Evening star., 1933-01-31
High Lights on the Wide World
Excerpts From Newspapers of Other Lands

new budget for the confederation,
Chancellor Musy pointed out that the
paper currency OF Switzerland. though
the law required but . 40 per cent COW
erage, Was protected to the extent Of
more than 100 per cent. This Is the
reason, of course. that despite the de-
probation Of national finances In prac-
tically every other country Of the world,
in Switzerland paper money remains at
par, and Is equally IS good as gold COIN
age. The Swiss National Bank is ready
at any moment to pay out the full valu-
alton in gold for any banknote pre-
sented. Chancellor Musy further stated
that Switzerland Is In an enviable po-
sition as regards foreign debt. owing no
money abroad. 4 fortunate condition.
which encourages belief that Switzer-
land is not likely at any time to be
drawn into the confusion and jeopardies
of the international financial situation.
Watch Over Child's
Reading Stressed.
Haus, Hof, Garten. Berlin.-Yes. the
children read, or at least they look at
picture books. But in any case, how
quickly they acquire the art Of compre-
hending the printed pagel 1t seems a.
II there were no interval between the
lisping and the reading, and we doubt
if any srown-ups ever find their read
ing and their studying so interesting.
Just watch some children who lately
have solved for themselves the myS-
teries Of words and letters. Eyes and
mouths stand open, and even the rest
less fingers show the eagerness and rap
ture of the new accomplishment. And
what a swift transition from ignorance
to knowledge! 1t seems almost as If
one day the page Is blank. and the
next day filled with Joy and under
standing.
What care, then, should we exercise
in the selection Of the books and
periodicals we read ourselves, and then
lay aside forgotten, for childish eyes
to CLEAN. and youthful minds to
ponder. The literary tendencies Of re-
cent years have been damaging enough
to maturer characters; shall We let the
coming generations be degraded, too7
When one is adult in reason and in
telligence, one can resist and reject
the bad, though constant exposure to
what is immoral and communicating in
frivolous books and periodicals often
sears and scars the most intelligent.
When we choose our own reading
wisely, there is no fear that the hungry
eyes of the little ones will ever see
or read what can have an evil In
fluence upon their awaking conscious
ness.
There is so much that is good to be
told about the world we live in, about
the city and the country, about the
birds and animals, about the arts and
sciences, and about industry and sport,
that those who devote their talent to
the production of books and stories
dealing only with crime and sex, less
in sentiment than sensuality, are doing
grave wrong and injury to all in the
desire for more immediate profit. The
harm to the older generations is great,
but that to the young IS INFINITE. And
who can tell, with such a prolixity Of
such vile compositions about, what lit
erary filth his offspring may be perus-
ing?
II there is no conscience to restrain
the inditers and purveyors Of this sort
of publication, then, certainly, the gov
eminent should without delay set up
new species Of prohibitions laud-
able prohibition of all these porno-
graphic effervescences. Our children
must not be spoiled and handicapped
for the true duties and blessings Of
life before they have fairly embarked
upon that strange, new, and Turing sea.
An uncontaminated understanding OF
all things good and pure, not bizarre
acquaintance with what Is bad, is their
best birthright.