MENACE OF MODERN SEX NOVELS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 207, 17 September 1937, Page 13

MENACE OF MODERN SEX NOVELS

English Cleric Refusetl to Pay Library Fee VIEWS 0N TO-DAY'S B00KS Rev. John Wefls Wilkinson, member| of Erith Council, England, refused to' pay his library rate because be was of the opinioii that "tho Erith library wa3 circulating indecent books." A distress warrant was granted by the magistrates at Dartford against him. Here Mr Wilkinson, in an artiele writtcn i'or the Daily Mirror, sets forth his views on what he consi'lers the menaeo of modern sox novels,. . . . Among the woll-written novels which appear on the shelves of public libraries are books which aro objectionablc, and not of sufficient value to justify their retention as literature. Fortunately, many of those books escape attention by thei. dullness. Their main plots, even when not indecent, are too often pessimistic. They are generally better written than those of novelists of the samo standing a generation ago; there has been a great improvement in craftsmansihip. But the authors have sacrifieed optimism for realism of the gloomiest type. Such "facts of life" as seen by too' many of them are exemplified in oue story where a young unmarried girl goes to an abortionist who tell her— and the readers — that she ought to have taken a certain remedial drug in timo. Tflie passage occupied three pages. Advice? Did the author consider the terriblo effect of his words on an unmarried girl reader who through ignorance may fintl herself in .the same position as the character in this book? She might even be tempted to follow the fictional and inadvisable steps of the "heroine." The ease wlth which the characters of these minor novelists slip in and out of marriage is amazing. That sacred ceremony is made to appear as a mere verbal contract to be broken for any cause at any time. These objectionable novels are introduced into unsuspecting homes as representative of up-to-dateness. They represent false ideals and the lure of looseness in motive. I have a deep faith in modern youth. And I believe that it deserves a better inspiration than some -f our modern novelists seem able to provide. Luckily, plot is often sacj'ified for introspection which gives tho book a limited appeal. To children tho books would merely be boring. Many of them are so Ereudian that they can only appeal to neurotics. Suicide is an unhappy occurrenco in real life. It has little place in a uoveL As the climax to a, plot, it is definiloly harmful. I saw a film where a famou? actor, as he grew older, lgst popularity with his public. The audience was asked to share tho actor Js mental conflict. The picture ends by portraying the actor committing suicide by gassmg himself. | Does such a scene as this inspire I youth to be the captain of its fatei What motivates authors to create! j jdemoralising situations of this type? ' Not wholly money, I'm sure; though jpossibly novels which deal with crude jsitations and crude climaxes are sure jof a lafge salo. i I imagine rather that they are car- ' ried away with the desire to present modern life as they fancy it is. I would prefer they wrote of what they would [rather it wera. Ask These Questions 1 "Genius lost to Britain,' — that is th*. plea of the highbrows who try to lift the ban on immoral books. And whenever a book is publicly condemned there i? always a lot of bleating. "Brilliant psychological study." "A great contributicn to psyahoanaiytical research.,J These are the descriptions such books are sure to get. And the job of the censor is made a hundred times more difficult by these ^shallow labels. The time ihas come when novelists should ask themselves these searching questions before they put pen to paper:; — 1. "Would I readily request my adolescent son or daughter. to read. this book? " 2. "If unbalanced people read this novel, might it induco them to immorality, murder or suicide?" 3. "Does my book stimulate the imagination, provide relaxation and apiritual contentment ? ' ' 4. "Are they written to the Glory of God?" If the answer is "No" to one or all of these questions, the author should oearch his conscience i'or another plot. Modern youth is fine. I admire its courage and honesly. But it is natural for youth to bo interested in love and emution in all ils manjfestations. There is no student of literature who does not regret tle spots on the sun in the wqrks of Qhauc§r, Shalrespeare and the Itestoratiqn dramatists. NevertheJsiS we aQcept them as works of another day, w]yeh students qf literature have accepted as classics. But I doubt whether any of this twentieth century filth will ever be ontitled to such a rank. Novelists have a precious gift. It is in their power to encourage — inspirear demoralise. Let authors use their talents to tb( advantage of mankind'