The Belding banner-news., 1921-11-16
Movie Bacteria


'He was young, handsome and
beautiful, she was ignorant of life.
The above quotation was thrown
on the screen of movie picture
performance travelling the circuit
recently. The title of the photo
play was 1.-The Little Girl He For
got" The scene was laid in Mis-
souri, lumber district. The leading
characters, a e ri with a pretty face
and Young son of rich lumber
"a er of ST. Louis.
From start to finish every scene
was suggestive of of evil living, sur
rounded by drunken relatives de-
void of every facility for living a
pure and decent life, the Young girl
was thrown in contact with those OF
the opposite sex, whose action con
tinually suggested immortality. The
son of the rich man on his arrival IN
the vicinity fell in love with the
girl. took advantage of her inno-
cence. accomplished her ruin and re-
turned TO st. Louis on account OF
the su den illness Of his father. He
was given credit with good inten-
tions and Of sincerely loving the
mountain maiden. It's sa d that
Hades is lined with good intentions.
The death of his father and COM
bination IF adverse c rcumstances
prevented his return to the lumber
camp "a he had promised. A Jeal-
Gus companion of the girl destroyed
a letter from the young man, which
was intended for his sweetheart.
Thinking herself forsaken she fol-
lowed her lover to the city, failing
TO find him she concluded to return
to her own people in the lumber
camp. She became i'll at the home
of a Good Samaritan farmer en-
route and gave birth to a child; af-
terward continuing her journey
through the mountainous country to
her former home, constant travel
over rough roads soon wearled her
so that she fell and accidentally
caused the death of her babe.
Horror stricken and wild with
grief, she temporarily abandoned
the remains of her infant to continue
her journey and secure aid, was seen
bv some men. who finding the dead
child reported the fact to the au-
thorities. and the officers of the law
followed her, arrested and imprison-
her. She was tried and convicted for
child murder and sentenced to death.
A Salvation Army Lassie, who had
become familiar with her case thru
conversation during her prison life,
placed the facts before the court and
Interceded for mercy. afterward ap-
vealing to the Governor who re-
prieved her on the day set for her
execution.
Bacteria introduced into the mind
of young people by such photo-playss
are quite as dangerous as those OF
which we hear spoken Of by the
health department of any state. Evil
suggestions are undoubtedly sup
piled to the mind of those who have
such pictures presented to them.
That an innocent girl Of tender age
could resist such temptations, and
overcome such combination Of cir
cumstances is drawing largely on
the imagination Of the photo-play
writer. Few youth with such en-
vironments, lacking in morality, de-
cency, or common sense ever escape
becoming subjects fit only for the
reform school, penitentiary or insane
asylum.
A strict censorship Of al pictures
would avoid such OBSERVATIONS
Parents who allow their children to
attend movie entertainments should
acquaint themselves as to the char
acter Of the pictures, otherwise they
endanger the future of the child.
Half century ago the yellow back
novel was considered a menace TO
the mind of the youth Of that time:
The movie pictures on account of
reaching a greater number Of chill
dren, accomplishes more damage
than the yellow back literature did
Wives
A u,ifa ic What a man takes unto