Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-09
Differences Of opinion are always in.

Differences OF opinion are always In.
teresting and lovn to open my mail and
plump squarely upon two correspond
ents who take exactly opposite views OF
| the same picture. Here are two today
which are such good examples that any
answer from me would only spoil them.
Kitty Clover writes: "In view Of
the fact that 5000 girls in the L. 3.
A. were stolen last year for white slav-
cry we wonder what you mean by
saving that Eric Won Stroheim does not
| understand the morally clean standard
! of America. believe him to be our
friend and n true patriot of humanity.
"His picture. The DEVILS Pass Key
what a helpful expose that was. besides
being splendidly produced piece Of
work.
why do we not need to learn
more about how to protect ourselves
from conditions that do exist! And
| through what better way can we learn
thar by seeing picture that exposes the
hidden maliciousness OF unscrupulous
! men or women?
"Von Stroheim points this out. or
| course, the truth Is not always SO pleas
ant to learn, but-considering present
conditions-ought we not, all OF us. be-
willing to brush aside this silly counter
| felt called innocence. which is only
ignorance leading us to destruction!
"It seems to me that Won Stroheim
is a wonderfully gifted man. A genius.
"J.ook ut the pictures that we have
given to us for first class stun when
is full Of points upholding evil and
poisoning the minds OF our young peo-
pie. and never a word saia asains. ~,
'Do you think 1t fair to refuse TO
print Won Stroheim's picture when IT
has been requested? I do not. And
hero is another request for his picture
IN he printed. ! admire him as
fine writer, actor and director. And
more than all, because he is not afraid
nor ashamed to place before the public
the truth. The world is now too much
fed up' on stereotyped stuff.
" .Yc shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.
Would you refuse to print picture
Of Mary Carr! ,,
We'll. | think Over the Hill was
the biggest lie on real. true motherhood
that could be conceived of. And, l can
not bear her acting.
You said of Cecil De Mile: He :s
/ an unhealthy, exotic. errntic ana
erotic influence that has cankered lot
Of younger directors and hurt their
work
Would you refuse to print his pic
ture?
ITO me Eric Won atroheim and
Cecil De Mile are opposite influences.
Won Stroheim is helping by exposing
the evil (you know. to be forewarned
Is TO be forearmed.) while Cecil de
| Mile is throwing sand into our eyes by
exploiting the very things which lead
| to evil.
"You say that Foolish Wives was
an all too accurate portrayal OF form
! Of legeneracy that does exist. but 1t IN
so rare. That is where we think you
are mistaken, my good man. Most good
men seem TO be under that same impres-
| sion and it is that blindness on the part
| Of good men which gives wicked men so
much full play'--so much power.
Even IL II Is rare. IL 1t exists at all,
to stop it's growth we must know about
| II.
Il hope that Won Strobeim will have
the inclination ,and privilege, OF
courseD to tell US a lot more about
things so essential for us to know n
what he has already placed on the
screen.
Now we wish to add that We think
Just as much Of you as we ever did. We
think you are great, on y little unfair
about Won StrOheim. who. AS we see it.,
has committed no crime. Why should
he not have his picture in your 'rogues'
gallery: He is humanity's friend.
Hope you won't be mad at Us,
Please don't, cause we like you too
good.
"And, besides, ] always type my
letters and write only on one side. But
you've never mentioned it,
Il object to your statement that | am
good man. I'm not, I'm terrible
old sinner, so ! understand Won Stro.
helms true ''innards" good deal
better than you do, my dear Kitty
Clover. I'm glad to see that you have
not fathomed my real meaning. You
have seen some parts of Foolish
Wives that Won Strohcim wanted
shown but that were cut out. Let's not
discuss It. You'll simply have to take
my word for it. And you can explain
my attitude by saying that l am SC
hOpelessly bad myself that hate to sec
another man getting away with stuff
much worse than my own perverted
mind could possibly conceive off,
"Martha b" writss-"Congratula
tions. old deah, upon your sincerity
about Won StrOheim and his photo.
/ hand It to you for the strength OF youl
own convictions.
II think Lee Winthrop is right II
saying that we are being served punl
stories lstsly. agree with him, bu
fgay. hs 10 wrong In his statement tha
SQaA afprsYaid type ~ man exists =.
q, i1 t so 4 ~ sfevfss yesth, how
sa I, I: q