Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-09-15
CORRUPT LITERATURE

a an aftermath of the Worlds war, the
II people of the United States are not
- careful to the sorts of books and
magazines which the younger ones are gen
orally reading at this time. In my younger
days there must have been wave of this
kind of literature and it was so serious that
there was also a heavy pronouncement
against all novels, viz, books of fiction.
Novel reading, dancing, card playing and
wine drinking were all in the same category.
So many grown-up people at that time were
illiterate that there were fewer books and
readers of all kinds. About forty years ago
Anthony Comstock, well-kpown re-
former of his day, became very active
against what was known as corrupt Itera-
ture. He delivered lectures, he printed his
opinions and denunciations everywhere he
could find a newspaper or book publisher
to afford the needed space.
/ had read many of his articles before
made his acquaintance in Chicago during
the Columbian Exposition. Being mem
Der of the board of lady managers, l was
privileged to hear him speak at various
times in the Woman's building. He made II
plain that school girls and boys, off at board
ing schools and colleges, away from domes-
tic influence from where mothers watched
as we'll as prayed for the loved ones, there
was immense harm done by janitors or per-
sons who were employed in such ways, VINO
conveyed to these young people the obscene
and seductive books which were distributed
in an underhanded way. The volumes or
pamphlets were put up cheaply and immense
quantities were sold and actively handed out
to children, unaware of the danger which
lurked therein
The profit was great, and the publishers
fought Mr.. Comstock with every weapon at
their command
Coming back to the revival of such litera-
ture it is obvious, when so many idle and
restless and poorly educated persons are
scattered all over this cOuntry,A
1t is also plain TO the average newspaper
subscriber that elaborated sex stories have
the center of the stage at this time. Tri-
angle love affairs fill the police reports also.
Divorces are continuing, getting more so all
the time. Double lives between married peo-
pie are constantly written up. The trend of
this era is towards looseness between the
sexes even into co-educational schools, most
ly high schools
The automobile question, where school
pupils go out late in the afternoon and come
back after midnight and nobody knows how
far they have travelled without proper chap
erons etc., etc. These things are mentioned
daily and are said to be increasing. These
insidious sex stories are feeding ignorant
minds with a virus that bears fruit in the
results here noted.
Parental discipline amounts to very little
with so many drawbacks to modest and vir-
tuous training at home, and so much laXity
and loose conduct prevailing at large.
Good books are splendid helps, when they
are good. Bad books are Internal in their
effect when they are in the hands of I'M
disciplined youth.
If I had young daughter to send to
school in promiscuous company I think l
would prefer a governess at home, or a
school where the regulations were strict
enough to protect them.