The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-11
MENTONE ASKS
 MORE CLOTHES FOR FATHERS
Complain Of Conduct Of Visitors On Beaches
 And At Dances

FORT PAYNE, Ala, Aug. 10.-- Especial. )-Guests at Mentone Springs hotel, the noted summer resort on Lookout moutain, three miles east of Valley Head, in DeKalk county, which is owned by the Baptist denomination and used by them for their summer conventions, are reported to have had their social conventionalities rather startled over the sudden appearance of letter emanating from a number of the natives in that vicinity complain ing of the conduct of the visitors at dances, at the various bathing beaches, and in automobile rides about the e0un- try. Since the epistle is signed by some who are connected with the off ciala affairs of the county. and others identified with religious upbuilding of the community, credence is being ac- corded the communication, addressed to Whom It May Concern" and which reads as follows:
 "We who sign this letter to you, live in Mentone township; we own our own homes here and are trying to rear our children free from the vices which now endanger them. Most of us were born here and reared on the mountain in the simple Cody way, peculiar to mountain folks In recent years, and especially in the last year, conditions have so changed with the growth of Mentone that if not checked are eer- tain to affect the lives of our children for evil. We think it best to be, spe- cific and state our grievances in a plain way.
 s'1. We bitterly resent the parading of young men and women on the roads and streets, walking and packed in an automobile half naked. Our ideas of the common decencies of life may be ancient and crude, but they suit us and we know the example is hurtful to our children. U
 '.2. Bathing on, the mountain, which within itself is a delightful recreation, has become a moral menace by the extremes to- which it is carried. The way in which half-naked boys and girls are mixed in the water and sun ming on sand banks, to us it is demor- alizing and certain to bring evil to any community which tolerates it. The pity and shame of it is that it is worse on the Sabbath day than any other. The shouting and noise from these places are heard in our Sunday schools and church gatherings.
 De ASCSdHuACoS ~ sOhI OPAAAOhS OA the modern ceshalls, we insist that there are extremes to which they should not be carried.' If they are to be run at all in Mentone they should be so conducted ak night that extreme jazz music, shouting and boisterous conduct should not disturb the, people of the neighborhood.
 we submit to you that our protest against these things is not unreason- able. It is in our hearts to welcome visitors to Mentofie. We want to see the young happy, but not at the cost of a lowered boyRood and girlhood.
 Our object in Writing this letter is to ask cooperation of good men and women in condemning things which are not good for sur children. If this appeal does hot Have the effect to | change the conditions as they now exist then nothing is left for us to do but to ask the courts to define the nature 0f our rights to suppress evil This would be painful to us and we hope we will not be driven to it."