A QUESTION OF MORALS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1906, 16 October 1906, Page 2

A QUESTION OF MORALS

ITo the Editor Gisborne Times.; Sir, —I have carefully read the “ Leader ’ in to-day's Times, anent the pictures “ Psyche’s Bath ” and “ Nature’s Mirror,” and must say I am utterly astounded at the suggestion put forth therein, viz., that _ any mother or father might with advan- ■ tage instruct their daughters or sons, as the case may be, in the lessons of grace, simplicity, and innocence, or upon the anatomical proportions, the poetry of motion, sanitation, etc., etc., from such pictures mentioned above, even although they be from the brush of such an eminent artist as Sir Frederick Leighton. To imagine for one instance any self respecting, parent holding forth such pictures for the" edification of their children is to my mind 1 preposterous, and would I think, generally speaking, end in the pictures being eon, signed to smoke if found in the possession of young children, and I am convinced I ' do not stand alone in my views, and Have not the slightest objection to being considered prudish in so thinking if it pleases some people. To draw a parallel of a naked woman to a naked fish -is surely going from the sublime to the ridiculous,'and has no bearing upon the case in point". The writer would like to know when a fish was anything but naked, and also what is the character of a woman who sits as a model for such a picture, and whom it is considered might well be used as a pattern by parents in the training of their children ? I fail to see how it is necessary, to select the painting of a nude woman for the inculcation of the arts of grace, simplicity and innocence, and I think Mr Kettle’s reservation quite in accordance" with the dictates of a sound healthy mind. ' —I am, etc.,

A Parent. Aberdeen Road, Gisborne, October 11th. [This letter was held over pending the ' receipt of the writer’s name, which by an oversight was not sent with the letter. It is dealt with editorially.—Ed. G.T.]

(To the Editor Gisborne Time*.; Sir, —Your report of Mr Bligh’s lecture does not seem to me at all fair. It has an abrupt, slashing, adverse tone about it altogether calculated to convey a wrong impression of Mr Bligh’s work. You are,, of course, entitled to your opinions as to what are the best methods in such work as this- But I think you will admit that the public of Gisborne are equally entitled to have put before them ah unbiased account qf such a thing as a public, lecture. This, I think, you have failed to give. In regard to your opinions you are in opposition to Lord Plunket, who has given Mr Bligh a letter commending him highly, and to the Wellington Division of the British Medical Association, not to mention many others. The Medical Fraternity ‘of Wellington passed the following resolution

“.This Division of B M.A. wishes to express sympathy with Mr R. H. W. Bligh in his crusade against, impurity. It is : of opinion that his lectures and exposition must be of the greatest good to the public at large : that,a hearty vote of thanks be given to Mr R. ,H. W-. Bligt- for his excellent address,”.. In .suppor# - of his Work among woinen Mr Bligh hajuetiers (again among others) from Lady Plunket, and Miss McLean, Lady Principal of Wellington Girls’ College, who both commend him for liis tact, feeing, sir,'that you agree with Mr Bligh’s conclusions, and'.record that he “told the truth” on this difficult subject, it seems to me a pity that you should have, from the position you occupy, cast a slur on his work.—l am, etc.,

F. C. Long. Falmerston Road, Gisborne, Oct 15th,