull,
ither, but interpersed with enough
lean fun to convulse the audience
With a good, hearty, wholesome laugh.
You say again, that the public de-
hands the depraved side Of life-what
art of the public? A goodly part Of
he public demands also murder, ar
on, robberies and all crimes, and
here are they mostly? In the peni-
entiaries, jails, asylums-Do you
'ish this element to set the standard
f morals in your community? If it
really true-that in every town.
mere is a class of people, who like the
passes over all that is clean
nd sweet, and seeks his dismal meal,
ct there is another and better class
'ho like the honey bee, gathers
weets for his winter store. Which
ass governs, controls and directs the
fairs Of your community? Let
,e little children have their Fairy
nd, their Santa Claus, their beauti-
dream world, for all too soon they /
ill awaken to reality. Let them not I
, initiated into life beyond their :
apprehension or desire. As they ad-
ance in age and knowledge, life's
,ugh way, may always be bordered
it'll the beautiful flowers of imagina- +;
on, sow by some kindly hand, along ,
,eir childhood's path. Ever before !
lem, these good seed will be carried :
spring up again and again, in all ,
le dark places, to refresh the weary >
till the journeys end. They :
i'll bloom eternally, and bear fruit in =
lat better land, where the Fathers :
,use waits and all good and beauti- :
il dreams come true. !
.st a little pilgrim band, c
'andering through Fairyland, +
things are not as they seem !.
not wake them from their dreams. Il