"THE NAKED TRUTH."

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1917, Page 5

"THE NAKED TRUTH."

To the Editor. Sir,—l was amazed to see, in your eflk lion of 22nd inst., a somewhat emphatta denunciation by "Protest" of the picture, ; I lie Naked Truth." I would like to point out to ''Protest'' and to auy read* ? ei-s whom lie may have misled, that lie 1 hud entirely lost the thread of the pie-', lure. I( is almost inconceivable to me , that anyone could object to the screen-' ing of a undo woman, as was screened in (lie picture; in the first place it could only be mock modesty or ignorance which could confound art with indecency. Again, while ''Protest" infers that the following of "The Naked Truth".conveys ulterior motives on the part of the clerflyman, I maintain that any unbiased mind eould only understand that as a picture parable of the rough and narrow; way. The plot of the picture is briefly: A young clergyman preaches a sermon lo a very mixed congregation, on hypo- ) >'i'i\v, anil the. tendency of society to discard the righteous life—the rough and narrow way for the easier, but less righteous life of modern^limes. The sermon is depicted as a parable. A young clergyman and two girls arc the' only ones out of many who are v willing to suffer the trials 'and hardship? of" life in order to live a true and good life. I'lio true life is portrayed by very faint Pgure of a beautiful woman "Truth." The "deserted hillsides and tangled bush" referred to by."Protest" seemed to me more like a srouy mountainous track, • Which represented the hard, yet righteous path of life. This path wan a branch a broad, level road. Ono could see,, , "Truth" come to the commencement of file stony track and turn, up, followed by the elergyman, v, ■ without hesitation proved his love and devotion, and self sacrifce in order to do right, by • . struggling, falling and struggling on in the endeavour. Next was depicted the various members of the congregation, representing stages of spiritual strength and piety. They were all seen to tome lo'the start of the rough and narrow + way, and while some made various attempts to gain the Truth, others saeer'd and passed on, just as some people try to do right more than others, and some scorn to reeogim* right from" wrong. Now, sir, I cannot see how such a picture, wheh justified all the claims of the proprietors as a "sermon from the screen," can be classed as a "serious offence against religion and dcccncj,though I will admit that it may have been rather obnoxious to those of the community who make a pretext of religion by attending church and forgetting the lessons they learn there. In conclusion, I may say that to those wno inWpreted the picture as it was riteant lo be interpreted, could not but feel more elevated than demoralised. I anv ':tc., s * H. A. M. ,