The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-17
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY E. HOUSE
tFrom Philadelphia Pubic LedgerJ

We suspect conditions in Hollywood
are pretty bad. Probably, since the
chief did not appear to hear us when
we suggested that some good man,
preferably one born in McDonough
county, Illinois, be assigned to write
the Hollywood story from the inside
out, we shall never know exactly how
bad they are. But the probabilities
are that life in Hollywood is not much
more reprehensible than certain
phases of it in New York, Philadel-
phia, Ligonier and Kalamazoo.
That which happens in Hollywood
happens wherever nght-headed ladies
and careless gentlemen have sufficient
leisure for frequent or protracted per-
sonal contact. The thing we deplore
is not Hollywood itself we like
tough town. 1t gives one something
to talk about The thing we depiore
is the opportunity the Hollywood
tragedy has given every voluntary
moralist publicly to point the finger
or scorn at that community. We de-
plore any situation which gives the
voluntary moralist the publicity he
seeks.
We serve notice now, if Hollywood
is burned, the torch of the incendiary
must be applied in other places.
Meanwhile, we note the announce
ment that the Rev. John Roach Stra-
ton is in town. We trust we do the
Rev. Mr.. Straton no injustice in say
ing he is looking for newspaper men,
ton We therefore ask the news,
the Rev. Mr.. Straton thinks of the
theater. OF what importance, if any,
are his views on any other topic?
OF what importance are the views
of any gentleman who couldn't pos
s1bly know anything about the subject
he discusses?
Whether it is due to the fact that
these lines are written on a Monday
or whether it is natural reaction TO
events, we find more than the usual
number of annoying things in the
news. One thing that inks us is the
opinion of Mr.. l. I. Carmick, superin-
tendent of schools in Kansas City. that
jazz" should be prohibited. by law.
We have, perhaps, as little use for
jazz" al any human being. We Shrek
with anguish when we are forced to
listen to its manifestations. 1t has
reached the point at which a saxo-
phone drives us crazy. But the spec
tacle of a presumably intelligent c!ti-
zen seriously proposing the enactment
of another law is in itself proceeding
in lunacy. If left alone, Jazz win
die of its own accord. To forbid it by
law merely would be to aggravate a
lamentable condition.
The sovereign remedy for Jazz is
better taste. The place to inculcate
better taste on the rising generation
is not in the halls of legislation. 1t is
in the school or in the home.
Lieutenant Commander John Philip
Sousa, sign editor of the column. writ
ing from Havana, notes: my room
here contains the following notice:
Guests desiring pressing or dry clean
ing notify the office What a boon
for the lovelorn and the bathiessi''
The Whipping Post.
C. B. COT course. the third base
man might have been left-handed, but,
as a matter of fact. it was his gloved
hand with which he stabbed at the
ball Glad to clear the matter up.
Ii G. S.-Good stuff, but readers of
the column wouldn't get it. They don't
knNw who Maggie Asthma" is.
Woodrow Harding-Your point is
well taken, but it took you too long to
turn around, and too much of yeNsIr
stuff is inelosed in parentheses. A con-
trihutor has a fair chance to, get one
set of parentheses marks into the col
umn, but that is the limit. A man
who uses six has no chance. And,
generally speaking, it is required of
a contributor that he be able to turn
around within the space of Toe words
E. C. B.-You've been talking to
Adelaide.
Abe-Don't take it too seriously;
probably that was the only way he
could get his name in the papers.
We were less impressed by Maria
Chapdelaine" than some of the other
literary gentlemen. 1t held US in the
glow of the electric light bulb for the
better part of an evening, but il did
not make US writhe-
Still, when we happen to read a
book in which there is no fllegitimate
child, no violation of the Seventh Com
mandment, no cocktails, no srring
wife no brutal husband and no bin
of divorce, we are disposed to com
mend it.
The fact is that up to and including