IMPROPER LITERATURE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 9

IMPROPER LITERATURE.

■: "It is well,'enough-..for our men of letters who claim-to-have "received a message for their generation that they shall not be compelled to write virginibus pucrisque.. But then they should not expect their books to bo taken at tho libraries which aro meant to supply reading for the average home. Strango as it may: seem to these upsetting young gentlemen, there are plenty of educated, intelligent, reflective persons who do not rogard marriage, as an open question, and, according to their, temperament, are either bored or angered when they find themselves presented with a sex problem when they hoped for a quiet .hour, with, a beguiling story. Moreover they aro determined. not' to have any more poisonous trash brought into their, houses.

All this talk about freedom would have more meaning if some genuinely original thinker,, however iconoclastic, were to arise, and challenge -the established conventions.'' He would-be given his hearing even in ! the circulating libraries. We should'all Want to know what he had to say. Nor could wo, if we desired, close the ears of our boys and girls to tho teachings of a prophet, even though he were a false prophet. But these third-rate triflers, with their sniggering sophistries and tricked-out allurements,. wouid Teceivo little attention did they not force themselves into company where they were not wanted. Their works will continuo to- bo purchased by'people who can endure'the sort of literature they provide. There is nothing to prevent "them from establishing a special library of objectionable books. As long ,as they keep: just on tho right side of the law nobody will interfere with them. But tho question must bo asked whether the law might not in some respects -be strengthened. .(■The liberty;of'unlicensed printing' is .admirable as. a.-geii'eral maxim ;' but''we cannot allow it'to be'stretched to a point ■at which it '■ becomes an "outrage upon common decencv."—London Guardian."