Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1920-02-27
FRIDAY, FEB. 81, 1920.
USES AND ABUSES

rTVi1ERE are great many things in this world of
i ours which when used with moderation and rea-
son are good. but which become serious curse
to the race when abused and over-indulged. 1t is
not until the fruits of this overndulgence proves the
harmfuness OF the customs and practices that the
race becomes aware Of their danger and revusion
of sentiment is brought about. Who was there two
or three hundred years ago would have accepted the
theory that alcohol was more harmful than beneficial
to the human racep Not many, we may feel sure
Yet the evil results of indulgence in alcoholic bever-
ages have gradually forced themselves upon the minds
of the thinking people of this nation until the net
suit today is national prohibition Yet the fact re-
mains that alcohol is still good servant of the hui
man family, but exceedingly bad master
There many other things in the world which
are countenanced today which are harmful in their
tendencies and startling in their economic effects
upon the peoples of the earth. Of course. tobacco
is of them, and in opinion tobacco is destined
to share the fate of alcohol far the American
people are concerned at no very distant date. BY
the death of King Alcohol tobacco has lost of its
greatest allies. But it is not Tobacco that purpose
discussing in this short editorial 1t is something far
more respectable in the eyes of enlightened people
OF this generation which condoned and encouraged
by the educators of the present times, but which is
for all that the less nsiduous and harmful in its
effects opon the race. We refer to the great industry
of modern 6cton-novel writing. publishing selling
and reading, which really adds nothing to the we'll
being of the race which can be held to compensate
Tor the tremendous waste OF time energy, health and
capital invested in the enterprise and its indulgence.
Like other harmful practices and economic wastes. it
has come about so gradually and surrepttousy, that
it has hardly yet become discovered 1t has not yet
reached the zenith of its popularity 1t is riding
the crest of public approval of the highest type. and
is endorsed and encouraged by the foremost educa-
tors ot he land a IF limo
is included in the curriculum of all the schools and
colleges; it part of the education of the scholarly
people the world over Not to have read fair num-
Der of the books of the recognized leading authors
is an indication of low breeding or at least of gnor-
ance. Hundreds and thousands of writers are work
ing their brains to the limit to try to invent new inn
agnatons, new thrills, new situations new express
ions and fabrcations Publishers of magazines are
continually calling for clever compositions which con-
tain the punch and heart interest which their read
demand. The product of the favorite authors
command almost unlimited price, some authors re-
ceving high 50 cents per word for their stories
Not lnfrequently we and hear college professors
giving readings from authors of established reputa-
ons and not only discussing and charging upon the
merits of certain contributions, but reviewing and
anayzing the characters trying to fathom their
lives and characteristics with as much care and pre-
cision as a careful student of human nature would
scrutnize living, breathing mortals about him,
All this is quite fascinating. and we realize that
in attempting to criticize it we will bring down upon
us the dspeasure and possibly the contemptuous re-
marks of some of our foremost educators and scho-
ars. But we are willing to risk our reputation for
far-sghtedness against even theirs if we leave the
verdict to old man Time to determine There is going
to be reaction just as the day follows night
The world is being filled full of works of fiction
clever to be sure, a great many of them-and it is
lu hicb A.. L
the reading public, and good portion of which one
is and will be expected to have read and famiiarzed
ones self in order to be considered we'll informed
This pile is constantly accumuating and if due at