South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-09-18
BLAME THE PAPERS.

Where is the blushing girl and the bashful boy?"
seriously asked C. 3. Fitch. president Of the Fort
Wayne Chamber OF Commerce in an address TO
members Of the Northern Indiana Editorial associ-
alton.
IT'S address was a comprehensive criticism Of the
modern newspaper in which the daily with some
Of its present methods was blamed for bringing
On era OF moral decadence
The criticism is not new. It appears from time
20 time from the lips Of those who lament some OF
the changes in life They find the influence OF the
newspaper baneful.
The chsnsing habits of life laid the door
Of the paper which comes into the home. The Iopu-
larity the modern dance, the coming the short
skirt. the apparent ideness Of the few are traced
tho printed page which portrays the lives Of
movie actors or the idle rich.
The viewpoint OF all those who have raised the
Question OF newspapers responsibility for morals
Is best summed UP In the query OF MI Fitch.
The question itself upon the broad assumption
that the girl OF so years ago who blushed readily.
BETTER than her granddaughter OF todCy
who signals such emotion.
taken for granted that the youth OF the Revo-
lutonary period, who bashfuIly hid his own knowl-
edge Of what were then forbidden TOPICS was stur-
der than his modern counterpart who shows self
reliance
Birth is a painful process. whether It be OF a
idea, habit, a
The truth that the world today is a different
world than it yesterday and viii be still
different tomorrow.
Modern invention has released woman from many
Of the drudgeries OF half century ago. Colleges
high schools have given her scientific knowledge
on subjects which once were whispered about in
ing circles
Was there greater possibilities Of real affection in
the maid who shyiy peeked from behind curtains
when any males were in sight than clear eyed
girl OF today who looks straight into the eyes and
who has found that she Is capable OF supplying
coompaniouship well as sentiment
was the soul Of the stammerng lad of the old
centuries cleaner because he was bashful?
Those who lament the passing of the blushing girl
might ponder over some of her ways OF life.
She believed. it will be remembered that every
baby was foreordained. in the natural course OF
events to have the whole gamut of disease from
measles 10 scarlet fever on the theory that they
would never have them twice and she wanted
them to get over It while they were young"
The girl OF today who may not blush freely.
when she becomes o mother knows that disease is
preventable and does not encourage illness among
her children.
The. girl who blushed readily accepted as fate
that some OF her children must die in infancy II
she were the mothe- OF more than one. The modern
woman. minus the blush perhaps. has learned better
blushing boy. They are written into the romantic
literature OF his day.
The truth IS that the world Is better, not worse.
and II the logic Of the critics OF newspapers were
used the papers might preen themselves and claim
credit for tho growth in morality.
1t might be pointed that the habit OF drinking
whisky common among clergymen Of all de-
nominations even as brief time ago as the ffties
and sixties Today there is legal prohibition which
VIII soon be actual prohibition
The moral plane OF the people in 1886 may be
gagged from the Texas constitution. ADOPTED IN
that year upon divorce. Inhdelty upon the part OF
the husband was not for separation. Com
pare that with womans suffrage and with its infu-
ence for higher standard OF morality for public
men and for ordinary life.
No one would attempt 10 say how much how
little the newspapers contributed to the general
result
Where is the blushing girl and the bashful boy?"
The Girl So I'm college this year and half a dozen
years hence she will be in Congress perhaps. You
viii find the boy In a university and tomorrow he
viii De holding down the job Of social service ex-
pert in a big factory.
Blame the newspapers for it II you wish
KEEP THE POISON Gas